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In this Week's Edition
News
Funding Available for Mobile Crisis
Prevention and Response Teams
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DCA Offers Smart Move Program Funding
Apply By April 4th
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CSH Accepting RFPs:
Products, Training, and Technical Assistance for Public Housing Agencies
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President Biden Releases FY 2025 Budget
Following State of the Union Address
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NLIHC Releases Annual Gap Report
on Affordable Housing Shortage
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Murphy Administration Invests
More Than $26 Million in
Affordable Housing Projects Across the State
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Opioid Settlement Spending
to Bolster Six Programs to
Save Lives and Combat Crisis
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ACL Update:
A World of Opportunities
Promoting Augmentative and Alternative Communication
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HUD Equal Access
Assessment Tool Now Available
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EZ Ryde4Life Program Fills Gaps in Transportation Needs
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DDD Update:
Self-Directed Services
Peer-to-Peer Virtual Networking
April 16, 2024
Resources & Events
Atlantic CIL Workshop Series on
Empowering Community Engagement
March 19 - 26, 2024
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Foothold Technology Webinar
Data-Driven Decision
Making in Human Services:
Proven Strategies to Enhance
Service Quality & Boost Impact
March 20, 2024
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Celebrating Women in Leadership
Nurturing Mental Wellness
March 20, 2024
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InnovAGING New Jersey Summit
March 22, 2024
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FHLBNY Community Lending
Affordable Housing Program
Training Sessions
March 26, 2024
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Disability Justice:
Driving Authentic Change Towards Action
March 27, 2024
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Enhancing Housing Stability for Individuals
with TBI at Risk for or Experiencing Homelessness
March 27, 2024
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Community Living Education Project (CLEP) Webinar Series for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Caregivers, and Support Professionals
May 15, 2024
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Next SHA
Members Meeting
April 3, 2024
In Person
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Next SHA
Developers Meeting
May 13, 2024
Virtual
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HCDNNJ Honoring SHA at 35th Anniversary Lunch
April 12, 2024
Click here to register
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Save the Date!
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SHA's 26th
Annual Conference
November 15, 2024
The Palace, Somerset, NJ
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Florham Park
Apply by March 18th
Edgewater Park
Apply by March 19th
Piscataway
Apply by March 21st
Pittsgrove
Apply by March 24th
Warren
Apply by March 25th
Englewood
Apply by March 25th
Teaneck
Apply by April 2nd
Hopewell
Apply by April 3rd
Parsippany
Apply by April 9th
Old Bridge
Apply by April 30th
Westfield
Apply by May 1st
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SHA Welcomes New & Returning
Members In 2024
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SHA Renewing Champions
As we reach another renewal cycle, SHA greatly appreciates the continuing support of these sustaining champions who proactively (30-days) affirmed their renewals.
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Funding Available for Mobile Crisis
Prevention and Response Teams in South Jersey
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Eligible nonprofit and for-profit organizations can apply to develop a mobile crisis prevention and response program for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities and co-occurring mental health needs in Southern New Jersey. A request for proposals (RFP) from the Department of Human Services invites applicants with experience serving the target population.
Proposals must be submitted by April 17, 2024.
Click here for the RFP
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DCA Offers Smart Move Program Funding
Apply By April 4th
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Smart Move is a housing development pilot program administered by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) that provides up to $15 million to local units of government who have partnered with a developer to create quality, energy-efficient, resilient, and affordable single-family housing in lower flood risk areas. Eligible local units of government must be in one of the counties designated as most impacted and distressed (MID) by Hurricane Ida. These include Bergen, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Union, and Warren.
For more information on the program, please visit the Smart Move Website.
To apply to Smart Move, local governments are required to complete an application registration using the link provided below. Once registered, local governments will gain access to the application page and associated materials.
Application Registration for Local Governments
Developers may register to indicate interest in partnering with local governments and receive program updates. Register as an Interested Developer
If you are interested in applying to Smart Move but don’t think you will be able to meet the deadline, please email us at SmartMove@dca.nj.gov and provide us with an explanation and the additional time needed.
The application deadline for the Smart Move Program is April 4, 2024.
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CSH Accepting RFPs: Products, Training,
and Technical Assistance for Public Housing Agencies | |
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CSH is seeking a subcontractor(s) to provide technical assistance funded by United States Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office of Public and Indian Housing. This RFP includes multiple subcontracting opportunities which may be funded under multiple contracts to one or more subcontractors. Subcontractor(s) with fluency conducting technical assistance in Spanish are highly encouraged to apply.
