In this Week's Edition
News
SHA Lunch & Learn - February 23, 2022
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Governor Murphy Announces
Foreclosure Prevention Funding
To Support New Jersey
Communities and Residents
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Addressing The History And Impact
Of Racism In New Jersey Housing
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NJCDD Video Series Explores
Black History and People With Disabilities
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NJ To Spur Redevelopment Of Neglected Sites
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Reminder Applications Now Open
Affordable Housing Gap Subsidy
Loan Program Update With
Guidelines, Checklist, and UNIAP
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Reminder
Applications Now Open for Emergency
Rescue Mortgage Assistance Program
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CSH Launching Next
Healthy Aging Academy New Jersey
Register Now - Limit 50 Attendees Per Session
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to Build Inclusive Communities
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DMHAS Offers Free Counseling for Professionals Providing Treatments in Substance Use and Mental Health
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Place Your Order for
Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests
Resources & Virtual Forums
The NJAAW Housing Series Webinars
February 2022
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Trainings from the NJ Division on Civil Rights
January 2022 - February 2022
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Next SHA
Developers Meeting
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Next SHA
Members Meeting
(Annual Meeting)
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NLIHC Virtual Housing
Policy Forum 2022
March 22-23, 2022
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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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DCM Associates is helping NJSACC recruit a dynamic afterschool education professional to become its next CEO.
Click here to view the full ideal candidate profile.
If you would like to express your interest in this position, please send a cover letter and resume to Susan Hairston, Managing Director, at susan@dcm-associates.com. If you would like to discuss the opportunity further or would like to recommend a candidate, please contact Dennis C. Miller, Founder & Chairman at dennis@dcm-associates.com or by phone at 201.956.1810.
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Help New Jersey families avoid foreclosure, and guide them through the homebuying or renting process! New Jersey Citizen Action is hiring a full-time HUD-certified Housing Counselor to be based out of our Central Jersey office in Highland Park (currently remote). Under the direction of NJCA’s Director of Loan Counseling and Loss Mitigation, the Housing Counselor provides foreclosure prevention counseling, pre-purchase counseling, rental counseling and one-on-one counseling for credit repair, budgeting and mortgage prequalification to first-time homebuyers. For more information about this position or for details on applying, click here.
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SHA Welcomes New Members In 2022
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SHA Lunch & Learn - February 23, 2022
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Green Energy Growing Housing Opportunities
February 23, 2022 – 12:00-1:00 PM EDT
The Garden State is growing its green economy and helping low- and middle- income (LMI) residents become part of this environmental progress. Join us for our next Lunch and Learn on February 23rd as SHA Members Solar Landscape and Dimension Renewable Energy describe the community, environmental, and housing benefits that are all part of The Community Solar Energy Pilot Program.
With over 135,000 solar installations, the Garden State is No. 1 in the country for installed solar capacity per square mile, and according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory has the most planned community solar capacity serving LMI households. Tune in to learn how to reduce electricity costs for tenants and fight climate change without additional costs or property alterations!
Registration Open
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Governor Murphy Announces Foreclosure Prevention Funding
to Support New Jersey Communities and Residents
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Following the 2008 financial crisis, New Jersey’s single-family residential market was decimated, with many properties purchased by investors for rental purposes, reducing the stock of affordable single-family homes. Nationwide, the financial impact of COVID-19 on homeowners may lead to a similar — if not greater — loss of single-family homes.
The Murphy administration anticipates using these funds to purchase non-performing mortgage notes from the FHA prior to foreclosure proceedings. If the homeowner occupies the property, efforts will be made to assist the homeowner. If the property has been abandoned, steps will be taken to obtain title, complete any required rehabilitation, and return the home to the single-family market.
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Addressing The History And Impact
of Racism in New Jersey Housing
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Across the state there is a legacy of housing practices created by racism that have prevented an equal opportunity to all New Jersey residents to have housing. According to a report by the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, the effects are still widely felt in many communities as restrictions prevented access to housing, which in turn, prevented many from building equity and family resources. The following newscast from News12 expanded on the report showing how deeds for everything from developments to single homes would include wording limiting the potential residents to white-only and prevent fair access to purchase or rentals in those areas. While the Supreme Court struck down the use of such clauses in the late 1940s, continuing practices of redlining for bank loans among others would continue these challenges even to the present day.
