In this Week's Edition
News
FY22 Omnibus Spending
Legislation Signed Into Law
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HUD Announces $2.65 Billion in Awards
to Help People Experiencing Homelessness
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Federal Comment Period Now Open
For NJ FamilyCare Comprehensive 1115 Demonstration Renewal Application
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NJHMFA Update:
Special Needs Housing
Trust Fund Underwriting
and Financing Guidelines & Policy
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SHA Seeks Focus Group Participants
For NJ Housing Navigation Project
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New NLIHC and UPenn Report
Emergency Rental Assistance
During The Pandemic: Implications For The Design Of Permanent ERA Programs
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DMHAS RFP For Contingency Management
Program For Stimulant Use Disorder
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Youth Engagement Week March 21-25, 2022:
“Engaging Today Brings Change Tomorrow”
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CSH March Promo for Employee Appreciation:
Five FREE Self-Paced Courses
Resources & Virtual Forums
NJAAW 2022 Housing Series Videos
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Trainings In March From The
NJ Division On Civil Rights
March 2022
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Understanding and Addressing
Unmet Needs in HCBS Through
the Lens of Person-Centered Practices
March 31, 2022
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Rutgers CSS Clinician Documentation Training
April 19 & 26, 2022
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Boggs Center Spring 2022
Developmental Disabilities Lecture Series
April - May 2022
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Next SHA
Members Meeting
Next SHA
Developers Meeting
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NLIHC Virtual Housing
Policy Forum 2022
March 22-23, 2022
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HCDNNJ
Healthy Homes & Communities Summit Online
April 29, 2022 | 9am-1:30pm
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Check the New
Housing Available in:
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SHA is looking to hire a part-time administrator to support the Executive Director and provide general administrative duties for meetings and various projects
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Shout out to Oaks Integrated Care on being awarded a DMHAS contract for mental health providers combine treatments for co-occurring substance Use Disorder. The $300,000 program will be supported through federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s State Opioid Response grant funding. Services are expected to start on June 30.
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Congratulations to Paul Aronsohn who will be appointed by President Biden to serve on the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities. The President’s Committee on People with Intellectual Disabilities serves as a federal advisor to the President and the Secretary of Health and Human Services on matters relating to persons with intellectual disabilities. Aronsohn currently serves as New Jersey’s statewide Ombudsman for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities and Their Families.
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SHA Welcomes New Members In 2022 |
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FY22 Omnibus Spending Legislation Signed Into Law |
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On March 11th, President Biden signed the $1.5 trillion FY22 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, H.R. 2471, in advance of the expiration of the Continuing Resolution that was funding the federal government. The legislation includes significant increases to many key affordable housing and community development programs – all of which Enterprise called for in its list of 2022 policy priorities. The bill includes a $4 billion increase for HUD, providing $53.7 billion for the agency in FY22, as well as increases to critical affordable housing and community development programs at Treasury and USDA.
Enterprise Community Partners provided the following review of key affordable housing and community development funding highlights from the legislation including:
- $27.4 billion for Tenant-Based Rental Assistance, $1.6 billion over FY21;
- $13.9 billion for Project-Based Rental Assistance, up from $13.5 billion in FY21;
- $8.45 billion for Public Housing, $645.5 million above FY21;
- $3.3 billion for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), a slight decrease from FY21;
- $1.5 billion for HOME, $150 million above FY21;
- $41 million for Section 4, level with FY21;
- $295 million for Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund, $25 million more than FY21 enacted levels; and
- $1.45 billion for USDA’s Section 521 rental assistance, $40 million over FY21.
The package did not include the Covid-19 supplemental requested by President Biden, which is expected to be considered soon. The legislation did, however, include funding for Ukraine and reauthorizations of the Violence Against Women Act, the National Flood Insurance Program, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.
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HUD Announces $2.65 Billion in Awards
to Help People Experiencing Homelessness
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HUD has announced $2.645 billion in FY 2021 Continuum of Care (CoC) Competition Awards to approximately 7,000 local homeless housing and service programs across the U.S. and its territories. These CoC grants provide funding for efforts by nonprofit providers, states, and local governments to quickly rehouse individuals and families experiencing homelessness and provide support while minimizing the trauma and dislocation caused by homelessness.
