MARCH 2021 NEWSLETTER
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CONTINUUM OF CARE UPDATES
Thank you to all the partner organizations, volunteers, donors, and collaborators for supporting our most vulnerable during the Texas Severe Winter Storm!
Image by: Gavin Rogers, Corazon Ministries
Image by: Dawn White-Fosdick, Christian Assistance Ministry
Image by: Gavin Rogers, Corazon Ministries
Image by: SAMMinistries
If you or someone you know is in need of home repair assistance or other local resources related to the aftermath of the Texas Severe Winter Storm, please visit the following site from the City of San Antonio: www.strongertogether.sanantonio.gov/Get-Help/.
HUD Issues Winter Weather Waivers for CPD Programs
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued a memorandum regarding the availability of suspensions and waivers of certain statutory and regulatory requirements associated with several Community Planning and Development (CPD) grant programs to address damage and facilitate recovery from severe winter weather in areas covered by a federally-declared major disaster. This memorandum covers the following CPD programs:
  • Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
  • HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME)
  • Housing Trust Fund (HTF)
  • Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA), and
  • Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG).
Membership Council Updates
  • Housing Strategies Workgroup Co-Chair Application Open: If your agency is active in our Membership Council and you are interested in developing housing strategies for persons at-risk of or experiencing homelessness, we invite you to apply for a leadership role in the Continuum of Care. Click here to learn more and apply.
 
  • Coming soon: Membership Council Service Director At-large application
  • Prospera Housing Community Services, welcome to Membership Council! We are thrilled to work with you and gauge your experience of over 25 years in providing safe, high-quality, affordable housing and support services.
New Partner Resources on the SARAH Website

  • Rapid Rehousing Training (RRH) and Discussion Materials – ICF and SARAH conducted an RRH Training and Discussion Series in December and January. All presentation and discussion materials can be accessed here on our website.
CoC and ESG Written Standards Update

The Continuum of Care (CoC) Board of Directors has approved changes to the CoC and ESG Written Standards. These changes include duplication of benefits, the addition of street outreach expenses related to transportation, and the addition of hygiene expenses with ESG-CV funding. Click here to view the updated document.
Data Reporting Updates
  • Point-in-Time (PIT) Count 2021: We thank all agencies who submitted their sheltered PIT Count data. SARAH will report these numbers on behalf of our community and will present an analysis including unsheltered data gathered from HMIS this spring. Stay tuned for more details!

  • System Performance Measures (SPM): The CoC will report our community’s SPMs to HUD on March 15th. SARAH will share this information along with the PIT Count data in the spring. Click here to learn more about SPMs.
FUNDING COMPETITIONS
Youth and Young Adult (YYA) Drop-in Center RFP
Request for Proposals (RFPs) for the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program Drop-in Center is available, and we are accepting applications until March 8th.

$1,506,977 is prioritized for a Youth and Young Adult (YYA) drop-in center. This location will serve as the main access point for YYA at-risk of or experiencing homelessness and will help connect you to resources and meet their needs. The YHDP grant term is two years and the contract start date is planned for the Spring/Summer of 2021. The new deadline to apply is March 8, 2021, at 12:00 PM (CST). 

For questions, please reach out to grants@sarahomeless.org
The San Antonio Housing
Trust's $3 Million NOFA - Updated Application Due Date
The San Antonio Housing Trust has issued a $3,000,000 Notice of Funding Availability to support non-profit 501(c)(3) and social enterprises' efforts to preserve, protect, and create affordable housing. Applications should demonstrate solutions for low-income housing that support inequitably disadvantaged populations (i.e. elderly persons with physical/mental disabilities, low-income families with children, people experiencing homelessness, chronically ill, etc.)

The new application due date is March 17, 2021, and the new evaluation period is from March 18th to 26th. Click here to learn more and apply.
HOMELINK HAPPENINGS
Because this orientation training is extensive, one full session will be split into two days; attendees must attend both days.

This training is for anyone who conducts Homelink assessments or Homelink claims, sends or receives referrals; or if you need to get certified to obtain access. Please note that only 10 spots are available for each pair of training dates. Please contact PatriciaPalomo@sarahomeless.org for the training registration link.
Diversion Problem Solving Virtual Support Group

Join us every third Thursday of the month at 1:00 PM for the Diversion Problem Solving Support Group. We will give diversion updates, look at client-driven problem-solving strategies, discuss documentation best practices, advocacy, and discuss needs around the table. This is a great opportunity to get to know your peers. Information will be sent out via email soon. We hope to see you all there!
COMMUNITY RESOURCES

March 8 - 10 , 2021
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM CST

Join The National Alliance to End Homelessness' virtual conference in March. This conference will reinforce proven strategies, address emerging challenges, and find innovative ways to solve problems. 
Workshops were developed by people who have experienced homelessness, with a focus on race and equity.
Shared Housing Now! Conference

March 23 - March 24, 2021
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM (CST)

This conference from the Shared Housing Institute features a great line-up of shared housing practitioners from around the country. Topics such as maximizing ESG funding during the pandemic and beyond, ‘selling’ shared housing to clients and landlords, linking shared housing to CES and HMIS, matching clients for shared living, conflict resolution approaches, and more will be discussed. The conference is an eligible training expense for most VA and HUD homeless programs. Click here to register.
Community of Practice Roundtable

Monday, March 29th, 2021
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM (CST)

SARAH and LISC are coordinating a “Community of Practice Roundtable” discussion on “Housing Navigation”. If you are interested in attending, please contact Dr. Azza Kamal at azzakamal@sarahomeless.org
The San Antonio Housing Trust (SAHT) Foundation's Proposed Tenant Protection Policy

Click here to view SAHT's Proposed Tenant Protection Policy, aimed at guiding the relationship between development partners and tenants residing in SAHT properties concerning tenant rights issues.

 
SAHT will accept public comments now through March 12, 2021, at 5 PM. SAHT will accept written public comments submitted by either:
1. U.S. mail, courier, or hand-deliver to 2515 Blanco Road, San Antonio, TX 78212

2. Email to Nicole Collazo at nicolec@saht.org

April 12 - 29, 2021

Join the National Human Services Data Consortium for their virtual month-long conference, " A Year of Crisis: Using Human Services Data to Recover from the Pandemic". Click here to register.
SARAH EVENTS & NEWS
Every Wednesday | 9:30 am - 10:30 am
COVID-19 & Homelessness Weekly Coordination Call
MARCH 11 | 2 pm - 3:30 pm
Chronic Homelessness Workgroup
MARCH 12 | 1 pm - 1 pm
Housing Strategies Workgroup
MARCH 16 | 3:30 pm - 4:40 pm
Family Homelessness Workgroup
MARCH 16 & MARCH 30 | 1 pm - 3 pm
Veteran Workgroup
MARCH 24 | 1:30 pm - 2 pm
Federal Grant Recipient Monthly Call
MARCH 25 | 2:30 pm - 4 pm
SARAH Membership Council
MARCH 26 | 9:30 am - 10:30 am
Youth Homelessness Workgroup meeting canceled this month - YHDP Education Convening will take its place for this date.
MARCH 31 | 10:30 am - 11:15 am
HMIS Advisory Committee
To request your meeting to be added to our distribution list, email contactsarah@sarahomeless.org with the name and date of the meeting.
SARAH Employment Opportunity
SARAH’s Community Engagement Department has an opening for the position of Communications Coordinator. If you have a passion for graphic design, communications strategies, social media, website development, marketing, and fundraising in the nonprofit sector, we invite you to apply!
Visit us online at sarahomeless.org