Details:
- Timeline: Subcontracts awarded under this RFP may commence no earlier than March 22, 2024 and may extend through June 2030.
- Funding Available: An amount not to exceed $100,000 is available for these projects.
- CSH will evaluate applications and select a valid proposal utilizing the following criteria:
- Demonstrated successful performance of substantially similar work;
- Staff experience and qualifications;
- Rate reasonableness and overall cost of services; and
- Ability to comply with the administrative and financial management requirements of the prime award from HUD
To be considered for this subcontracting opportunity, completed versions of the forms below and the additional items requested must be submitted to fedta@csh.org.
CSH will begin reviewing and evaluating applications on Friday, March 15, 2024.
Applications will continue to be reviewed and evaluated until June 2026 or until all needs for subcontractors have been met. Successful applicants will be awarded conditionally, pending a conflict-of-interest review and submission of additional documents concerning rate substantiation and invoicing capacity.
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President Biden Releases FY 2025 Budget
Following State of the Union Address
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The Biden-Harris Administration released its Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 budget. The budget request, while not legally binding, signals the Administration’s priorities and is a jumping off point for the congressional appropriations process for FY25. Despite the spending cap constraints from the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, the President’s Budget request proposes nearly level funding for many affordable housing and community development programs, in addition to making historic investments on the mandatory spending side. Proposals also expand the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (Housing Credit), make the New Markets Tax Credit permanent, and establish the Neighborhood Homes Tax Credit.
President Biden's commitment to housing in the FY 2025 Budget is outlined in the following Fact Sheet. The plan calls for Congress to enact several pieces of legislation that would help build and preserve over 2 million homes, including establishing a new Neighborhood Homes Tax Credit and expanding the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (Housing Credit). Additionally, the Administration is unveiling a new $20 billion competitive grant fund and proposing that each Federal Home Loan Bank double its annual contribution to the Affordable Housing Program to further expand the supply of affordable housing. The plan also calls on Congress to pass legislation that would create programs to increase access to homeownership and lower costs for renters, including a mortgage relief credit to provide middle-class first-time homebuyers with an annual tax credit of $5,000 a year for two years; a down payment assistance program for first-generation homebuyers; and an expansion of the Housing Choice Voucher program, including guaranteed vouchers for low-income veterans and youth aging out of foster care.
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NLIHC Releases Annual Gap Report
on Affordable Housing Shortage
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NLIHC released its annual report The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Homes. This year’s report finds that the lowest-income renters in the U.S. face a shortage of 7.3 million affordable and available rental homes. As a result, nearly three-quarters of renters with extremely low incomes are severely cost-burdened, spending more than half their income on rent and accounting for nearly 70% of all severely cost-burdened renters in the U.S. The report calls for greater federal investments in the preservation and expansion of the affordable housing stock, more Housing Choice Vouchers to bridge the gap between renters’ incomes and rent, and emergency assistance for renters who experience unexpected short-term financial shocks.
How New Jersey Stacks Up:
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Extremely Low-Income Renter Households
306,253
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Number of Affordable and Available Rental Homes Per 100 Extremely
Low-Income Renter Households
30
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Extremely Low-Income Renter Households with Severe Cost Burden
74%
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While progress is being made on affordable housing legislation in New Jersey the report from NLIHC highlights the urgent needs in our state. SHA Executive Director, Diane Riley, recently spoke on the pending legislation saying, "The Supportive Housing Association applauds the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee for passing S50. This critical legislation makes meaningful strides to ensure that people with disabilities can find a home they can afford in communities throughout NJ. SHA encourages the Senate to pass S50 and the Governor to sign the final bill establishing an enduring foundation of affordability throughout the state for all, including individuals and families with special needs.”
As the report shows, just 34 affordable and available homes exist for every 100 renter households with extremely low incomes. This shortage impacts every state and the District of Columbia, resulting in widespread housing cost burdens. The report explains that the private market cannot adequately serve renters with extremely low incomes and demonstrates that present funding for housing assistance is insufficient, creating a systemic national problem. Congress must make sustained investments in deeply income-targeted programs such as the national Housing Trust Fund, Housing Choice Vouchers, and public housing to address this significant gap in affordable rental housing.