The NJISJ report also goes into detail on policy proposals we can take to reckon with our past including:
- New Jersey should develop a lockbox fund to meaningfully and deeply invest resources into increasing homeownership in redlined communities
- New Jersey should establish the New Jersey Reparations Task Force (S-322/A-711) to develop innovative strategies to repair its racialized history of disinvestment in Black communities
- New Jersey should conduct an evaluation of the impact of its existing homeownership programs on redlined communities
- New Jersey should create a statewide Land Bank Commission to effectively implement its Land Bank Law
- New Jersey should support the expansion of Community Land Trusts in redlined communities
- The New Jersey Office of the Attorney General should open statewide investigations into housing discrimination and predatory lending
As we better understand the role and serious impact such practices had on shaping communities, it is vital that we find ways to address and correct the barriers to access for housing. By ensuring that communities are built on inclusion, it is one step of many needed to bring balance to housing access and wealth gaps that caused so much harm.
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NJCDD Video Series Explores
Black History and People With Disabilities
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As we take time to reflect, honor, and address Black History Month, the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities is producing a series of videos covering the lives of prominent people of color who also have disabilities. Take a moment to learn about their lives and the tremendous contributions they have brought through their life experiences.
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NJ To Spur Redevelopment Of Neglected Sites
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Reminder Applications Now Open
Affordable Housing Gap Subsidy Loan Program Update With Guidelines, Checklist, and UNIAP
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Attention Developers:
The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) advances the quality of life for residents and communities throughout New Jersey by investing in, financing, and facilitating access to affordable rental housing and homeownership opportunities for low and moderate-income families, older adults, and individuals with specialized housing needs.
Therefore, the NJHMFA is proud to announce the Affordable Housing Gap Subsidy Program (AHGS), approved at the January 13, 2022 Agency board meeting. Considering the increased construction costs and project funding gaps resulting from the pandemic and supply chain disruptions, the Murphy Administration and the New Jersey Legislature have made up to $40,000,000 in AHGS funding available, to be provided in the form of loans to eligible affordable housing projects. AHGS funding priority shall be given to 9% Low Income Housing Tax Credit projects that are in jeopardy of losing their credit allocation if they do not meet their placed in-service date and projects requesting the least amount of subsidy per affordable unit, among other criteria. Any remaining AHGS funds will then go to other eligible tax credit projects or other projects authorized under the legislation.
AHGS funding shall not exceed $ 1.5 million for projects with a total of up to 149 units, and the maximum loan may not exceed $2.5 million for projects with a total of 150 units or greater. Use the button below to view the AHGS Guidelines. Subsequent bulletins with necessary information like application and documents checklists will be sent to you as soon as they are available.
The AHGS financing application submission must contain the documentation as listed in the UNIAP to be deemed a complete financing application. Please refer to pages 14 and 15 of the UNIAP for the required documentation to be submitted. Incomplete financing application submissions will not be processed.
Timeline to Submit Applications
First Cycle: February 15 to March 15, 2022
Second Cycle: May 2 to May 31, 2022
Questions? Need Help?
If you have questions about AHGS e-mail your requests to Tanya Hudson-Murray, Managing Director of Multifamily Programs or Donna Spencer, 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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Reminder
Applications Now Open for Emergency
Rescue Mortgage Assistance Program
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The ERMA application portal is now open for applications at: www.njerma.com as of February 8, 2022 - 9AM.
To qualify for the ERMA program, homeowners must meet the following requirements:
- Be a New Jersey homeowner with a demonstrated COVID-19-related financial hardship occurring after January 20, 2020;
- Own and occupy an eligible primary residence;
- Have an income below 150% of their Area Median Income (AMI).
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Required Documents: https://njerma.com/required-documents
NJHMFA will provide the centralized application intake platform, eligibility review, and payment of assistance, which will be made directly to the servicer.
Applicants may receive up to $35,000 per household to cover:
- Mortgage reinstatement assistance
- Other eligible housing related costs, including:
- Escrow shortages
- Delinquent property taxes
- Municipal or tax liens
- Up to four future mortgage payments, inclusive of principal, interest, taxes and homeowner’s insurance
ERMA applications can be submitted using a personal computer, laptop, smartphone, or tablet. Housing counselors are available to assist homeowners that need help completing the application or understanding all available options.