The $2.6 billion in awards will provide funding to communities to help individuals and families experiencing homelessness move into permanent housing with access to supportive services, with the overarching goal of long-term stability. Included within these funds is approximately $102 million for new domestic violence support projects, as well as funding for new permanent supportive housing, new rapid rehousing, and projects that provide transitional housing to households and then shift them to rapid rehousing. New Jersey is set to receive nearly $54 million in funding
SHA congratulates our all of members who received awards to continue their work in their communities.
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Federal Comment Period Now Open For NJ FamilyCare Comprehensive 1115 Demonstration Renewal Application |
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The following has been shared by the New Jersey Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services:
Dear friends of the NJ FamilyCare Medicaid community,
We are excited to report that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has deemed New Jersey’s FamilyCare Comprehensive Demonstration Renewal proposal to be complete. This proposal is now open for the federal comment period, which will run from March 11, 2022 – April 10, 2022. Federal comments can be submitted through Medicaid.gov and you can find New Jersey’s application and comment opportunity here.
Thank you,
The New Jersey Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services
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NJHMFA Update:
Special Needs Housing Trust Fund
Underwriting and Financing Guidelines & Policy
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Attention Developers:
The Special Needs Housing Trust Fund Underwriting and Financing Guidelines and Policy were updated effective February 24, 2022. Revisions include increasing the maximum loan amount from $100,000 to $150,000 per unit for mixed occupancy projects and establishing a $4,000,000 maximum loan amount for a single project. Please use the link below to view the updated guidelines.
Questions? Need Help?
If you have questions about SNHTF e-mail your requests to Tanya Hudson-Murray, THudson-Murray@njhmfa.gov, Managing Director of Multifamily Programs or Donna Spencer, DSpencer@njhmfa.gov, Director of Multifamily/ Supportive Housing and Lending.
Access forms, checklists, policies, previous developer bulletins and more under the Developer Tab, on the NJHMFA website.
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SHA Seeks Focus Group Participants
For NJ Housing Navigation Project
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The goal of the New Jersey Housing Navigation Project (NJHNP) is to bridge a gap that will bring greater access to affordable housing to those most economically challenged in New Jersey. Through better understanding of both successful strategies and barriers to service delivery, the project aims to strengthen services that connect people with available housing and the capacity for program coordination throughout the state.
Goal of the Focus Groups:
The focus groups will help us gain an understanding of how very low income households are getting connected to housing in NJ. We will be conducting six focus groups with NJ residents who have used services to connect to housing. We will be working with individuals from a range of backgrounds and regions.
How to Join a Focus Group:
We will let you know via email whether or not you have been chosen to participate. Focus group participants will receive a gift card as a thank you for their participation.
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New NLIHC and UPenn Report
Emergency Rental Assistance During The Pandemic:
Implications For The Design Of Permanent ERA Programs
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Based on the analysis of a survey of 100 ERA program administrators from across the country as well as prior research – including three previous surveys of ERA program administrators and case studies of 15 programs – the report identifies persistent challenges faced by ERA programs and presents strategies to address them.
As the report shows, ERA programs faced persistent challenges in four areas: (1) staff capacity, technology, and infrastructure; (2) tenant responsiveness and application completeness; (3) landlord responsiveness; and (4) federal oversight. Over time, an increasing number of programs partnered with nonprofits to help administer their programs; conducted more targeted outreach through housing courts; introduced greater documentation flexibility through self-attestation, fact-specific proxies, and categorical eligibility; loosened landlord requirements; and incorporated direct-to-tenant assistance.
The report concludes by providing four important considerations for efforts to establish permanent ERA programs:
- Sufficient and sustained funding is important for building adequate infrastructure and capacity. Permanent ERA programs with sustained funding would preserve the program infrastructures created by temporary ERA programs and give program administrators the opportunity to make longer-term improvements in staffing, technology, and staff training.
- Flexibility in eligibility and documentation requirements, as well as targeted outreach, are important for program accessibility. Incomplete applications and difficulties related to obtaining documents from tenants have posed persistent challenges for ERA programs, which greater flexibility may help alleviate.
- Direct-to-tenant assistance can also improve program accessibility. Providing assistance directly to tenants ensures that qualified tenants are not denied aid simply because their landlord does not engage with a government program.
