SSA Updates:

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1:00–3:00PM via Zoom

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NJ DMHAS

Opioid Summit

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Wilshire Grand Hotel

West Orange, NJ

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Inroads to Opportunities in Roselle, NJ is hiring for the following positions. Click on each position to learn more and apply.

New Jersey Citizen Action is hiring a Digital Organizer. Click on the position to learn more and apply.

Dr. Yvonne Styles, based in Los Angeles, is a trained behavioral healthcare professional who has spent twenty years in the non-profit sector. Dr. Styles is President of Styles Behavioral Services providing consulting services, coaching and training in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Dr. Styles was also the former Chief of Staff and Senior Director of Counseling for A Place Called Home for nearly twenty years. She received her PhD in Human and Organizational Development and her master’s degree from Fielding Graduate University as well as a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology specializing in child and adolescent psychology from Antioch University-Los Angeles.

Congratulations to The Community Builders on the completion of Hillside Crossing, a new seven-building, 85-apartment affordable development located in Schenectady’s Hamilton Hill neighborhood. Twenty-six units are set aside for people in need of supportive services to live independently.

Become a SHA Member and get access to great meetings and many other great member benefits. Need more information? Email Joseph Christensen with your questions.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced an update to the Thrifty Food Plan, which is used to set benefit levels for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Benefits for SNAP are going up which will allow people to buy healthier food. The reevaluation concluded that the cost of a nutritious, practical, cost effective diet is 21% higher than the current Thrifty Food Plan. As a result, the average SNAP benefit – excluding additional funds provided as part of pandemic relief – will increase by $36.24 per person, per month, or $1.19 per day, for Fiscal Year 2022 beginning on Oct. 1, 2021.

An analysis from the Urban Institute projects that the USDA’s recent changes to the Thrifty Food Plan will close the gap between Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and meal costs for beneficiaries living in most U.S. counties. This science-driven and long-overdue reevaluation will be welcome news for families across the country, many of whom will be better able to afford a healthy diet with greater SNAP benefits. It will have a significant positive impact for all participants, but especially for communities of color and for children.

HUD is accepting applications for a notice of funding opportunity (NOFA) for nearly $2.66 billion in FY21 Continuum of Care Program (CoC) competitive funding through November 16. Organizations that provide or coordinate housing and supportive services for families and individuals experiencing homelessness may apply to this NOFO to renew existing grants or receive grants for new projects. Specifically, the FY21 CoC Program NOFO is seeking projects that are focused on a number of areas, including using a Housing First approach, partnering with housing and health agencies, advancing racial equity and addressing racial disparities in homelessness, and reducing unsheltered homelessness. The NOFO will, for the first time, invite Native Tribes and Tribally Designated Housing entities (TDHE) to apply for CoC grants. Additionally, the NOFO will provide $102 million for new rapid re-housing, supportive services and other activities critical to assist survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking. 

The CoC Application, CoC Priority Listing, and Project Applications will be available in e-snaps no later than Thursday, August 19, 2021. Collaborative Applicants and project applicants will be able to access the applications to review, update, and enter required information for the application process.

Resources are available on the HUD.gov CoC Program Competition page and the HUD Exchange e-snaps Resources page.

Note: Questions about policy and program implementation should continue to be submitted to the HUD Exchange Ask A Question (AAQ) portal. In Step 2 of the question submission process, select “CoC Program” from the “My question is related to” drop down list. Do not submit Competition questions or questions about e-snaps to the CoC Program AAQ.

New Jersey is growing larger and more diverse, with big implications for redistricting, according to a new report by New Jersey Policy Perspective Senior Policy Analyst Peter Chen. The report, How New Jersey’s Population Changed Since 2010 and What it Means for Redistricting, uses detailed Census data recently released to highlight the population changes in New Jersey by racial/ethnic group and geography. It includes interactive maps to visualize population changes at the county, congressional district, and legislative district levels.

Heading into 2021 redistricting, New Jersey (pop. 9,288,994) is one of just eight states (including the District of Columbia) nationwide with a diversity index above 65%. In New Jersey, non-Hispanic whites clock in at 51.9% of the population – down from 59.3% in 2010. Just 31 of New Jersey’s 40 state senators are white; 56 of the state’s 80 assembly people are white.  The 2020 national diversity index in the U.S. came in below New Jersey’s, at 61.1 percent, up from 54.9 percent recorded in 2010. Among New Jersey’s 21 counties, Hudson experienced the largest growth spurt over the last ten years, followed by Ocean. Newark officially ranks as New Jersey’s most populous city, according to the 2020 Census,

Denver - Denver's Supportive Housing Social Impact Bond Initiative (SIB), produced effective results since its creation in 2016 when private investors purchased bonds from the city, generating funds that would be used to provide housing and auxiliary services to homeless people with a history of police encounters. The program has housed over 280 struggling people since 2016 and reduced city spending on police, jail, ambulance and detox services, found a July study by the Urban Institute.

