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In this Week's Edition
News
HUD CoC Funding Updates and Impacts
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Momentum for Affordable Housing Legislation
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DHS Listening Session Testimony
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Advocacy Actions Before
End of NJ Legislative Session
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Feedback Needed on NJCDD
Five-Year State Plan Draft
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Participate in A Brief Survey to
Inform Overdose Prevention Work
Respond by December 19th
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Three Ways Supportive Housing
is Benefiting Communities
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Start-up Guide for Organizations Interested
in Becoming a Housing Supports Provider
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Think Like a Developer and
Manage Real Estate Changes
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Resources from The Boggs Center
on Support Brokers and Service Providers
Resources & Events
Funding Section 8: Why Federal Investment
is Essential for Housing Market Stability
December 16, 2025
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Innovations and Models of Care in
Health and Human Services:
Advancing Care, Systems, and Policy for Complex Needs
December 16, 2025
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Creating Justice in a Multiracial Democracy
December 17, 2025
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Creating Justice in a Multiracial Democracy
December 18, 2025
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Understanding Overhead:
So It’s Not Over Your Head
December 18, 2025
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Listening Session for People with I/DD
and Caring for Aging Relative
January 6 & 13, 2026
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Transform Your Financial Future: Webinar Series for People with Disabilities in NJ
January - April, 2026
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SHA Member Events
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Developers Meeting
January 12 | Virtual
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SHA Member Meeting
February 4, 2026
Annual Meeting
Virtual
Not yet a member?
Learn more here.
SHA members can email Joseph Christensen for member event details
and registration.
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November 13, 2026
SHA 2026 Conference
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Community Events
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NLIHC Housing
Policy Forum
Registration Open
March 10-13, 2026
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Save the Date
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NJAMHAA Spring Conference
Evolving Behavioral Health, Advancing Together
for 75 Years
April 14-15, 2026
Iselin, NJ
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LeadingAge NJ & DE
Changemakers Conference
June 16-18, 2026
Workshop Proposals Due
by December 15, 2025
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NJACP Annual Conference
Learn more here.
March 12-13, 2026
Resorts Casino & Hotel
Atlantic City
| | SHA Job Board & Housing Opportunities | | | | Shared by SHA's member, the Office of the Long Term Care Ombudsman, nursing home residents Gail Smith (seated, front) and Ray DiFrancesco (right) were part of a New Jersey contingent visiting Capitol Hill on Nov. 6. Also pictured, from left: Amy Brown, LTCO Policy Director; Gwen Orlowski, Executive Director, Disability Rights New Jersey; Victoria Schall, an attorney; Katie Squires, Associate State Director of Advocacy, AARP-NJ; and Latenya King, Vice President of SEIU Local 1199, which represents nursing home workers in New Jersey, five other states, and the District of Columbia. | | |
SHA was glad to join members in presenting at the YMCA's 12th Annual Culture of Health Conference. This year’s theme, “Belonging For A Better Us,” emphasized the need for social connectedness and inclusion in shaping the evolution of public and community health. Executive Director Kate Kelly was joined by members on a panel, NJ's Mount Laurel Framework: Advancing Health Through Affordable Housing Policy, moderated by Al-Tariq Witcher (left), Managing Director of External Affairs Fair Share Housing Center along with James C. Williams IV (center), Policy Consultant, Monarch Housing Associates.
