Dear LHA Community,
I am inspired to learn of the vital work that LHA members are currently engaging in across the state, supporting the emergency response to COVID-19. During our April monthly member’s call, I learned some are participating in new national and state advocacy efforts. Others are preparing units for the surge housing needs associated with the coronavirus. They are acquiring PPE and other safety equipment for local essential health agencies, while some are setting up emergency FEMA homes. Many are re-purposing staff to perform daily calls to their residents who are sheltering in place to check in on their mental health, service needs, and ward off social isolation. Some are working to accelerate housing placement for people experiencing homelessness. Others are procuring goods, food, diapers, cellphones, and other supplies to help regional emergency housing strategies. Finally, many are shifting from direct services to teletherapy. Thank you all for going above and beyond your core missions.
We know that this pandemic has emphasized the challenges of housing insecurity across the state for people with I/DD. During this time, LHA remains an advocate and supporter of our members’ missions as they pivot where they can to play a role in the current public health crisis, and we'll be here when together we once again begin planning for the long-term housing needs of those we serve.
All the best,
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Ian Nevarez
Association Director
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LHA to Launch Public Awareness Campaign on May 15th
Please join LHA – in this critical moment – as we launch our 2020 public awareness campaign that will highlight needed system changes to increase housing for people with I/DD. By sharing emails and social media posts in a coordinated effort starting May 15th, we will engage friends, family, community partners, elected officials, and policymakers in this urgent conversation.
LHA has created a series of assets for each of our four priority recommendations that focus on convening stakeholders, collecting data, funding housing, and increasing access. We look forward to your participation!
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LHA to Pivot from Sponsoring SB 1118 to Pursuing Regulatory Changes to MHP Guidelines
LHA is proud of the work completed earlier this year by the Coalition for Disability Inclusive Housing and Sen. Anna Caballero to champion SB 1118. This bill would have added incentives to California’s MHP program to create affordable housing for people with I/DD.
However, as many aspects of our industry have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become apparent that it is unlikely to pass a bill that is not directly coronavirus related during this legislative cycle. Because of this, LHA is pivoting our strategy to a regulatory approach to revise the MHP program.
To do this, we are organizing our stakeholders to participate in the current public comment period for MHP’s 2020 draft guideline amendments. This public comment period is now open and the deadline for making comments is May 5
th
. To support this campaign and submit your public comment please click
here
.
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LHA Enters Interview Stage of Vetting 1st Full-Time Executive Director
LHA has moved into the second stage of our Executive Director search, as we begin holding interviews during the months of April and May. This new position is scheduled to start in July of 2020, and we look forward to updating our membership and community stakeholders as we get closer to bringing the selected person on board. We know that LHA is in an exciting stage of organizational development as we continue our work in many critical areas. LHA's first full-time Executive Director will be the foundation of our growing impact across the state.
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LHA Endorses AB 2329
Homelessness across the state remains at crisis levels and people with I/DD continue to fall through the cracks and into unstable, overcrowded, or unsheltered living conditions. Because of this, LHA is endorsing AB 2329 that would require California to conduct a state gaps and needs analysis to identify the resources and interventions needed to make meaningful reductions in homelessness statewide. LHA believes that people with I/DD are under counted and under serves through the housing and homeless services systems. We endorse this gap analysis and will work with the administering body to ensure that the needs of people with I/DD are taken into consideration and planned for in future resource allocation.
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LHA Is Selected for 2nd Round of Enterprise / Wells Fargo Housing Affordability Breakthrough Challenge
LHA is honored to have been selected as one of the 45 finalists to move our housing finance innovation onto the 2nd Round of Enterprise Community Partners and Wells Fargo's Housing Affordability Breakthrough Challenge. We can't thank them enough for recognizing the critical need -- especially at this time -- for creative solutions to address the affordable housing crisis for people with developmental disabilities. A big thank you to our Legacy Homes committee who for years has championed our proposed innovation.