Click here to read more about this story from The Pew Charitable Trusts.

The Biden administration released a memo extending 100% cost reimbursement for eligible COVID-related response activities under FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) Category B, including non-congregate sheltering for individuals experiencing homelessness and people with disabilities, through December 31, 2021. 

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is developing an emergency regulation requiring staff vaccinations within the nation’s more than 15,000 Medicare and Medicaid-participating nursing homes.

In New Jersey, Governor Murphey issued Executive Order 252 on August 6th requiring staff working in congregate settings to be fully vaccinated or submit for COVID-19 testing weekly by September 7, 2021. These settings include health care facilities, intermediate care facilities, opioid treatment programs, as well as some programs that serve the I/DD community. It remains to be seen how the federal regulations may add to what has been established in New Jersey by September 7, 2021.

The Kaiser Family Foundation released early findings from their 50-State Survey reviewing the response of State Medicaid home and community-based services programs to COVID-19. Key Findings Include:

The pandemic affected all Medicaid HCBS settings, though the primary impact identified by states varied somewhat by setting type. States most frequently reported that the pandemic resulted in workforce shortages for HCBS provided in an enrollee’s home⁹ and in group homes,¹⁰ while closures due to social distancing measures was the most frequently reported impact for adult day health programs¹¹ and supported employment programs¹² (Figure 2). For HCBS provided in an enrollee’s home, workforce shortages was closely followed by enrollees declining to have workers in their homes (Figure 2). States reported that some HCBS enrollees and their family members declined services due to fear of coronavirus exposure and had concerns about receiving in-person services until enrollees and providers could be vaccinated. To minimize service interruptions, some states reported using Medicaid emergency authorities to provide HCBS via telehealth where possible to enrollees at home and in adult day health programs. Some states also noted that utilization of supported employment services dropped due to job loss during the pandemic among the enrollees who received these services.

Most responding states (20 of 29) reported that the initial federal limit of three 30-day episodes for retainer payments was insufficient to fully support HCBS providers during the pandemic.¹⁶

The Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit Program (“NRTC”) will make its Project Application for 2021-22 (state FY 2022) available in SAGE on/about August 18, 2021.

NRTC will conduct a webinar on August 20, 2021 at 10:30 AM with respect to the NRTC Project Application for FY 2022. Click the following link to register for this webinar:

Please note that your registration confirmation e-mail will come from DCA's Kathleen Butler and not Brad Harrington; if you have questions, comments or feedback, please send them to Brad Harrington, not to Ms. Butler.

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The Social Security Administration recently changed their rules about what financial assistance can affect an individual’s eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or monthly SSI payment amount. Usually, they consider any item an individual receives in cash or in-kind that can be used to meet his or her need for food or shelter income. Generally, the more countable income someone has, the less their SSI monthly payment will be. If their countable income is over the allowable limit, they cannot receive SSI payments. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the SSA no longer counts most types of pandemic-related financial assistance against eligibility or payment amount.

A full list of Covid-19 financial assistance that no longer counts against SSI eligibility or SSI payment amount is available at Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) | SSA.

To address situations where an individual’s SSI application was denied, or their payment amount was reduced by receiving assistance, the SSA is reviewing SSI claims and other SSI records going back to the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The SSA expects the review will take several months to complete. In most cases, if an individual’s payment amount was affected, and no additional information is required, they will automatically restore SSI payments. If the SSA need to take a new SSI application or need any additional information, they will mail a letter explaining what is needed. Individuals do not need to call SSA offices unless they have moved and need to update their address. They can find the phone number to their local office by accessing the SSA office locator.

Kilolo Kijakazi, Acting Commissioner of the Social Security Administration , announced 12 new Compassionate Allowances conditions: Charlevoix Saguenay Spastic Ataxia

(ARSACS), Choroid Plexus Carcinoma, CIC-rearranged Sarcoma, Congenital Zika

Syndrome, Desmoplastic Mesothelioma, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy – Adult,

Pericardial Mesothelioma, Refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma, Renpenning Syndrome,

SCN8A Related Epilepsy with Encephalopathy, SYNGAP1-related NSID, and Taybi-

Linder Syndrome. Compassionate Allowances is an initiative that quickly identifies

severe medical conditions and diseases that meet Social Security’s standards for

disability benefits.

The Compassionate Allowances program quickly identifies claims where the applicant’s

condition or disease clearly meets Social Security’s statutory standard for disability.

Due to the severe nature of many of these conditions, these claims are often allowed

based on medical confirmation of the diagnosis alone; for example, certain cancers,

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and a number of rare disorders that affect children.

To date, more than 700,000 people with severe disabilities have been approved through

this accelerated, policy-compliant disability process, which has grown to a total of 254

conditions.