- Clear and timely guidance and program parameters can increase program administrators’ certainty in making decisions on infrastructure, capacity, and program design. Shifting guidance forced ERA administrators to frequently revise program design and implementation, which increased administrative burdens and slowed the disbursal of funds.
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DMHAS RFP For Contingency Management
Program For Stimulant Use Disorder
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This Request for Proposal (RFP) is issued by the New Jersey Department Human Services (DHS), Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) for the development of a Contingency Management program for stimulant use disorder. This RFP is funded through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) State Opioid Response to Grants (SOR). The SOR grant period is September 30, 2020 to September 29, 2022. Funding is available for FFY 2022 and may be available for FFY 2023 depending on federal appropriations. The Contingency Management program is intended to be a two-year program. Total annualized funding is $2,000,000 per year, subject to federal appropriations per year, which must include services and funds to provide contingency management for individuals who have a stimulant use disorder. DMHAS anticipates making five (5) awards up to $400,000 each.
A pilot program to address the use of methamphetamine and cocaine use is proposed that will use contingency management and other behavioral therapies. At the time of issue of this RFP, the maximum incentive allowed is $75 per client. If SAMHSA, as the funder relaxes this ruling, the incentive limit will be increased to up to $500 per client. DMHAS will provide additional funding to the successful bidders for the additional incentive cost.
No Mandatory Bidders Conference.
Questions Due Date – March 17, 2022
Proposal Due Date – no later than 4:00 p.m. on April 7, 2022
Notify Date – April 29, 2022
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Youth Engagement Week March 21-25, 2022:
“Engaging Today Brings Change Tomorrow”
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Governor Murphy’s Inaugural Youth Engagement Week: “Engaging Today Brings Change Tomorrow” will take place next week from March 21st – March 25th, 2022. The week will include a series of virtual forums with information from a variety of state agencies.
Topics include:
- Climate & Sustainability
- College Access & Affordability
- Healthcare
- Civic Engagement and Working in Government
- Veteran Support & Services
- Social Justice, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
- Jobs & Business
- Structures & Systems of Government
Sign up now to participate in the first Youth Forum hosted by the Office of the Governor at www.nj.gov/youthforum.
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CSH March Promo for Employee Appreciation:
Five FREE Self-Paced Courses
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- Avoiding Burnout Self-Paced Training
- Onboarding Module: Housing First & Harm Reduction
- Working with Tenants: Key Strategies for Front Desk, Facilities, and Office Staff - Self-Paced
- Onboarding Module: Trauma-Informed Approaches to Supportive Housing
- Healthcare Navigation Basics for Supportive Housing
Don't forget, if you wish to sign up for paid training with CSH, SHA members get a 20% discount. Contact Joseph Christensen for details.
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Resources & Virtual Forums |
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NJAAW 2022 Housing Series Videos |
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There is not one large step from living independently in one’s home to needing assisted living – there are many steps and options along a continuum of needs, finances, preferences, and opportunities. The NJAAW Housing Series brought together experts in housing for older adults to explore options for people at various stages and levels of need. Reviewing housing from the perspective of the older adult, we explored strategies to help people stay in their home with modifications and built design; options for getting help in the home; options for downsizing and when assisted and supportive living becomes necessary. The series closed with policy perspectives on what is available now and what is needed to allow NJ residents to age in the setting of their choice. Recordings and slides from the presentations are available on our website, www.njaaw.org/events.
*This session includes insights from SHA's very own Executive Director, Diane Riley
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Trainings In March From The NJ Division On Civil Rights |
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Recognizing and Responding to Microaggressions
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Understanding and Addressing Unmet Needs in HCBS Through the Lens of Person-Centered Practices |
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March 31, 2022 | 3:00-4:30 PM/ET
High-quality Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) allow people with disabilities and older adults to direct their services in a person-centered manner, live independently, and participate in the community. However, many individuals who receive HCBS still have unmet needs for services and supports. While studies have found a connection between
unmet HCBS needs and adverse outcomes, including hospitalization, institutionalization, and death; few have examined user-reported perspectives about the quality and sufficiency of HCBS and their relationship to key health and community living outcomes. Therefore, researchers at the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy conducted a study to learn how many people who use HCBS need more services than they receive and understand the connection between unmet HCBS needs and health and community living outcomes.