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from
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
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Costa Mesa’s Fairview Developmental Center to Be Ready for Patients Next Week, State Says
As April 20, the Fairview Developmental Center in Costa Mesa will be prepared to open its doors to patients if Orange County hospitals should fill up due to the coronavirus outbreak. If Fairview is needed, it would accept less-seriously ill patients with COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, and would be staffed by an emergency medical team deployed by the state, according to Orange County EMS Administrator Tammi McConnell. To start, Fairview will have 50 beds available with the ability to ramp up to 100 beds, significantly fewer than the 1,100 beds state officials originally announced – likely because a projected surge of patients expected to overwhelm medical facilities has not occurred.
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from
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE COLLABORATIVE
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Housing Vouchers for People with Disabilities — A Valuable Resource during the COVID-19 Crisis
A SAFE, AFFORDABLE HOME is physically and emotionally the healthiest place for any individual or family — not only during this crisis, but any time. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) targeted voucher programs can help people with disabilities (including those who are experiencing homelessness, at risk of homelessness, or living in nursing facilities or other institutions) move into an affordable apartment in the community. TAC’s
comprehensive database
of Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs) targeted to people with disabilities has been updated this month to reflect new awards from HUD. Recent events make it clearer than ever that housing equals health. TAC hopes this database of HUD resources will help to improve the health and housing situation for you or those you serve.
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LHA MEMBER IN THE MEDIA: Brilliant Corners
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from
THE CHRONICLES OF PHILANTHROPY
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Major Grant Makers Continue to Ramp Up Aid for Pandemic Relief (Coronavirus Grants Roundup)
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by M.J. Prest
Here are notable new grant awards for the Covid-19 outbreak, compiled by the Chronicle:
Brilliant Corners
$10 million in new grants toward relief efforts in the Los Angeles area and abroad. Brilliant Corners has received $2.25 million for a partnership with the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services to purchase supplies and develop a plan to care for individuals experiencing homelessness during the pandemic.
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...
LHA PARTNER IN THE MEDIA: EAH Housing
..
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EAH Housing and the City of Santa Monica Close Financing for New Low-Income Senior Housing
Santa Monica, CA (April 1, 2020) – Today, EAH Housing announced the close of construction financing for Magnolia Villas, an affordable housing rental community for low-income seniors. The new development will be located at 1445-1453 10th Street and consist of 40 apartments. Deemed an essential business by Governor Gavin Newsom, construction began soon after the deal closed, making Magnolia Villas the second affordable housing development from EAH Housing to start construction in Southern California in less than a year. EAH worked closely with the City of Santa Monica, which provided the property acquisition and construction financing.
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MONTHLY MEMBERS CALL
"Open Forum"
Upcoming:
- May 14 | 2-3:00 PM
Phone Line:
- (712) 775-7031
- Code: 505851#
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LHA MEMBERS
LHA PARTNERS
LHA AFFILIATES
- Jessica Gould
- Joshua Tree Group
- New Beginnings Housing Foundation
- Portia Iversen
- Rick Hodgkins
2019-2020 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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Darin Lounds,
President
[HCEB]
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Kris McCann,
Vice President
[BAHC]
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Kristin Martin,
Treasurer
[HOPE, Inc]
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Yvonne Delgadillo,
Secretary
[Allied Argenta]
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Bill Pickel
[Brilliant Corners]
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Mary Eble
[North Bay Housing Coalition]
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Nathan Schmid
[SCHC]
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Norma Delgado
[H.O.M.E.]
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Patti Uplinger
[Housing Now]
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Rochelle Mills
[IHO]
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(BCSH & HCD)
EVENTS
MEMBER AREA
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- LHA welcomes new
Affiliates Linc Housing and Villa De Vida!
- LHA's annual membership recruitment and renewal drive begins June 1st, 2020. If you are looking to renew, you can do so
here
.
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LHA is always looking for in-kind support to assist LHA operations, including accounting, marketing & communication, administrative assistance, and event coordination. If you are interested, please contact below.
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Ian Nevarez,
Association Director
(888) 542-4005
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