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Murphy Administration Invests More Than $26 Million in Affordable Housing Projects Across the State | |
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Opioid Settlement Spending to Bolster
Six Programs to Save Lives and Combat Crisis
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TRENTON – Governor Phil Murphy announced the allocation of over $95 million from New Jersey’s Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund to support critical programs tackling the opioid crisis, connecting New Jerseyans with tools to reduce overdoses and other harms of substance use, and supporting the treatment and recovery of residents struggling with substance use disorders. At the recommendation of the State’s Opioid Recovery and Remediation Advisory Council and with extensive input from the public, six programs addressing four priority areas – harm reduction, prevention and recovery support, treatment, and housing – have been identified to receive funding over the next two to three years.
This funding will be invested in initiatives to bolster services and address the needs of those who have been adversely impacted by the opioid crisis:
- $24 million over two years to expand harm reduction and drug user health services at authorized Harm Reduction Centers, and to deploy harm reduction supplies through partner organizations in high-need areas. This will support startup and expansion by the 32-and-counting Harm Reduction Center sites authorized under P.L. 2021, c.396 as implemented in 2023;
- $17.505 million over three years to expand operations at New Jersey’s 22 Community Peer Recovery Centers, which provide treatment information and other resources in supportive, substance-free environments;
- $9.025 million over three years to replace and add mobile units providing Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) services in the community;
- $19.5 million over three years to scale remote referrals to enable 24/7 connections to care from vetted treatment providers and harm reduction services. This statewide expansion aims to build upon federal funding that DOH is using to pilot the Medication for Addiction Treatment & Electronic Referrals (MATTERS NJ) platform in four counties;
- $17 million over three years to bolster the supported housing continuum, including emergency shelter beds for immediate needs, short-term rental subsidies, transitional housing beds, and permanent housing assistance; and
- $8.1 million over three years to expand the New Jersey Keeping Families Together program, which supports parents with opioid use disorder through housing vouchers and rental subsidies, case management, linkage to community services, and therapeutic supports
The Departments of Human Services, Health, and Children and Families will administer these initiatives. Meanwhile, New Jersey will continue to address new challenges in the opioid response including the emerging threat of fentanyl adulterated or associated with xylazine (FAAX) in the drug supply nationwide. In 2024, $500,000 will be used to deploy wound care supplies, hygiene kits, and – through authority under P.L.2023, c.224 enacted in January – xylazine testing supplies.
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ACL Update:
A World of Opportunities
Promoting Augmentative and Alternative Communication
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An estimated five million people in the United States have disabilities that impact their ability to rely on speech alone to communicate. Too often, individuals with communication disabilities face bias and discrimination based on incorrect assumptions that they either cannot understand what is being communicated to them or aren’t able to communicate at all. As a result, they face significant barriers that get in the way of pursuing their life goals. This leaves many people with communication disabilities sidelined or, in some cases, completely left out of both the community and conversations about their lives. This is unacceptable.
There is great diversity in the ways people communicate with one another. Many people with communication disabilities successfully use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) to interact and connect with the world. AAC can be an app on a device for generating speech, gestures, or body language — or someone who repeats what a person is saying, typing, and spelling — to name just a few of the forms it can take. Too many people who could benefit from AAC do not have access to it. There are many reasons for this, including a lack of information and awareness about AAC tools and strategies and a lack of training and support in how to use AAC. There is enormous potential for more people to gain access to AAC; that’s why ACL is investing in a collaborative, multiphase initiative to increase both awareness of and access to AAC.
The new project, which is led by the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), will focus on improving and maximizing peer learning to increase awareness and use of AAC. In collaboration with CommunicationFirst and the University Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (UCEDD) at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), AUCD will explore how peer to peer (P2P) models can be used to promote access to and increase the use of AAC.
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HUD Equal Access Assessment Tool Now Available | |
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The Equal Access Assessment Tool (EAAT) has been updated and re-released as a webtool. This tool provides specific action steps for HUD recipients and subrecipients to meet the requirements of the Equal Access Rule in shelters and other facility settings.
What the Tool Covers:
- Requirements regarding the creation of policies and procedures
- The responsibility to train staff and contractors
- Communication to residents about their rights and protections
Action steps are provided based on the assessment responses and the most critical steps necessary for creating inclusive and safe access. Providers can retake the assessment for new priority steps at any time. This is a companion tool to the Equal Access for Transgender People: Supporting Inclusive Housing and Shelters Guide and training scenarios.