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SHA Welcomes New &
Returning Members in 2025
| | HUD CoC Funding Updates and Impacts | | The New Jersey Monitor reports on the local impact. HUD adopted new grant policies last month that critics warn would cancel already appropriated funds and force as many as 170,000 people — including more than 2,000 people in New Jersey — into homelessness. Taiisa Kelly, CEO of SHA member Monarch Housing Associates explained that the HUD reversal was important and that advocates "continue to push for bridge funding for programs set to expire starting January 1 to ensure no person loses their housing." | | Momentum for Affordable Housing Legislation | | |
On December 3, the House Financial Services Committee (HFSC) held their “Building Capacity: Reducing Government Roadblocks to Housing Supply” hearing. The hearing showcased a growing bipartisan consensus that Congress must take meaningful action to expand housing supply and ease affordability pressures. Of the bills discussed in the hearing, members highlighted a series of bipartisan bills including the HOME Reform Act. This critical legislation seeks to overhaul and improve HUD’s HOME Investment Partnership, the largest federal grant program dedicated to affordable housing. The hearing also discussed the Community Investment and Prosperity Act. By raising the cap on banks’ community investments from 15 to 20%, this legislation empowers greater funding for projects that promote public welfare and local economic development, like affordable housing.
Why this matters: Affordable housing continues to have overwhelming bi-partisan support in Congress. Decisive action is needed in both houses of Congress to accelerate housing supply and to continue to improve existing housing programs that serve the nation.
| | DHS Listening Session Testimony | | Last week, SHA submitted testimony in Trenton during the Department of Human Services listening session on the state budget. SHA's testimony is available in the policy section of SHA's website and linked here: DHS Listening Session Testimony Dec 1, 2025. | | Advocacy Actions Before End of NJ Legislative Session | | |
The following bills in the NJ General Assembly represent urgent needs within our state to help house and protect the rights of people facing barriers to housing. Please join us and SHA member Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey to to sign on to letters to hep reach our state leaders and advocate for these bills before the end of the legislative session.
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S1083/A1678 would enact a Homeless Bill of Rights. With ever-rising housing costs and increasing rates of homelessness, it is time for NJ to affirm and expand upon the rights afforded to all residents, regardless of housing status.
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S2346/A2258 would create Code Red protections. Extreme heat can cause serious health issues for everyone, and particularly the population that is unsheltered.
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S268/A3282 would reform eviction filing fees. The bill would not only raise the fee from $50 to a modest $75, but additional revenue would be used to bolster the state's homelessness prevention programs.
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A5963 which fully restores the Affordable Housing Trust Fund so communities can build and preserve desperately needed homes.
| | Feedback Needed on NJCDD Five-Year State Plan Draft | | |
Following a comprehensive review and analysis of issues affecting people with IDD and their families, including input from families, people with IDD, and other stakeholders; and in accordance with federal rules concerning the work of the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities, the NJCDD voted on November 12 to approve and publish for public comment the draft Goals and Objectives for the five-year State Plan for 2027–2031.
Five-Year State Plan Plain Language Plan Version Plan Background
NJCDD is seeking public comment on the posted draft of the five-year State Plan.
Individuals and organizations who wish to provide written comments may do so in one of
the following ways.
- Completing a survey (available in multiple languages)
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Sending an email to njcdd@njcdd.org
- Sending a letter to:
The New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities PO Box 700, Trenton, NJ
08625-0700
All comments must be submitted by January 15, 2026.
Please note that mailed comments must be postmarked by December 31, 2025
to be considered. Contact njcdd@njcdd.org to request accommodations or translation of plan documents.
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Participate in A Brief Survey to
Inform Overdose Prevention Work
Respond by December 19th
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CSH needs your help to learn more about the needs of supportive housing tenants and provider agencies amidst the ongoing overdose crisis! Please take a few moments to fill out a brief and confidential 15-question survey from CSH on overdose prevention work. Survey respondents will have the chance to be a part of a paid study with 6 months of free technical assistance intervention from CSH & National Harm Reduction Coalition. You will also be entered to win a raffle for 2 free CSH TC training sessions! CSH will not be publishing or posting results from this survey or any information about who did the survey, so please feel free to answer honestly.
Click here to complete the survey.
| | Three Ways Supportive Housing
is Benefiting Communities | | |
As the nation grapples with a host of challenges including rising rents and increases in homelessness, organizations across the country continue working to make sure there’s enough secure and stable housing for people who are most vulnerable. To do this, they are partnering with social service providers and community groups to ensure that people who need housing receive the range of services needed to remain stably housed for the long term.