NJHMFA will work to accommodate homeowners with disabilities as well as to assist applicants with limited English proficiency. The application portal is available in many languages. Applicants seeking accommodations should contact NJHMFA at (855) 647-7700 between the hours of 8am and 5pm Monday through Friday for assistance. You can also email the ERMA team at HAFServicing@njhmfa.gov.
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CSH Launching Next Healthy Aging Academy New Jersey
Register Now - Limit 50 Attendees Per Session
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The Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) would like to invite you to our free New
Jersey Healthy Aging Academy! The Healthy Aging Academy will build the capacity of
housing and services providers across NJ to offer services tailored to meet their needs of
their older clients. The program will be held through six 90-minute webinars. All sessions
will be led by topic-specific content experts and will include facilitated discussions and
opportunities for case conferencing and peer learning.
We invite case managers, social workers, peer specialists, coordinators, and other professionals who work with older adults in a housing setting to participate. Below you will find a link to the listings for the Healthy Aging Academy series and brief description of each session. All sessions will be held on Thursdays from 9:30am – 11:00am. Please note that before each session, CSH will hold 30 minutes for virtual coffee and networking from 9:00am -9:30am.
Topics to include:
- Inclusivity and Racial Equity for Older Adults in Supportive Housing
- Supporting Tenants to Age in Place
- Wrap Around Relationships: Developing Collaborative Partnerships with Providers and External Aging Service Providers
- Understanding the Aging Process, Cognitive Change, and Behavioral Health
- Using Technology: From Assistive Technology to Telehealth
- End of Life Care and Planning
Each session will accommodate up to 50 participants so please register ASAP!
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Opens Access Grants to Build Inclusive Communities
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Counties may use the funding to implement the following initiatives:
Interested counties are encouraged to consider several initiatives when applying. Applicants should define the settings in their counties where increased access will be available as a result of this funding.
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DMHAS Offers Free Counseling for Professionals Providing Treatments in Substance Use and Mental Health
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The Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services is pleased to announce FREE counseling and wellness support services for peer recovery specialists and clinicians working in peer-based recovery programs and opioid outpatient treatment programs.
These programs, provided through CarePlus NJ or Family Connections based on county, are designed to support professionals who work for DHMAS licensed providers, providing Substance Use Treatment, Opioid Use Treatment, Mental Health Services, Medication Assisted Treatment, as well as for those professionals who are in recovery themselves.
These support programs can help professionals find:
Increased self-care and self-compassion • Strategies for self-empowerment • Increased social connectedness and support systems • Improved self-esteem • Increased compassion resiliency • Increased job satisfaction • Improved coping skills
Read more below on each available program and see map for your county's provider.
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Place Your Order for Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests
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Starting January 18th, Americans can now order free at-home COVID-19 test kits, in the ongoing effort to curb the latest, coronavirus surge.
Residential households in the U.S. can order one set of 4 free at-home tests from USPS.com. Here’s what you need to know about your order:
· Limit of one order per residential address
· One order includes 4 individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests
· Orders will ship free starting in late January
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It's especially important to get tested if you have COVID-19 symptoms after being exposed, or have been in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. You should also get tested if you were recently at a large gathering where social distancing was hard to maintain and are not fully vaccinated or recently recovered, or if you must travel and are not fully vaccinated.
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Resources & Virtual Forums
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The NJAAW Housing Series Webinars
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As those of us in the aging field know, there is not one large leap from living in complete independence to assisted living. There are many steps and options along a continuum of needs, finances, preferences and opportunities. NJAAW's four-part Housing Series will examine each step along this continuum. With a range of experts in the field, we will review housing needs from the perspective of the older adult and their family.
This series will be aired online
Wednesdays in February at 4 p.m. ET
February 23 - Session 4: Policy & Plans for New and Innovative Solutions
- Looking forward, what is on the horizon for housing in NJ? ADUs, co-housing, supportive housing? What are new plans? What is needed?
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Trainings from the NJ Division on Civil Rights
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The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination:
Cultivating a Discrimination-Free Workplace
For NJ Employers and Employees
All employees are entitled to a workplace that is inclusive and free from discrimination. This training will provide an overview of how the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD) protects employees from harassment and discrimination. Through case studies and other interactive exercises, participants will examine the rights afforded to all employees and the responsibilities of employers to protect those rights. Topics include what constitutes a hostile work environment, workplace accommodation requirements, employer liability, and reporting processes. Participants will also explore the ways in which implicit biases can lead to discrimination, and how to foster respectful environments in which discrimination and harassment are not tolerated.
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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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