Hud Awards $1 Million To Fight

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NJHMFA Tax Credit Compliance

LIHTC Year 15 Considerations

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The Food Bank Network of Somerset County

DCM Associates, Inc. is seeking a new Executive Director for The Food Bank Network of Somerset County, New Jersey. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of transformational and inspirational leadership. The new Executive Director will take the reins from Founder & Executive Director Marie Scannell, who has announced her retirement after 39 years of working for the organization. Prior experience with social impact organizations is ideal but not required. Click here to view the ideal candidate profile for this position.

If you would like to express your interest in this position or would like to nominate a candidate, please contact Joe Duffy, Executive Vice President-Executive Search at joe@dcm-associates.com or 973-296-2499 or Allan Weisberg, Managing Director & Chief Learning Officer at allan@dcm-associates.com or 908-202-7600.

Please send a cover letter and resume to Michele Hickey, Managing Director, Northeast Regional Office at michele@dcm-associates.com.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is awarding more than $123 million in funding through six grant programs to support communities and health care organizations as the nation continues to combat the overdose epidemic. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there was an almost 31% increase in fatal overdoses in the year ending January 2021 compared to the prior year. These grants will help make prevention, treatment and recovery supports more accessible to address the alarming increase in overdose-related deaths.

SHA applauds members who will receive funds including Oaks Integrated Care, and Rutgers Behavioral Health. SHA also notes that the NJ DHS will receive funds for the Strategic Prevention Framework for Prescription Drugs.

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 Census Bureau just released 2020 poverty, income, and health insurance figures on September 14th. The data shows how many more people may have fallen below the poverty line in the COVID-19 pandemic without government support. The assistance prevented or reduced financial hardship for many in a time of deep economic crisis. Without these expansions, UI benefits would have done far less to reduce poverty and hardship during 2020.

To learn more about the data released, visit the census quick facts here to compare New Jersey's ranking with other states, with past precedent, and national trends on poverty, income, and health insurance among other data points.

In advance of the data release, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities shared some key indicators to watch in the new data including:

The following article appears in HUD USER's PD&R Edge on Opportunities to Increase Housing Production and Preservation.

HUD’s Policy Development and Research Office released research exploring opportunities to increase housing production and preservation across the U.S. The research notes that state and local land use regulations that limit the number of new housing units that can be built or preserved impose significant costs on development and drive up housing costs overall. It explains that higher housing costs limit the availability of federal housing assistance for eligible households by driving up program costs for federal housing aid.

The research highlights that a number of jurisdictions across the country are taking steps to reduce barriers to housing production and preservation, such as eliminating parking minimums, allowing low-density multifamily housing as by-right development, and expediting development approvals. It also highlights HUD’s Regulatory Barriers Clearinghouse, a one-stop portal that assembles and disseminates information on state and local regulations and policies affecting the creation and maintenance of affordable housing.

Publishes Notice of Funds Availability

The Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund published in the Federal Register a notice of funds availability (NOFA) inviting applications for the FY21 funding round of the Capital Magnet Fund (CMF). Through the CMF, the CDFI Fund provides financial assistance grants to Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and qualified non-profit housing organizations, and these awards may be used by grantees to finance affordable housing and related economic development and community service facilities. Funding for the CMF comes from allocations made available by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which vary from year to year. The CDFI Fund plans to award over $380 million in grants for the CMF FY21 funding round, setting a funding cap of 15 percent of the aggregate available awards per applicant. Applications to the CMF NOFA are due by Tuesday, November 9.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded $47.4 million to fair housing organizations across the country under its Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP). The grants will support the efforts of 120 national and local fair housing organizations working to address violations of the Fair Housing Act and helping to end discrimination in housing. In New Jersey, HUD awarded $1,000,000 to four local organizations to fight and prevent discrimination in housing. The organizations include: New Jersey Citizen Action Education Fund, Inc., Fair Housing Council of Northern New Jersey, Fair Housing Council of Northern New Jersey, and Citizen Action of New Jersey

People who believe they have experienced discrimination may file a complaint by contacting HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at (800) 669-9777 (voice) or (800) 877-8339 (Relay). Housing discrimination complaints may also be filed by going to hud.gov/fairhousing. (InsiderNJ, September 14, 2021)

HUD has issued Notice CPD-21-10: Requirements for the Use of Funds in the HOME-American Rescue Plan (HOME-ARP) Program (HOME-ARP Notice) which establishes requirements for funds appropriated under section 3205 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (P.L. 117-2) (ARP) for the HOME Program to provide homelessness assistance and supportive services. The HOME-ARP Notice includes an Appendix: Waivers and Alternative Requirements for Implementation of the HOME-ARP Program which describes waivers and alternative requirements, consistent with ARP, imposed on all HOME-ARP awards by the HOME-ARP Notice.