Concern is intensifying over expiring contracts for the federal grants that fund these programs and reports of dramatic cuts for supportive housing, an approach that aims to help people with disabilities achieve housing security by pairing homes with services. To hear about what’s working now and the potential impact of a loss of funding, SHA member Enterprise Community Partners checked in with three leaders from organizations that specialize in supportive housing — Elaine Gimmel, executive director at EDEN Inc., Cleveland; Tennille Limer, chief program officer, West Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness; and Cullen Ryan, executive director at Community Housing of Maine.
| | Start-up Guide for Organizations Interested
in Becoming a Housing Supports Provider | | The Housing Supports Provider Start-Up Guide from SHA member Camden Coalition is designed to help organizations that are new to the program. It brings together key resources and information to support providers as they begin and move through the process of becoming a Housing Supports Provider. | | Think Like a Developer and Manage Real Estate Changes | | |
SHA member CIL sees every home as a doorway to opportunity — a space where people can live full, independent lives in the communities they love. That kind of vision takes planning. Successful development projects start long before construction begins, and thinking like a developer can make the difference between a project that struggles and one that thrives. Click here to learn five essential things to consider before you begin your next project.
Also, learn how to manage real estate through changes including mergers and acquisitions.
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Resources from The Boggs Center
on Support Brokers and Service Providers
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Supports Brokers: Assisting and Empowering You to Self-Direct
In New Jersey, people can self-direct all or some of the Home and Community Based Services, made available through the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) Supports Program or Community Care Program. Supports Brokers can help people who choose to self-direct to coordinate and maintain their self-directed services. The Boggs Center is excited to share Supports Brokers: Assisting and Empowering You to
Self-Direct, a new one-page fact sheet to help people with disabilities and families better understand self-direction and the roles and responsibilities of Supports Brokers.
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Selecting a Service Provider
Making Choices,
Becoming Empowered
A service provider is any organization that has been approved to provide the disability-related supports you need. There are many different provider agencies offering services for people with disabilities in New Jersey. Services should help you to have a fulfilling and meaningful life. This means that your days include the people, places, and things that are important to you and make you happy. What your meaningful life looks like is up to you. You have the right to choose the provider agency that can support you to live your life the way you want. This guide will help you think about what to look for so you can find an agency that can best meet your needs and help you live the life you want.
| | Funding Section 8: Why Federal Investment
is Essential for Housing Market Stability | | |
Tuesday, December 16, 2025 | 11:00AM - 12:00PM ET
Join SHA member Community Preservation Corporation for a timely discussion on the critical role the Section 8 program plays in supporting the affordable housing market. This webinar will examine recent proposals to cut or restructure Section 8 and explore the potential ripple effects on individuals, property owners, lenders, and the broader housing ecosystem. Coordinated with the release of a new white paper by CPC's policy team, this session will provide valuable insights into the future of housing policy and its real-world implications. RSVP by December 15th.
Click here to RSVP for the webinar on Microsoft Teams.
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Innovations and Models of Care in
Health and Human Services:
Advancing Care, Systems, and Policy for Complex Needs
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Tuesday, December 16, 2025 | 3:30PM - 5:00PM ET
This issue of Social Innovations Journal explores four core themes spanning multiple sectors in the health and human services arena: policy and systems for IDD and behavioral health, supportive and affordable housing, therapeutic, clinical, and technological innovations, and workforce, family, and community engagement. Articles explore advancements in trauma-informed and high-reliability psychiatric care, overdose prevention, residential behavioral health, and creative therapies such as music and arts interventions. Meet the authors and experts at this virtual symposium including Nancy Schneeloch, Vice President, Supportive Housing, Homeless Outreach, & Justice Involved Services, Bridgeway Behavioral Health Services and a SHA Board Member.
