August 19, 2022

Volume: 202

In this Week's Edition

News

President Biden Signs Inflation Reduction Act

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HUD Awards $41M To Boost Local Affordable Housing And Community Development

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DMHAS Grant:

Whole Health Learning Collaborative

For Wellness/Self-help Centers

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NJHMFA Increases “Allowance” Chargeable

To Operations Effective January 1, 2023

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How To Fix The Housing Affordability Crisis:

Build More Homes

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SSA Accelerates Decisions For People

With Severe Disabilities By Expanding Compassionate Allowances List

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Two New Resources

To Expand Employment Opportunities

For People with Disabilities

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NJ DHS New Jersey Resources

Now Available In Audio Format

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Supportive Housing

Virtual Learning Community

Fall 2022 Enrollment Now Open

Apply by August 26th

Resources & Virtual Forums

Closing the Gap:

Homelessness To Housing Webinar Series

August 25-September 1, 2022

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Save the Date!

2022 Fall Tax Credit Compliance

Certification Course and Exam

October 25-28, 2022

Atlantic Highlands + Application

Glen Oaks + Application

Boost Your Organization As A Sponsor / Exhibitor

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who empower SHA's annual Conference!

Bronze Sponsors

Groundbreaker Event Sponsors

Notebook Sponsors

SHA gives a warm shout out to NewBridge Services as they join with Christian Health to grow the services each currently provides and expand the depth and breadth of services across a wider geographic area. The thoughtful integration of the two health-care organizations further solidifies their position in the community and creates new opportunity.

President Biden Signs Inflation Reduction Act

This week, President Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act, marking one of the most substantive climate actions in the U.S. legislative history. The law, also referred to as the reconciliation package, provides $369 billion for investments in climate resilience and energy security programs, in addition to healthcare provisions. The White House also released a “By the Numbers” fact sheet yesterday, highlighting the impact of a number of the clean energy provisions. While the legislation does not focus on housing, the legislative package comprises a number of housing-related provisions that, when taken together, can help make homes and communities more green, more affordable, and more climate resilient for the future. To learn more about the Inflation Reduction Act and the housing and tax provisions related to Enterprise’s policy priorities, read a blog post published by Enterprise Senior Director of Public Policy Ayrianne Parks and Policy Analyst for Resilience Ayate Temsamani. 

To learn more read https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/08/15/by-the-numbers-the-inflation-reduction-act/ and the President’s remarks: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2022/08/16/remarks-by-president-biden-at-signing-of-h-r-5376-the-inflation-reduction-act-of-2022/

While advocates are grateful for the progress made to support greener housing and other portions of the Inflation Reduction Act, the work continues for better outcomes needed and more funding directly for housing like the proposed $150 billion from the Build Back Better bill. 

HUD Awards $41M To Boost Local

Affordable Housing And Community Development

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that it will make available $41 million for local affordable housing and community development activities that benefit people with low-incomes. The funding is being awarded through HUD’s Capacity Building for Affordable Housing and Community Development program, also known as Section 4.

The Section 4 program enhances the capacity and ability of housing development organizations like Community Development Corporations (CDCs) and Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs), to carry out affordable housing and community development activities for the benefit of low- and moderate-income families and persons.

Three national organizations, Enterprise Community Partners (a SHA member), Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), and Habitat for Humanity International, will receive the funds, which are expected to spur nearly $122 million in total investments with the help of 3:1 matching grants.

DMHAS Grant:

Whole Health Learning Collaborative

For Wellness/Self-help Centers

Take notice that, in compliance with N.J.S.A. 52:14-34.4 and 34.6, the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) hereby announces the availability of the following grant program funds:

Name of Program:

Whole Health Learning Collaborative for Wellness/Self-help Centers

Purpose:

This Request for Proposals (RFP) is issued by DMHAS to develop a state-wide Whole Health Learning Collaborative (WHLC) that serves the NJ Wellness/Self-Help Center Peer Workforce and member participants.

Amount of funding available:

The WHLC will be supported by a one-time award of $375,000 that is made available through Mental Health Block Grant supplemental funding. All funds must be expended by March 31, 2023. 

Procedure to apply: 

Effective August 15, 2022 the RFP is available at https://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/providers/grants/   and https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/dmhas/provider/funding/ 

A proposal must be submitted that comports with the RFP requirements and instructions. 

No Mandatory Conference

Submit Application by September: 19, 2022

Notification Date: October 19, 2022 

Click here to access the RFP

NJHMFA Increases “Allowance” Chargeable To Operations Effective January 1, 2023

NJHMFA Asset Management Bulletin 2022-6:“Allowance” for “Bookkeeping and Accounting /Computer Charges” Chargeable to Operations (For the Preparation of MORs/QORs)

NJHMFA is pleased to inform you that the “Allowance” Chargeable to Operations is hereby increased effective January 1, 2023.

The new allowance shall be calculated at $7.61 per unit per month, but not to exceed $1,170.00 per month. The “allowance” will be adjusted annually based on the CPI index. The Agency will continue to notify you annually.

As in the past, the allowance will be for all accounting services related to MOR/QOR preparation whether fully or partially computerized provided that the following conditions are met:

1. The general ledger is maintained current.
2. The Operating Reports, monthly (MOR) or quarterly (QOR), are submitted properly, complete and on time.
3. The year-end trial balance and auxiliary work papers are completed and available for audit no later than 30 days after year-end, as described below:

a. Trial balances to be prepared on the “accrual basis” complete with opening and closing adjusting journal entries, including accrued and prepaid expenses, amortization and depreciation charges.

b. Auxiliary work papers to be prepared as they related to the reconciliations of cash and other accounts and the analyses identified as items 2e, 2f, 2g, 2h, 2i, 2j, 2k,2l, 2m, of the standard auditor’s engagement letter.

