Newsfeed Category: New York State

Gov. Cuomo Announces Major Supportive Housing Increases in Executive Budget

Jan.22.2014

Governor Andrew Cuomo released his fourth executive budget yesterday, and it is an extremely positive one for supportive housing!

The SFY 2014-15 Executive Budget Proposal provides major infusions of new capital for supportive housing development, large allocations of new supportive housing subsidies for high-cost Medicaid recipients and modest but significant increases to key supportive housing programs like the NYS Supportive Housing Program (NYSSHP), Solutions to End Homelessness Program (STEHP) and NYS Office of Mental Health Supported Housing.

The Network would like to thank Governor Cuomo and his staff, the Division of Budget and all of our State agency leaders who worked tirelessly to put this budget together. We deeply appreciate your continuing commitment to supportive housing. We are confident the Legislature will also share the governor’s commitment to provide safe and secure housing for some of our most vulnerable citizens. The Network and its members will do our best to help secure passage of the budget in the next few months.

"This is a budget that shows a serious commitment to housing and supporting some of New York’s most vulnerable citizens,” says Network Executive Director Ted Houghton. “We are particularly pleased with the massive $260 million, two-year allocation for the DOH Medicaid Redesign Team Supportive Housing Program. This investment of State dollars will provide a stabilizing foundation of affordable housing and supports that will be particularly effective when the federal government approves the State’s waiver application to transform its Medicaid program.”

Budget highlights of particular interest to supportive housing providers include:

Department of Health/Medicaid Redesign Team

MRT Supportive Housing Fund: $260 million (over two years)
The executive budget funds the Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT) Supportive Housing Fund at $260 million over two years. The budget allocates $100 million for SFY 2014-15 and $160 million for SFY 2015-16. This marks a $14 million increase from last year’s funding level. This fund will continue to provide service funding, rent subsidies and capital dollars to create supportive housing for high-cost Medicaid recipients. The MRT Affordable Housing Workgroup will work with State agencies to determine the most effective and efficient way to spend these funds on housing-based interventions to improve care and reduce Medicaid spending. Specific program recommendations for the allocation plan will be drafted and finalized in the next few months.

Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance

Homeless Housing Prevention Services Program: $30.3 million
The executive budget KEPT WHOLE the Homeless Housing Prevention Services Program that funds NYSSHP, STEHP and the Operational Support for AIDS Housing Program. This funding will keep all existing supportive housing and homelessness prevention programs whole at the baseline of last year’s final adopted budget level. We would like to thank the governor’s office and the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) for their support for this critical services and operating program. We will ask the Legislature to increase this funding further to fund new supportive housing programs opening up this year.

Homeless Housing Assistance Program: $63 million
The executive budget proposes to DOUBLE the Homeless Housing and Assistance Program (HHAP) capital development program for supportive housing from last year’s level of $33 million. This is the first time HHAP has ever been doubled; the program has remained constant at approximately $30 million over the past ten years.

Gov. Cuomo Delivers State of the State Address

Jan.10.2014

Governor Andrew Cuomo delivered his fourth State of the State address in Albany earlier this week. While the governor focused much of the address on tax relief and other economic issues, there was some news of interest to the supportive housing community.

Governor Cuomo’s speech affirmed the continuation of the House NY plan with a $100 million commitment for affordable housing. This funding will create and preserve 3,500 units of affordable housing across the state. For renters earning less that $100,000, the governor also proposed a renters’ tax credit. This policy could help prevent homelessness if it takes into account high-rent burdens, particularly for extremely low-income families. The governor also renewed his commitment to streamline the grant reimbursement process for nonprofits through the Grants Gateway program.

In light of New York’s declining prison population, the governor proposed the creation of a re-entry council to help avoid recidivism through job training and other social support services. The governor would direct $15 million to this effort. The Network will advocate for the inclusion of a supportive housing strategy as part of this initiative.

HCR Announces Early Unified Funding Round Winners

Jan.08.2014

NYS Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) has announced the winners of its early Unified Funding Round awards. HCR funded ten projects with a total of $9.8 million in Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC). This amount represents more than one-third of the $26 million available this year. The agency also allocated more than $12 million in funding through the Housing Trust Fund. This amount equals roughly 40% of the total amount available. The Network expects that at least $3.4 million in LIHTC awards remain to be allocated under the supportive housing set-aside during the regular round, with awards expected to be announced in the spring.

You can read the full list of awardees here.

This early round prioritized shovel-ready projects, which included supportive housing for veterans with special needs or affordable housing that reserved up to 20 percent of its units for persons with developmental disabilities. The latter projects were supported by the NYS Office for People with Development Disabilities (OPWDD).

HCR funded one supportive housing project through its priority to house veterans. Concern for Independent Living received $1.275 million in LIHTCs for its Ronkonkoma project, which will include 30 units of veteran supportive housing in a 59-unit, mixed-use project. Several Network members were also involved in other early-round projects as either developers and/or service providers: Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany, Dunn Development Corporation, Housing Visions, Independent Home Care and Providence Housing Development Corporation.

We would like to congratulate all of our members who were successful in this year’s early round process.

Gov. Cuomo Includes Supportive Housing in End-of-Year Report

Jan.06.2014

Governor Andrew Cuomo released his 2013 year-end report last month. The 54-page document offers an overview of the various initiatives supported by his administration, including supportive housing. As the Network awaits the Governor’s 2014 State of the State address this Wednesday, we are encouraged by these words and the Governor’s continued endorsement of the supportive housing model as part of his efforts to reform Medicaid. You can read New York Rising in full here.