Click here to register for this webinar.
| | Creating Justice in a Multiracial Democracy | | |
Wednesday, December 17, 2025 | 2:00PM - 3:30PM ET
The National Fair Housing Alliance and the Eisenhower Foundation are pleased to invite you to the webinar “Creating Justice in a Multiracial Democracy.” The powerful discussion will feature leading contributors to the book of the same name—focusing on the work still needed to ensure housing is fair and affordable for all. Nearly 60 years after the original Kerner Commission sounded the alarm on racial inequity in America and outlined what it would take to create a more just, equitable society—a new update revisits the Commission’s findings and charts a path forward.
Click here to register.
| | Understanding Overhead: So It’s Not Over Your Head | | |
December 18, 2025 | 2:00 PM ET
Understanding overhead is vital to strong financial management for every organization. This presentation from SHA member Withum will debunk the overhead myth and discuss what is an appropriate administrative ratio to maintain for nonprofit organizations.
Who Should Attend: This session is designed for individuals who manage or provide financial services for nonprofit organizations.
Click here to register.
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Listening Session for People with I/DD
and Caring for Aging Relative
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Are you a person with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disability (I/DD) who is taking care of an aging relative?
Please consider joining a virtual listening session to share your experiences. To participate, you must be 18 or older, identify as a person with an I/DD, and currently serving as a primary caregiver of an older relative. The Boggs Center is interested in hearing about your experiences and gaining an understanding about the unique challenges you face. The Boggs Center will be hosting three discussion sessions,
each lasting one hour.
January 6, 2026 | 11:00 am; January 6, 2026 | 6:00-7:00 pm; January 13, 2026 | 12:00 pm
Email Sarah Adler at sma372@scarletmail.rutgers.edu if you would like to participate.
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Transform Your Financial Future:
Webinar Series for People with Disabilities in New Jersey
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Building financial wellness is about more than managing money. It’s about creating independence, stability, and opportunity. National Disability Institute (NDI), supported by the New Jersey Inclusive Healthy Communities (NJ-IHC) project, is hosting a four-part webinar series for people with disabilities, their families, and community partners across New Jersey. Each session focuses on essential topics, including the foundations of financial empowerment, navigating Social Security benefits, and managing the extra costs of disability. Join subject matter experts to gain practical strategies that support financial inclusion and economic stability.
Here are additional resources on ABLE savings/investment accounts and more information can be found from SHA's 2025 Conference where NDI presented during Pathways to Homeownership and Lasting Financial Security.
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ABLE NRC Flier | ABLE Veteran Flier | ABLE Age Adjustment Fact Sheet
Click here to register for the series.
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Session One:
Why Financial Empowerment Matters/Financial Inclusion 101
January 28, 2026: 1pm-2pm ET
This session introduces concepts around economic empowerment and financial wellness, highlighting how understanding and managing personal finances is a critical step toward achieving independence.
Session Two:
Five Key Strategies to
Achieving Financial Wellness
February 25, 2026: 1pm-2pm ET
This webinar will explore strategies that support the financial well-being of people with disabilities. You'll learn how identifying personal financial goals is a critical first step—and how each strategy can help individuals build financial stability, increase independence and create opportunities for wealth building.
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Session Three:
Review of Benefits from
the Social Security Administration
March 25, 2026: 1pm-2pm ET
This session will provide an overview of the disability programs administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and how working is a choice, which can lead to financial stability for persons with disabilities. Learn to separate myths from facts, Medicare and Medicaid and more.
Session Four:
Extra Costs of Living with a Disability/Dispelling Myths
April 29, 2026: 1pm-2pm ET
Our final session will examine out-of-pocket costs associated with living with a disability. These expenses can strain household finances and increase the risk of poverty for individuals with disabilities and their families.
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There are many great ways of supporting SHA: Join as a member or send donations.
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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Advocate ● Educate ● Support
The Supportive Housing Association of New Jersey unites its diverse coalition of members to advance, promote, and increase supportive housing opportunities across 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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