The allowance shall be forfeited for those months in which the MOR or QOR is submitted more than ten days late, and it may be revoked if the system is found materially deficient in respect to the preceding. Any amount charged to operations over the allowable amount will be required to be reimbursed by owner/agent.

Questions?

Please do not hesitate to contact our office with any inquiries regarding this announcement. Please email Lavern Henry at LHenry@njhmfa.gov for further assistance.

How To Fix The Housing Affordability Crisis:

Build More Homes

The US housing boom is fizzling out as inflation and interest-rate hikes make housing far less affordable for many potential buyers. However, despite fading demand and slowing appreciation growth, home prices remain high in housing markets across the country.

Over the past few years, historically low mortgage rates have enticed millions of Americans to purchase homes. Although buyer interest has fallen due to rising costs, housing remains unaffordable. That's because there still are not enough homes to meet demand. While existing home inventory has spiked, data from Realtor.com shows that US homebuilders still need to build millions of homes to match the current level of demand.

SSA Accelerates Decisions For People With Severe Disabilities By Expanding Compassionate Allowances List

Kilolo Kijakazi, Acting Commissioner of Social Security, today announced 12 new Compassionate Allowances conditions: Angioimmunoblastic T-cell Lymphoma, Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm, Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker Disease, Microvillus Inclusion Disease – Child, Mowat-Wilson Syndrome, Myelodysplastic Syndrome with Excess Blasts, NUT Carcinoma, Pfeiffer Syndrome - Types II and III, Pontocerebellar Hypoplasia, Posterior Cortical Atrophy, Renal Amyloidosis – AL Type, and Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma.

The Compassionate Allowances program quickly identifies claims where the applicant’s condition or disease clearly meets Social Security’s statutory standard for disability. Due to the severe nature of many of these conditions, these claims are often allowed based on medical confirmation of the diagnosis alone. With electronic records transmission, Social Security can quickly obtain a claimant’s medical information, review it, and make a fast determination.

For more information about the program, including a list of all Compassionate Allowances conditions, please visit www.socialsecurity.gov/compassionateallowances.

Two New Resources To Expand

Employment Opportunities For People with Disabilities

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) and partners from across the federal government jointly developed two new resources to help expand opportunities for competitive, integrated employment (CIE) for people with disabilities. CIE – jobs alongside coworkers with and without disabilities, in integrated settings in the community, at competitive wages, and with opportunities for advancement – is a critical part of community living. 

• Resource Leveraging & Service Coordination to Increase Competitive Integrated Employment for Individuals with Disabilities

This resource provides guidance on how state and local governments can blend, braid, and sequence funding to proactively maximize resources from a range of federal programs to improve CIE outcomes for transition-age youth and adults with disabilities. A companion document answers frequently asked questions, provides examples and best practices, and identifies federal resources and programs that can be used for CIE. The resources were designed to help agencies recognize how they can collaborate and coordinate to serve job seekers with disabilities.

• A Framework for Community Engagement – A Pathway to Competitive Integrated Employment
• 
  

This resource, developed for both policymakers and service providers, presents a joint Federal vision for community engagement by individuals with disabilities. Community engagement, supported by a variety of service systems, enables individuals with disabilities to expand skills and experience so that they may secure high-quality and personally satisfying jobs and careers along with the benefits of employment. In addition to explaining what community engagement means and its benefits, this resource contains information about the wide variety of services that, when provided together, expand opportunities for youth and adults with disabilities to achieve CIE.

More Information

• Learn about ACL’s Disability Employment Technical Assistance Center
• Read the new issue brief summarizing the research supporting CIE from ACL’s National Institute on Disability Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).

NJ DHS New Jersey Resources

Now Available In Audio Format

The New Jersey Department of Human Services' New Jersey Resources is now available in Audio! Visit their website at: 

https://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/dds/home/index.html 

This comprehensive resource guide identifies the various programs and services the Department of Human Services offers to New Jersey residents, caregivers and advocates.  

If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out to our certified Community Resource Specialists at 1-888-285-3036.  

Closing the Gap:

Homelessness To Housing Webinar Series

This webinar series provides guidance and fosters innovation in best practices and strategies in stakeholder engagement for homelessness services systems. It will cover topics designed to help communities establish equitable, effective homelessness responses through meaningful collaboration, resource coordination, and efficient service delivery.

Training Objectives

Participants will learn about:

• Incorporating people with lived experience and expertise into homelessness responses
• Coordinating with healthcare and other non-federal resources
• Creating direct pathways from homelessness to housing
• Operationalizing best practices
• Identifying and connecting with community resources

Who Should Attend?

This webinar series is intended for everyone involved in the homelessness response system, including but not limited to Continuum of Care (CoC) staff and leadership, program administrators, direct service staff and program management, and recipients and sub-recipients of Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) and CoC funding.

Schedule and Registration

Implementing System Change

August 25, 2022 | 1:30 - 3:00 PM EDT

Register Now

Optimizing Service Delivery

September 1, 2022 | 1:30 - 3:00 PM EDT

Register Now

You must have a HUD Exchange account to register. Follow these instructions for registering.

Diane Riley, Executive Director

diane.riley@shanj.org

Joseph Christensen, Membership & Communication Manager

j.christensen@shanj.org

Kate Kelly, MSW – Integrated Community Project Manager

kate.kelly@shanj.org

Kate Leahy, Housing Navigator Project Manager

kate.leahy@shanj.org

Janai Johnson, Administrator

j.johnson@shanj.org

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Have a story worth SHAre-ing? Send it to Joseph Christensen for future consideration.