In this Week's Edition
News
Member Meeting Recap
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NJHMFA Launches
Affordable Housing Gap Subsidy
Loan Program
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Countdown to Application
Opening of Emergency Rescue
Mortgage Assistance Program
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Governor to Allocate Additional
American Rescue Plan Funding
to Excluded New Jerseyans Fund;
Application Deadline Extended
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DDS Notice of Funding Availability
Another round of IHC Grant
Funding for 2022-2023
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Lessons for Enhancing Service Coordination
in HUD-Assisted Senior Housing Communities
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Garden State Leaders Use Lived Experiences
To Fight Poverty, Homelessness
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How Cross-Sector Partnerships
Can Develop Solutions for Aging Americans
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Place Your Order for
Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests
Resources & Virtual Forums
nTIDE Webinar to Review Trends
in Disability Employment and Q&A
February 4, 2022
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Housing First Academy Starting
in February for Community Partners
February - April 2022
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FHLBNY 2022 AHP & HDP®
Virtual Training Seminars
February 9, 2022
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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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Jewish Family Service of Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren Counties (JFS) provides vital community support and assistance through outpatient mental health counseling, senior services home visitation services, special needs and family support programs, volunteer programs, Holocaust survivors' programs, employment readiness and career counseling, and more.
If you would like to express your interest in this position, please send a cover letter and resume to Allan Weisberg, Managing Director at allan@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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SHA applauds our dear friend Harold Garwin for his 45 year tenure of leadership at the Community Health Law Project. In that time he guided its growth into a statewide organization with over 60 attorneys, advocates, and support staff serving more than 5,000 individuals per year. While stepping down as CHLP's President/Executive Director, Harold will still continue to serve CHLP's mission as Associate Executive Director.
SHA also celebrates CHLP's new President/Executive Director, Erika Kerber, Esq. who as many members may remember has been an insightful ally in our work for advancing affordable housing and supportive services in New Jersey. Congratulations to Harold and Erika and we all wish CHLP the very best as you continue your vital work in these new roles.
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SHA Welcomes New Members In 2022 |
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SHA Annual Member Meeting Recap |
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In a very informative and well attended meeting this week, SHA welcomed 2022 with our annual meeting as well as some new nominees to the board of trustees.
Our very special thanks to all of our guest speakers who shared updates from across the state. Some highlights included:
- Announcement of new nominees to the SHA Board of Trustees, and grateful acknowledgement of Trustees whose terms end this year.
Harry Reyes, DMHAS
- Reviewed upcoming expansion grants and RFPs that will be forthcoming
Rosy Dafonseca, NJHMFA
- Discussed the Affordable Housing Gap Subsidy Program (AHGS), which was created to help address the increased construction costs and project funding gaps resulting from the pandemic and supply chain disruptions. This will be covered with additional updates at the March 14th Developers Meeting.
Thomas Moller, Mutual of America
- Presented a proposal for a Multiple Employer Plan (MEP) which is a qualified retirement plan that covers employers that are not commonly owned but share commonality or a connection or interest unrelated to the retirement plan, such as being a member of SHA.
Marina Rubina, Princeton Progressive Action Group & Dean Dafis, Mayor of Maplewood
- Marina and Dean provided an extensive overview of accessory dwelling units in their design and current policy with a range of data on their prevalence in other states, including California. They emphasized how progress on advancing ADUs in New Jersey could seriously work on addressing the need for housing in the state. This lively discussion covered many facets and questions from attendees and led to a common understanding of building more support for ADUs which could be a vital area for advocacy in upcoming outreach.
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NJHMFA Affordable Housing Gap Subsidy
Loan Program Guidelines
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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.
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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Countdown to Application Opening of
Emergency Rescue Mortgage Assistance Program
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The ERMA application portal will open next week for applications at: www.njerma.com on 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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Governor to Allocate Additional American Rescue Plan Funding to Excluded New Jerseyans Fund;
Application Deadline Extended
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The new federal rule allows states to make certain low-to-moderate income residents eligible for such assistance without needing to document a specific negative impact. Under these rules, New Jersey is targeting disproportionally impacted households who are not only low-income, but who were also excluded from other federal COVID relief.