HUD has also issued a series of HOME-ARP Implementation Notice Fact Sheets to support program implementation.

If you are a Participating Jurisdiction (PJ) or HUD grantee with a HOME-ARP policy or program implementation question, please contact your local HUD Field Office or the HOME-ARP mailbox.

The Biden-Harris Administration announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), is making $25.5 billion in new funding available for health care providers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding includes $8.5 billion in American Rescue Plan (ARP) resources for providers who serve rural Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), or Medicare patients, and an additional $17 billion for Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Phase 4 for a broad range of providers who can document revenue loss and expenses associated with the pandemic.

Consistent with the requirements included in the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2020, PRF Phase 4 payments will be based on providers' lost revenues and expenditures between July 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021. As part of the Biden-Harris Administration's ongoing commitment to equity, and to support providers with the most need, PRF Phase 4 will reimburse smaller providers—who tend to operate on thin margins and often serve vulnerable or isolated communities—for their lost revenues and COVID-19 expenses at a higher rate compared to larger providers. PRF Phase 4 will also include bonus payments for providers who serve Medicaid, CHIP, and/or Medicare patients, who tend to be lower income and have greater and more complex medical needs. HRSA will price these bonus payments at the generally higher Medicare rates to ensure equity for those serving low-income children, pregnant women, people with disabilities, and seniors.

To promote transparency in the PRF program, HHS also released a detailed PDF (PDF - 175 KB) about the methodology utilized to calculate PRF Phase 3 payments. Providers who believe their PRF Phase 3 payment was not calculated correctly according to this methodology will now have an opportunity to request a reconsideration. Further details on the PRF Phase 3 reconsideration process are forthcoming.

Additionally, in light of the challenges providers across the country are facing due to recent natural disasters and the Delta variant, HHS is announcing today a final 60-day grace period to help providers come into compliance with their PRF Reporting requirements if they fail to meet the deadline on September 30, 2021, for the first PRF Reporting Time Period. While the deadlines to use funds and the Reporting Time Period will not change, HHS will not initiate collection activities or similar enforcement actions for noncompliant providers during this grace period.

For more information about eligibility requirements, the documents and information providers will need to complete their application, and the application process for PRF Phase 4 and ARP Rural payments, visit: https://www.hrsa.gov/provider-relief/future-payments.

The 1115 NJ FamilyCare Comprehensive Demonstration (formerly Comprehensive Medicaid Waiver), which governs the operations of significant components of the state Medicaid program and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), is due to expire on June 30, 2022. The NJ Department of Human Services (DHS), Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services (DMAHS) intends to submit its renewal application to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in Fall 2021.In advance of that submission, DMAHS has published the Draft Renewal Proposal and is accepting public comment on the proposed changes. All stakeholders are encouraged to participate in this process and provide comment.

DHS/DMAHS is holding a 1115 Renewal Public Hearing via webinar on Monday, September 27, 2021 at 9:30 am. Comments on or inquiries about the Draft Renewal Proposal must be submitted in writing by October 11, 2021:

By Email: DMAHS.CMWcomments@dhs.nj.gov

Please note that comments will continue to be accepted after October 11, 2021, but DHS may not be able to consider those comments prior to the initial submission to CMS. Additionally, the Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities has developed a guide booklet, Sharing Your Vision in Advocacy: Providing Stakeholder Input, with information for individuals about providing input about how they would like supports and services to help them achieve the life they want.

To ensure that displaced residents can find stable housing quickly, New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) is urging all property providers to list available rental housing by going to NJHRC.gov and clicking on “Add Housing.” The process of listing an available unit takes about 10 minutes, is completely free and can be done online or by calling 1-877-428-8844.

Although property listings in all New Jersey counties are welcome, please note that there is an urgent need for all available rental housing in the 11 major disaster areas listed below:

Assist New Jersey residents impacted by Tropical Storm Ida by listing your properties for FREE.

