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Showing Posts by Date: 12/2013

Renowned Medical Journal Endorses New York Supportive Housing

12.19.2013

The New England Journal of Medicine has just published a think piece on New York’s efforts to reform Medicaid through supportive housing.

Citing numerous studies, the piece argues that investments in social service programs, including supportive housing, can decrease the amount a society spends on healthcare. The article offers the latest example of an emerging consensus: that supportive housing is healthcare. It was written by three esteemed figures in the field: NYS Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Nirav Shah, NYS Office of Health Insurance Programs Deputy Director Elizabeth Misa and Dr. Kelly Doran of New York University. You can read their perspective here.

The authors stress that supportive housing achieves multiple goals for New York State. Our model helps reduce healthcare costs, improves the quality of care for individuals on Medicaid and improves the overall health of these individuals. On the cost-savings front, the authors lay out a clear argument on the benefits of supportive housing:

"New York Medicaid payments for nursing-facility stays are $217 per day, as compared with costs of $50 to $70 per day for supportive housing. Furthermore, preventing even a few inpatient hospitalizations, at $2,219 per day, could pay for many days of supportive housing […] Studies have shown that the costs of supportive housing are largely offset by resultant savings in services used, mostly from reduced use of the health care system. Some studies of high-risk patients have found that savings exceeded the costs of providing housing, thus yielding a net positive return on investment."

We strongly urge you to read and share this emphatic endorsement of supportive housing!

| New York State, Research, Press


Housing Works Opens Doors at Jefferson Ave. Residence

12.16.2013

Dozens of supporters gathered last Friday to celebrate the opening of Jefferson Avenue Residence, a 12-unit supportive housing residence in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Bedford Stuyvesant.

Attendees braved below-freezing temps to hear from the project’s partners and witness the ceremonial ribbon cutting just outside the building. Jefferson Ave. brings the total number of supportive housing units from Housing Works, the versatile NYC nonprofit known for its commitment to individuals with HIV/AIDS, to 214 units.

Twelve formerly homeless New Yorkers will soon have a place to live thanks to this $3 million development. The residence will house individuals coping with both mental illness and chemical addiction (MICA). A preference will be given to individuals who also have HIV/AIDS.

In addition to their very own studio apartments, tenants will have access to an array of on-site social services, including case management, health care and life skills classes. Housing Works hopes to have the building rented up within the next few weeks.

Last week's outdoor ceremony was a quick one given the frigid weather. Housing Works President Charles King began the morning with some words on the importance of Jefferson Avenue Residence.

“This building is a testament to something we say all the time: that housing works. That housing is healthcare. That housing is HIV prevention,” Mr. King said.

Continue Reading …

| New York City, Openings


HUD Announces Continuum of Care NOFA

12.05.2013

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has opened the competition for Continuum of Care (CoC) funding for the 2013 and 2014 fiscal years. New York State’s 25 CoCs must each submit a comprehensive application by February 3, 2014. Providers must submit their project applications in e-snaps at least 30 days prior to this. You can read the HUD Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) here.

Unlike previous applications, the recently-released community application spans two years: FY 2013 and 2014. This move will allow HUD to get its application process back on track and hopefully avoid cutting funding for renewal projects, as is happening in this round. It is also a strong indication that there will likely be no new funding to address homelessness for the foreseeable future.

This application includes a number of other noteworthy changes from prior years. Chief among them is the stipulation that the only way to create a new project is through reallocation of existing funding. This is due to sequestration, which has eliminated any funding for bonus projects this year. HUD further stipulated that new (reallocated) project funding can only be used for supportive housing for people who are chronically homeless or rapid rehousing for families.

HUD has also required CoCs to create two tiers of projects -- the second tier being the list of projects that will likely get defunded due to sequestration. Like other HUD programs, CoCs are being told to plan for a 5% reduction in funding. In New York City alone, that is a loss of nearly $6 million, affecting housing and services for over 1,200 homeless individuals and families.

Other noteworthy changes in the NOFA include:

Continue Reading …

| New York State, New York City, Federal


Network Delivers Testimony on NY/NY III

12.05.2013

The Network testified at a New York City Council hearing on the status of the New York/New York III Supportive Housing Agreement on December 3. The public hearing, held by the Council Committee on Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, Alcoholism, Drug Abuse and Disability Services, provided an opportunity for government agencies and advocates to present on the status of the agreement now in its eighth year of implementation.

The hearing was led by the chair of the committee, Council Member G. Oliver Koppell. He was joined by fellow Council Members Gail Brewer and Ruben Wills.

Dr. Adam Karpati, Executive Deputy Commissioner for the Division of Mental Hygiene at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), provided a thorough testimony on the status of DOHMH’s NY/NY III commitment. Dr. Frank Lipton, Executive Deputy Commissioner for Customized Assistance Services for the NYC Human Resources Administration (HRA) and Jessica Katz, Assistant Commissioner for the Division of Special Needs Housing at the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), were also on the record for the question-and-answer portion of the testimony.

The Network provided testimony following the City, highlighting the major successes of the agreement and the tremendous progress that has been made thus far. You can read our testimony in full here.

Continue Reading …

| New York City


OMH Releases RFP for 700 SRO Units

12.03.2013

The NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH) has announced a Request for Proposals (RFP) for 700 units of Supported SRO housing. This funding will be available statewide and phased in over a two-year period through calendar year 2014-2015. Click here to read the RFP applications.

OMH will fund up to $300,000 per unit and provide operating and services funding, which will range from $14,875 upstate to $16,481 downstate per unit per year. These amounts are subject to annual appropriations.

OMH will allocate funding for units in the following New York regions:

NYC: 300 units
Hudson River: 150 units
Long Island: 100 units
Central New York: 75 units
Western New York: 75 units

As you apply for these units, keep the following dates in mind:

Continue Reading …

| Funding


Applications for New Supportive Housing RFP Due Dec. 13

12.02.2013

The New York City Coalition on the Continuum of Care (CCoC) has released a new Request for Proposal (RFP) for new permanent supportive housing serving chronically homeless individuals and families through its Bonus & Reallocation Funding in the CCoC 2013 application. Please note that there is a quick turn around time for this RFP. Proposals are due Friday, December 13 at 5pm, and no extensions will be granted. You can read the RFP here.

As per HUD’s Funding Availability (NOFA) for the FY 2013 Continuum of Care (CoC) competition, the NYC CCoC is eligible to apply for new permanent supportive housing projects. This year, HUD is giving priority to the creation of new permanent supportive housing projects either through the creation of new congregate supportive housing or new or expanded scattered-site supportive housing serving 100% chronically homeless individuals and families.

Please note that Safe Havens, transitional housing, services only and prevention programs DO NOT qualify for this funding. The CoC also has $7,608,877 available for reallocation for new projects. The reallocation projects will be ranked in Tier I of the CoC application.

To learn how your organization can apply for this funding, head over to our RFP page.

| Funding