The ENJF program provides a one-time, direct cash benefit to eligible low-income households that were excluded from federal stimulus checks and pandemic-related unemployment assistance. This includes undocumented individuals, residents returning from the justice system and any other individuals otherwise excluded from pandemic-related financial help. Individuals can continue to apply for this direct cash benefit at ExcludedNJFund.nj.gov. The application is available in English and Spanish and online resources in multiple languages can be found on the website.
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DDS Notice of Funding Availability
Another round of IHC Grant Funding for 2022-2023
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On February 2, 2022, The NJ Department of Health, Division of Disability Services (DDS) issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to implement initiatives starting in July 2022 through June 2023. The total funding available is approximately $1.54 million. Initiatives must be through one of two possible grant options: Capacity Building or Implementation, to address the following three mutually reinforcing, specific objectives with a broad focus on all people with disabilities, regardless of age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, immigration status, and/or income:
- Adopt processes that are inclusive of people with disabilities as part of efforts to plan and create healthy communities;
- Plan and implement sustainable strategies that deliver the benefits of healthy communities to people with disabilities;
- Advance sustainable practice, systems, and environmental change that address the pre-existing physical, environmental, social, and economic challenges that prevent people with disabilities from having full access to the opportunities that support health and well-being.
Three identical mandatory virtual workshops for prospective bidders will be conducted, and at least one team member named in a bidder’s proposal must attend at least one of the workshops. Participants must pre-register for workshops:
Grant applications are due March 23, 2022.
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Lessons for Enhancing Service Coordination
in HUD-Assisted Senior Housing Communities
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In 2018, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released a resource guide outlining a “new service coordination model” in which the “role of the service coordinator has evolved to a more proactive level of coordination, engagement, outreach, assistance, and case management.”
Work on the brief was funded by the RRF Foundation for Aging.
- Service Coordination Availability: The brief shares lessons to help HUD ensure that enough service coordinators are available to carry out an enhanced role that is more time-intensive than standard service coordination.
- Service Coordinator Capacity: The brief recommends five ways to provide enhanced service coordinators with the specialized knowledge and skills they need to assess, engage, and motivate residents.
- Resident Assessments: The brief offers lessons to help service coordinators maximize resident participation in the assessment process, gather reliable responses to assessment questions, and use assessment data to address the health and social service needs of residents.
- Data Utilization: The brief explores ways that housing providers can create an infrastructure that helps enhanced service coordinators use data in a more intentional way to support residents at both the individual and community levels.
- Partnerships: The brief puts forward ideas housing organizations and HUD can use to foster more intentional partnerships that will enhance the ability of housing communities to support residents.
- Organizational Support: Finally, the research brief encourages housing organizations to consider ways they can use policies and practices to enhance their support for and oversight of service coordinators.
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Garden State Leaders Use Lived Experiences
To Fight Poverty, Homelessness
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The program—a partnership between nonprofits New Jersey Citizen Action, where Renee Koubiadis works as the anti-poverty program director, and the New Jersey Coalition to End Homelessness—runs sessions over the course of 4-6 months that focus on public speaking, media training and policy. Participants connect with activists, elected officials and others who are or have been in their shoes. Nearly 100 New Jerseyans have been part of the program since its start in 2015.
Ultimately, the objective is for Leaders to impact their communities and legislation, like when Brian Kulas’s testimony preceded New Jersey’s minimum-wage increase in 2019.
For more information, or to apply for the Garden State Leaders program, visit njceh.org/gsl
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How Cross-Sector Partnerships
Can Develop Solutions for Aging Americans
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For the past 30 years, the supportive housing sector has been working to align systems of financing and practice and develop place-based solutions for the most vulnerable. As a result, lessons for cross-sector partnerships are emerging that federal, state, and local officials can apply to help low-income, older Americans age in place.
The Fundamental Challenge: System Misalignment
Today, most older adults with complex needs face a patchwork of health coverage and services that are difficult to navigate. While Medicare provides coverage for health care services, home- and community-based services (HCBS) are paid for by Medicaid. Other federal aging programs are funded via the Older Americans Act (OAA) and overseen by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), a part of the federal US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). These programs offer services that meet social and nutritional needs, such as senior centers or Meals on Wheels. ACL also supports community Area Agencies on Aging, called the “Triple As,” the Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) and the Centers for Independent Living (CIL). These networks are common entry points for community members and their families to access HCBS and other programs that serve older adults. The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds multiple programs that may also serve older low- income Americans.