Panelists will discuss what implications the results of the study have in regard to person-centered planning in HCBS, highlight opportunities for improvement, and discuss how to overcome challenges to advancing person-centered practices.
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Rutgers CSS Clinician Documentation Training
April 19 and 26 – Register Now
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The Rutgers School of Health Professions (SHP) is offering a two-session training that will provide licensed Community Support Services (CSS) providers (e.g., LCSW, LPC, LSW, LAC, RN) a clear understanding of CSS and documentation standards. This training is intended for licensed staff (pursuant to supervision guidelines) and Registered Nurses who are responsible for completing the CRNAs and IRPs for their agencies who have NEVER attended a CSS training OR who feel they need further training to complete these documents. CSS programs should limit registration to 1 to 2 staff.
This CSS Clinician Documentation training will review CSS interventions, psychiatric rehabilitation goals, values, and principles, the comprehensive rehabilitation needs assessment (CRNA), and the individualized rehabilitation plan (IRP). Sessions will be small enough to provide participants with practice opportunities.
The CSS Clinician Documentation training will be remote:
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There will be online content on Canvas to complete before the training.
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You must complete five asynchronous CSS Orientation Pre-Requisite Modules on Canvas (Overview of Admissions and Documentation, CSS Services, the Golden Thread of CSS, Development of the Rehabilitation Needs Assessment, and Development of the Individualized Rehabilitation Plan) by Tuesday 4/12 at 5 pm. These modules should take about 2-3 hours to complete.
- After the staff register, they will receive detailed instructions to sign up for Canvas and complete the pre-requisite modules.
- The training will be held live through Zoom over two days, and participants must attend both days:
- Day 1: April 19 (9:30 am-12:30 pm)
- Day 2: April 26 (9:30 am-12:30 pm)
Space is limited, so licensed staff (e.g., LCSW, LPC, LSW, LAC, RN) should register as soon as possible. Registration information must be for the staff attending the training.
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Healthy Homes & Communities Summit Online 2022
Registration Now Open
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Registration is now open for the Housing and Community Development Network of NJ's Healthy Homes & Communities Summit online 2022 on Friday, April 29th!
Housing is health and the pandemic has made the racial and economic gaps as well as the policies that connect these basic human needs unmistakable. Join us for this year's virtual Summit for thoughtful discussion, information, and resources to help create healthy homes and communities for all NJ residents. Event speakers and agenda coming soon!
Friday, April 29, 2022 | 9am-1:30pm
Registration:
$30 for Members
$50 for Non Member
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Boggs Center Spring 2022
Developmental Disabilities Lecture Series
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SPRING 2022 SESSIONS
Friday, April 1, 2022 l 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM l Webinar
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion and Person-Centered Practice
Friday, April 8, 2022 l 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM l Webinar
Supported Decision Making
Friday, April 22, 2022 l 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM l Webinar
Neurodiversity, Self-Advocacy, and Self-Determination
Friday, May 13, 2022 l 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM l Webinar
Acknowledging and Fostering the Critical Role of Support Coordinators
The Spring 2022 Developmental Disabilities Lecture Series will be held on the Zoom Webinar platform. The webinars are free of charge. Space is limited for each of the sessions. Open to people who live or work in New Jersey.
To access the webinars, you must register in advance on The Boggs Center Online Registration System.
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There are many great ways of supporting SHA: Join as a member, send donations, or shop with AmazonSmile. Thank you for your support!
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Want all the member benefits with SHA? Visit our website or contact Joseph Christensen to apply or manage your membership.
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Members can post jobs to find applicants within the wider supportive housing community. Click on the button to visit our job page.
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Diane Riley, Executive Director
Joseph Christensen, Membership & Communication Manager
Kate Kelly, MSW – Integrated Community Project Manager
Kate Leahy, Housing Navigator Project Manager
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Advocate ● Educate ● Support
The Supportive Housing Association of New Jersey unites its diverse coalition of members engaging development, resources, and information to sustain supportive housing systems within New Jersey. Since 1998, our statewide mission seeks to enhance lives and accessibility to enable independent living within our communities.
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Supportive Housing Association of New Jersey
185 Valley Street, South Orange, NJ 07079
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