Call toll-free: 1-877-428-8844 or visit www.NJHRC.gov 

The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) is offering a 3-day Tax Credit Compliance Live Webinar on October 26-28, 2021. Each day will consist of six (6) “live” training hours (not recorded). Participation is strongly suggested for those who are new to the Tax Credit Program.

The HCCP (Housing Credit Certified Professional) Certification exam will be offered online on Friday, October 29, 2021. Certificates will be issued by E&A Team, after October 29, 2021, for completion of each daily training.

When:

Fee:

(Substitutions will be permitted until October 8, 2021) Please contact Johanna Peña.

The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs is providing a social media toolkit to assist in amplifying messaging to renters about the COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program (CVERAP) in the State of New Jersey. We are asking you to use this social media toolkit to reach your network with vital information about how to help New Jersey residents get rental assistance and navigate this unprecedented situation.

Residents of ten New Jersey counties are currently eligible for direct help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for Ida damages as a result of a Major Disaster Declaration. Bergen, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Passaic, and Somerset counties were added to the declaration on Monday, September 6th. Essex, Hudson, Mercer, and Union counties were added September 10th. If you live in an eligible county, you can apply now for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs designed to help people and business owners recover by visiting https://www.disasterassistance.gov/.

Governor Murphy is actively making the case for additional counties to be made eligible for FEMA assistance. New Jerseyans affected by the storm not yet included in the FEMA declaration can log their damages with the State at damagenj-njoem.hub.arcgis.com which will help make the case for an extension of the Major Disaster Declaration.

The New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities (NJCDD) announces a three-year funding opportunity (up to $300,000, excluding required 25% match) for a qualified entity to design and deliver projects that create leadership training opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).

The New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities (NJCDD) announces a two-year funding opportunity (up to $250,000, excluding 25% required match) for a qualified entity to increase access to information for Black New Jersey residents with I/DD and their families.

The New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities (NJCDD) announces a one-year funding opportunity (up to $125,000 excluding required 25% match) for a qualified entity to improve and increase the level of diversity, equity, cultural competency and linguistic responsiveness at NJCDD.

The New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) announces the availability of funding for Gambling Disorder Clinician Services Program. This Request for Proposals (RFP) is issued by the New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) to develop gambling disorder services rendered through a Gambling Disorder Clinician to provide treatment and case management for individuals with a dual disorder of gambling and substance use. Individuals with a co-occurring mental health disorder shall not be excluded. This RFP is funded through DMHAS.

Proposal Due Date – no later than 4:00 p.m. on September 24, 2021

Notify Date – October 22, 2021

RFP | NOFA

on September 27, 2021.

Take time to learn with the team from the Special Needs Funding Coach this September and October. Read the attached schedule for their upcoming free fall webinars and email Elizabeth Neumann at eneumann@nlgroupmail.com to register for the sessions. Additional events will be posted to their Facebook page too.

Click here for more details and dates for the upcoming fall webinars.

More information regarding program requirements, terms, and conditions, is available on camdencounty.com or any organization with questions should email them to info@camdencountycommunitygrant.com.

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!

Pre-registration is encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome (though walk-ins will have to wait to have their eligibility determined). Participants can pre-register by emailing their name and date of birth to: Jill.Houck@njcourts.gov.

The New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services is hosting its 2021 Opioid Summit, Medication for Opioid Use Disorder: Increasing Access and Saving Lives, on September 21st and September 22nd from 9:00AM to 2:00PM. The purpose of the Summit is to present innovative evidence based and best practice information to addiction professionals, professional counselors, medical professionals, nursing professionals, social workers, peers, family members, and other community stakeholders. The Summit presenters will address the impact of COVID-19 on Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), as well as provide information on Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD), OUD and stigma, OUD and mental health, harm reduction, recovery support systems, and OUD treatment and support services for populations such as the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community.  

To register for the event, please visit https://njopioidsummit2021.vfairs.com and click "Register".  

The proposed DCR rule is published in September 7th's New Jersey Register.

8:30am - 3:00pm Eastern Time

Click here to register for the meeting.

NJ Department of Human Services in partnership with NJ Department of Health Presents:

The 6th Annual Suicide Prevention Conference

Save The Date

Wednesday October 6, 2021 | 9:00 AM - 1 PM

We welcome anyone interested in learning about trauma and suicide prevention. The conference will feature presentations, breakout sessions, and a panel discussion.

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.