These state-based aging services systems are not structurally aligned at the national level. Eligibility criteria for programs vary and providers have data systems with limited interoperability. As a result, seniors have to answer the same questions and provide the same documentation at multiple sites. Many systems are moving online, but some seniors, particularly those without family supports have trouble navigating the process and technology. Overall, the burden to coordinate care and services falls on the individual or family.
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SobelCo Insights:
Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit Program
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Have you ever wanted to know more about the Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit Program?
Join Brad Muniz, SobelCo, and Mark Valli, NORWESCAP, as they guide you through an informative introduction to the details surrounding the Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit Program. Mark also mentions some of the benefits and qualifications of the NRTC.
SobelCo Insights is a series of brief, insightful videos addressing important updates and relevant topics that are released weekly.
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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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nTIDE Webinar to Review Trends
in Disability Employment and Q&A
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February 4, 2022 at 12:00 pm EST
Join nTIDE for their Lunch & Learn on February 4, 2022 at 12:00 pm EST.
- Ask your questions about disability employment.
- Guest speakers are:
- Dr. Yonatan Ben-Shalom, Principal Researcher at Mathematica who specializes in policies and programs related to employment and income of people with disabilities.
- Jennifer Sheehy, Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), U.S. Department of Labor.
- Join our disability employment experts as they discuss September's employment statistics for people with disabilities.
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Housing First Academy Starting
in February for Community Partners
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There is still time to sign up for the third and final free New Jersey Housing First academy available to community partners interested in collaborating to increase access to low barrier housing for people with disabilities and behavioral health challenges. The Academy is facilitated by Pathways to Housing PA, the Anti-Poverty Program of New Jersey Citizen Action, in collaboration with Corporation for Supportive Housing.
- Monday, February 7th: Harm Reduction & Structural Racism
- Monday February 28th: Housing First Philosophy & Structural Racism
- Monday March 28th: Landlord Engagement & Structural Racism
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Monday April 4th: Topic TBD
Community partners can include but are not limited to outreach programs, shelters, harm reduction programs (e.g. syringe exchanges), community health clinics, outpatient MH and SUD providers, supportive employment programs, MOUD/MAT programs, jail/prison reentry programs, emergency room/hospitals, Continuum of Care (CoC) coordinated entry, case management agencies, housing programs, and other behavioral health providers.
The Academy includes four 2.5-hour sessions and cohorts will be capped at 15 to 30 participants. Academy sessions include sharing experiences and expertise in leasing to tenants with housing barriers (e.g. chronic homelessness, serious and persistent mental illness, substance use, and other disabilities, justice histories), learning about Housing First best practices, including Harm Reduction, and building relationships across different New Jersey communities.
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FHLBNY 2022 AHP & HDP® Virtual Training Seminars
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The Federal Home Loan Bank of New York ("FHLBNY") is pleased to announce the publication of its 2022 Targeted Community Lending Plan and the Affordable Housing Program Implementation Plan. These documents describe the credit and affordable housing needs in the FHLBNY's district and the specific rules for the core Community Investment programs offered through the FHLBNY's members for the year 2022, respectively. Both are now available on the FHLBNY's website by clicking here.
In its 2021 round, the AHP made awards to 46 projects, encompassing 2,480 units, for a total of $34.3 million. This was an incredible accomplishment by the project's sponsors - non-profit and for-profit developers in the district's communities and their industry partners. The development teams worked tirelessly during the COVID-19 pandemic to bring impactful and financially sound projects, which will leverage nearly $750 million from other funding sources, to the AHP to close their funding gaps.
Virtual trainings for both the AHP and the HDP will occur on the following dates:
Wednesday, February 9, 2022 - New Jersey
If you have questions regarding the upcoming training sessions, please email AHP@fhlbny.com or HDP@fhlbny.com. Additionally, members can contact their Relationship Manager at 212-441-6700.
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The NJAAW Housing Series Webinars |
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Tune in to see Diane Riley, SHA Executive Director on February 16th!
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 9 - Session 2: Help in the Home
- Recognizing that you need help to stay in your home is important. This session will discuss how to find health aides, adult day care, when to bring in help and how to pay for it.
February 16 - Session 3: Senior Residential Options
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After breaking down stereotypes of housing options for retirees, this session will define independent vs. assisted living, skilled nursing, LTC and the range of options available. Watch this installment to see a perspective offered by SHA's own Executive Director, Diane Riley.
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
Diane Klein, Conference Registrar
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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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