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EZ Ryde4Life Program Fills Gaps in Transportation Needs | |
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The EZ Ryde4Life program, utilizing Lyft and Uber, currently serves over 3,000 participants. This initiative aims to offer more than 100,000 rides this year, with 94 percent of them sponsored and funded by counties, municipalities, or non-profit organizations. The remaining six percent, approximately 750 riders, pay out of pocket, and less than a third actively use the service. A survey by EZ Ride revealed that pricing was a significant concern for these riders. In response, in February 2023, EZ Ride introduced a 50 percent discount program for eligible EZ Ryde4Life members.
Eligibility requires participation in specific New Jersey Department of Human Services (NJ DHS) programs: Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged & Disabled (PAAD) Program, Senior Gold Prescription Discount Program, or NJ Medicaid. While initial participation was limited, with only 10 individuals signing up, by February 2024, it increased to over 120 members aged 19 to 92 years. Medical purposes, particularly dialysis, accounted for 57 percent of trips, while grocery shopping and employment constituted 15 and eight percent, respectively. The program has facilitated more than 900 rides in the last 12 months, valued at more than $22,000.
Program participants are spread across the state, with the majority coming from Bergen, Monmouth, Essex, and Somerset Counties. Despite robust transportation programs in these counties offering services at no cost to seniors and riders with disabilities, the discounted EZ Ryde4Life program fills a crucial service gap.
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DDD Update:
Self-Directed Services Peer-to-Peer Virtual Networking
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Tuesday, April 16, 2024 | 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. on Zoom
Hosted by the DDD Office of Education on Self-Directed Services, Peer-to-Peer Networking Sessions are an opportunity for adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD) who are self-directing some or all their DDD-funded services to meet their peers, share resources, and discuss their experiences with self-direction.
Adults with IDD who are self-directing or are interested in learning more about self-direction are welcome to attend. Be sure to register in advance!
Click here to register for the Virtual Networking
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Resources & Virtual Forums | |
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Atlantic CIL Workshop Series on
Empowering Community Engagement
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These sessions are part of 24 workshops, designed to increase knowledge and build civic literacy skills. Over the next six months, attendees will learn techniques that will enhance their ability to successfully participate in a democratic process in their communities.
Closed Captioning will be available during this meeting. For any other meeting accommodations contact Ana Then at: athen@atlanticcil.org two weeks prior to each workshop.
WORKSHOP 2: UNDERSTANDING NEW JERSEY GOVERNMENT
Tuesday, March 19th, 2024 [6:00pm] & Wednesday, March 20th, 2024 [2:00pm]
WORKSHOP 3: UNDERSTANDING LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Tuesday, March 26th, 2024 [6:00pm] & Wednesday, March 27th, 2024 [2:00pm]
To receive the link for these workshops be sure to register at:
https://www.mhaac.info/ubw-how-to-join.html
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Foothold Technology Webinar
Data-Driven Decision Making in Human Services:
Proven Strategies to Enhance Service Quality & Boost Impact
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Wednesday, March 20, 2024 | 2:00 - 3:00 PM
Data is redefining success in human services. To excel and lead in this new landscape requires more than traditional approaches—it demands a commitment to innovation, efficiency, and impactful service delivery.
Join us and hear from Jamie Dougherty, Director of Analytics at Lakeview Health Services to learn firsthand the strategies that propelled their organization to the forefront of data-driven excellence in human services. Jamie will share valuable insights from their journey, highlighting practical steps to harness data for confident decision-making, efficiency, and enhanced service impact.
From risk management to program improvement and financial sustainability, by integrating the strategies, lessons, and decision-making prowess shared in this webinar, you position your organization for unparalleled success and impact.
Don't just participate in the future of human services—shape it with us!
What You’ll Walk Away With:
- A Practical Roadmap: Straightforward steps to integrate data analytics into your operations.
- Cultural Transformation: Tactics for fostering a data-driven mindset across your organization.
- Confident Decision-Making: Where you can go once your data works for you, with real-world examples.
Who You'll Hear From
- Jamie Dougherty, Director of Analytics, Lakeview Health Services
- Elliot Massuda, Events and Community Engagement Lead, Foothold Technology
Click here to register for the webinar
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Celebrating Women in Leadership
Nurturing Mental Wellness
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20 | 6:00 PM-7:30 PM
COMMUNITY ACCESS UNLIMITED | 80 W. GRAND ST. ELIZABETH, NJ 07202
Join us to celebrate, be inspired, and engage in conversations with influential women who are at the forefront of making a positive impact in our community. This gathering will showcase speakers from diverse fields, providing a range of valuable perspectives.