Click below for a flyer announcing the addition to the Compassionate Allowances Program.

Flyer in English | Flyer in Spanish

Each section of the Vaccine Equity Series focuses on the unique ways in which the histories and lived experiences of each specific group can be barriers to vaccine access. The four sections are:

The Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services is pleased to announce an evidence-based training opportunity for agencies that provide services to persons with mental health and/or co-occurring disorders using peer providers.

These services will be provided by the renown Beck Institute at no cost to the agency. Experience has demonstrated that implementation of CT-R can be culture changing and can also increase staff self-efficacy by creating connection with clients who may have seemed otherwise “hopeless”.

If you have any questions, please contact Margaret Molnar, DMHAS Special Assistant for Consumer Affairs and Project Coordinator at: Margaret.Molnar@dhs.nj.gov

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

DIVISION OF MEDICAL ASSISTANCE AND HEALTH SERVICES

Office Based Addiction Treatment (OBAT) Care Coordination Services

TAKE NOTICE that the Department of Human Services, Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services (DMAHS) intends to seek approval from the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), for an amendment to the New Jersey Medicaid (Title XIX) State Plan to allow any licensed healthcare provider to provide navigator services in the OBAT program.

This state plan amendment is not expected to have a financial impact and is intended to satisfy the requirements of Federal law and regulations, specifically 42 CFR 447.205, and 42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(13). A copy of this Notice is available for public review at the Medical Assistance Customer Centers, County Welfare Agencies, and the Department’s website at: http://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/providers/grants/public/index.html.

Comments or inquiries must be submitted in writing within 30 days of the date of this notice to: Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services

Office of Legal & Regulatory Affairs

Attention: Margaret Rose

P.O. Box 712, Mail Code #26

Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0712

Fax: 609-588-7343/ E-mail: Margaret.Rose@dhs.state.nj.us

Get the best of both worlds for our 23rd Annual Supportive Housing Conference with an in-person awards reception and virtual workshop and keynote experiences. Save on registering with Early Bird Pricing before September 24th. Save even more when you register 3 or more together on the same order and get 25% off your entire purchase!

A recent study revealed that more than 50% of women experiencing homelessness in the country and more than 40% across Los Angeles are survivors of domestic violence. Yet, despite the alarming numbers, there remains a shortage of public guidance on housing solutions that can help survivors of trauma recover and achieve housing stability.

CSH is proud to present a special four-part webinar series focused on refining your expertise in addressing permanent supportive housing needs for domestic violence and trauma survivors in partnership with the National Alliance for Safe Housing (NASH) and the Downtown Women's Center in Los Angeles (DWC).

Pat Tatum – Veteran Outreach, and Bob Looby, Chairman, Employment, Homeless & Education Committee, National Employment & Homeless Commission, The American Legion, Department of New Jersey, NJ Veterans Service Council Member are spreading the word on the Veterans Regional Stand Down in Atlantic City on September 8, 2021 from 10 am – 3 pm.

Click here for an informational flyer.

Celebrate Labor Day and National Recovery Month by joining world-renowned experts, including keynote speaker U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh, for this special one-day online event focused on cutting-edge ideas to help people in early recovery.

The symposium will be offered at no charge and will include such sessions as:

• Answering the Why: What Does the Research Say About the Importance of Employment

to Recovery?

• Banding Together: Cross-Systems Collaboration Is Key

• Rally Employers: Now Is the Time to Advance “Recovery-Ready Workplaces”

• What We Do and How We Do It: A Groundbreaking Approach—The ATR Model for

Customized Employment Supports for People with Substance Use Disorders

• Call to Action: Next Steps to Carry Us Forward

To learn more about the National Disability Forum, check out https://www.ssa.gov/ndf/.

If you have any questions, email us at OEA.Net.Post@ssa.gov.

DRNJ 2021 Assistive Technology and

8:30am - 3:00pm Eastern Time

Be sure to visit one of the three upcoming Sustainable Health & Wellness Village® Festivals (SHWV) being held throughout NJ in the coming months.  Organized by Caresparc Consulting in conjunction with city officials, these FREE, 3-day community-based health and wellness festivals offer attendees baseline health screenings and consultations, expert-led educational presentations, information on practical lifestyle products and many other healthy and fun activities designed for all ages, such as live music performances, art demonstrations, group fitness activities and more. This year’s festivals were designed with careful attention to current CDC guidelines, including use of face coverings, physical distancing, and open-air pavilions.

Is your agency/program interested in having a table at the festivals? Contact Kevin Silvestri of Caresparc Consulting at: ksilvestrini@caresparc.com

There are many great ways of supporting SHA: Join as a member, send donations, or shop with AmazonSmile. Thank you for your support!

Want all the member benefits with SHA? Visit our website or contact Joseph Christensen to apply or manage your membership.

Members can post jobs to find applicants within the wider supportive housing community. Click on the button to visit our job page.