“There is a growing national recognition that addressing the social determinants of health is critical for both improving health status and reducing costs," the report states. "This is most evident in the matter of housing. Governor Cuomo announced the allocation of $86 million to support nearly 5,500 individuals through the Medicaid Redesign Team Supportive Housing Program. The funds are managed by multiple State agencies working cooperatively, and support both capital projects and rental and service subsidies. To date, funds have been committed to construct 12 new buildings, which will create 483 new supportive housing units. Funding has also provided over 4,300 individuals with rental subsidies and service supports. Although the link between stable housing and Medicaid cost control is well known, this is the first time that projected Medicaid savings have been directed to the development of supportive housing.”

New Report: NY/NY III Supportive Housing Saved City $10,100 Per Tenant Per Year

Jan.02.2014

On New Year’s Eve, New York City released the first major report on the cost-savings impacts of supportive housing created under the New York/New York III Supportive Housing Agreement. Reviewing data from the first years of the agreement, the report found that homeless or institutionalized people placed into NY/NY III supportive housing saved taxpayers a net average of $10,100 per person per year. The entire report is available here.
 
The report’s analysis confirms similar findings by more than 30 studies nationwide that showed how supportive housing can significantly reduce the costly public expenses associated with homelessness. You can read the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH)'s press release for the repot here.

The New York/New York III Supportive Housing Evaluation was conducted by DOHMH in collaboration with the NYC Human Resources Administration (HRA) and the NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH). The evaluation is particularly significant because it compared those found eligible for and placed into NY/NY III housing with a control group made up of those who were also found eligible but did not receive a supportive housing placement. The study looked at two years of costs prior to placement/non-placement and one year post for everyone who was placed or not placed into NY/NY housing between 2007 and 2009.

The study measured public costs associated with participants’ use of shelter, jail, cash assistance, food stamps, state psychiatric care and Medicaid. The report found that, after subtracting the NY/NY III housing and service costs, each NY/NY III tenant housed saves the public an average of $10,100 a year.
 
The savings occurred across many public systems and varied widely by tenant population, with supportive housing for tenants coming from State-operated psychiatric facilities saving on average an impressive $77,425 per tenant per year. The NY/NY III housing achieved either a complete cost offset or significant savings for all but two of the tenant populations.

Renowned Medical Journal Endorses New York Supportive Housing

Dec.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!

HUD Announces Continuum of Care NOFA

Dec.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:

Notice: MRT HHAP Funding Still Available

Nov.14.2013

Reminder: The NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) has $13.2 million still available to fund supportive housing projects through its Medicaid Redesign Team Homeless Housing and Assistance Program (MRT HHAP). This program, like the original HHAP program, provides grants and loans to acquire, construct and rehabilitate housing for persons who are or would otherwise be homeless. You can read the recently-updated Request for Proposals (RFP) here.

Projects eligible for MRT HHAP funds must provide permanent supportive housing to homeless single individuals. Tenants must also exhibit conditions or histories recognized to be associated with high Medicaid usage and be located in the Upstate and suburban metropolitan regions of New York. Examples of eligible populations include, but are not limited to, people who have experienced chronic homelessness, physical disability, mental illness, substance abuse and/or other disabling conditions.

OTDA’s Homeless Housing and Assistance Corporation (HHAC) will determine a project’s eligibility for this funding. Factors such as the population served, the support services offered and the location of the residence will determine eligibility.

Nonprofit organizations and their charitable organizations, municipalities and public housing authorities are eligible for this funding. This is an open-ended RFP, meaning OTDA will accept proposals on a continuous basis until funds are no longer available or this methodology no longer serves a purpose for HHAC.

Gala Honoree: Hill Street Inn

Oct.15.2013

Click here on tickets for information to our Gala!

Hill Street Inn is a standout on any number of levels: It suffered (and survived) one of the worst not-in-my-backyard battles in our community’s history; it provides homes to 20 individuals, most of whom never imagined they’d be living indoors much less have a beautiful home of their own; and it provides a gorgeous new resource for the Troy community. 

Hill Street Inn is emblematic of what supportive housing is all about: It has fostered a community within the residence and bolstered the community surrounding it.

For Joseph’s House and Shelter, the road has been a long one. The organization overcame neighborhood opposition and two lawsuits to build Hill Street Inn over the course of seven years. Now, with the building’s unqualified success as a safe, inviting addition to Troy, the initial pushback seems like a dim memory.

“We’re proud of this program for a lot of reasons,” says Kevin O’Connor, Executive Director of Joseph’s House. “The housing-first model works. Plus the building is beautiful and is really becoming a center for the community.”

Gala Honoree: Shannon McEachern

Oct.11.2013

Click here for information on tickets to our Gala!

Before she even turned 30, Shannon McEachern had experienced life on the streets in New York, California, Colorado, Arizona, North Carolina and Florida.

Ms. McEachern had no home and suffered from an unshakeable drug addiction. Across the country, friends offered her bus tickets and a place to stay. Each city held the promise of a new beginning. But with each city, the same drama unfolded: Her friends couldn’t live with the drug use, and so Ms. McEachern found herself roaming the streets, suitcase by her side, asking strangers for shelter. She’d steal cash for food and sleep in abandoned buildings. A Binghamton native, Ms. McEachern lived this nomadic life for 10 long years.

Those years, thankfully, are over. In 2012, Ms. McEachern moved into supportive housing from the YWCA of Binghamton and Broome County. She has since gotten clean, become a community volunteer and grown into an all-star housing advocate. 

“I stand in awe of Shannon,” says YWCA of Binghamton and Broome County Executive Director Carole Coppens. “Many of us with far more privilege don’t have the courage that this woman has.”

Ms. McEachern has blossomed into a capable, inspiring adult. She now meets with a case manager and vocational counselor to develop her newfound sense of confidence. She holds a part-time job at a local library and is working toward going to college for the first time.