Panelists:
- Catherine Chin, Executive Director of the Alliance for the Betterment of Citizens with Disabilities (ABCD)
- Camila Cuevas, Vice President, Gateway Regional Chamber of Commerce
- Linda Lewis, Vice-Chair, Kean University Board of Trustees Rev. Sara Lilja, Director of Lutherans Engaging in Advocacy Ministry of NJ
- Patricia Perkins-Auguste, Councilwoman-at-Large, City of Elizabeth
Click here to register
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InnovAGING New Jersey Summit | |
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Friday, March 22, 2024 | 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
The Rutgers University Hub for Aging Collaboration is preparing for their new “InnovAGING NJ Summit, via Zoom; on Friday, March 22, 2024.
The Pinelands Preservation Alliance and the Access Nature Initiative are happy and excited to participate in this event. The #InnovAGING NJ Summit showcases innovative programs and partnerships that are improving the lives of older adults and changing the aging norms in New Jersey.
Join Rutgers Hub for Aging Collaboration to learn from leaders creating a brighter future for aging and health equity in New Jersey.
At this event, attendees will be able to choose from a range of breakout sessions highlighting innovations on aging in New Jersey. This event will facilitate networking and learning among leaders in the field.
Learn more about the event here https://go.rutgers.edu/InnovAGINGInfo.
Click here to register for the summit.
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FHLBNY Affordable Housing Program (AHP) Training | |
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The Federal Home Loan Bank of New York (FHLBNY) is committed to providing affordable housing opportunities to families and communities through our members. The Affordable Housing Program (AHP) General Fund supports the acquisition, construction, or rehabilitation of affordable housing through an annual, competitive round. In our 2023 round, the FHLBNY awarded AHP funds to 42 projects for a total of $42 million.
Learn more about our 2024 AHP General Fund round through our training sessions. These training sessions will provide member institutions and housing partners with a solid understanding of the program operations, including scoring criteria and the application and submission process. Register Today!
Note: All AHP General Fund participants are required to use the FHLBNY’s AHP System to submit applications. Steps to enroll for AHP System access are available on our website.
If you have questions regarding the upcoming training sessions, please email ahp@fhlbny.com.
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Disability Justice:
Driving Authentic Change Towards Action
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March 27, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Gov. James J. Florio Special Events Forum
Civic Square Building, 33 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ.
Guest speaker: Jashar "Shar" Banks
Panelists: Jennifer M. LeComte, D.O. and Wendy F. Aita, Ph.D
The lecture will serve as a call to action for students, organizations, and policymakers to examine their roles in driving authentic change. It seeks to foster a deeper understanding of disability justice and its impact on health equity, policy development, and community building.
Our guest speakers will include Jashar "Shar" Banks '22, Advocate and Mental Health Specialist, Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care, who will discuss his lived experiences, and two recipients of Inclusive Healthy Communities Grants in 2021-22 and 2022-23: Jennifer M. LeComte, D.O., Associate Professor, Rowan-Virtua SOM, Internal Medicine and Pediatrics and Medical Director, Rowan-Virtua Regional Integrated Special Needs (RISN) Center and Wendy F. Aita, Ph.D., Co-Director, Rowan-Virtua Regional Integrated Special Needs (RISN) Center and Behavioral Health Lead. They will discuss their work to improve access to medical care for people with different abilities.
Click here to register for the event
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Enhancing Housing Stability for Individuals
with TBI at Risk for or Experiencing Homelessness
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Wednesday, March 27, 2024 | 2:30-3:30 PM ET
Join the ACL-funded Housing and Services Resource Center for a webinar on cross-sector partnerships that can enhance housing stability for individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) at risk for or experiencing homelessness. Disability, aging, health, and housing organizations — along with state officials and policymakers — can collaborate to expand access to TBI programs and services. Presenters will discuss types of services that can enhance housing stability and best practices for collaboration between housing, health, and social care services to increase access to those supports. Attendees will gain an understanding of the types of services that can enhance the housing stability of individuals with TBI and learn about the collaborations to increase access to those supports.
Click here to register for the webinar
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Community Living Education Project (CLEP) Webinar Series for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Caregivers, and Support Professionals | |
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You can't pour from an empty glass! We invite you to spend some time focused on optimizing your health and taking better care of yourself in 2024. Already familiar with some of these concepts? A refresher can help keep you on track. Either way, make your health and well-being a priority. Mark your calendar and plan to join us!
Optimizing Health Outcomes for Individuals with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities
Wednesday, May 15, 2024 | 12:00 - 1:00 PM EST
Click here to get more details and register for sessions.
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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 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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