Monarch Housing’s Blog!

This article appeared in the Courier Post. The online article has photos. Click here to view them.

Health care hits the streets

By SHAWN RHEA, Courier-Post Staff

CAMDEN

The white van piloted by M.D. Pinkston may be nondescript, but it’s a familiar and welcome sight for many of the city’s homeless residents.

Pinkston, an outreach worker for the Project Hope medical clinic, pulled the large vehicle into the Volunteers of America Men’s Shelter parking lot on Atlantic Avenue. Several residents rose from picnic benches and made their way over to the van. Pinkston, 57, climbed out and greeted familiar faces.

“How you doing, man?” he asked, then shook a few hands and began giving out crackers, soap, socks and other valuable wares. The giveaways aren’t the primary reason for Pinkston’s daily rounds, but they’re a means of connecting. Pinkston’s work involves helping his homeless clientele get the regular medical care they desperately need.

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On Thursday March 29, 2007, NewBridge Services, Inc., awarded Monarch Housing Associates one of the three 2007 “Helping People Move Forward Award”. The presentation was made at the 7th Annual Magic of NewBridge Gala.

In the photo Robert L. Parker, the Executive Director of NewBridge Services presents the award to Richard W. Brown, the Executive Director of Monarch Housing. Mr. Brown received the award on behalf of the Board of Trustees and staff of Monarch Housing. The other two recipients were John Franklin, CEO of the United Way of Morris County and Deborah Zastocki, President & CEO, of Chilton Memorial Hospital. To view other photos from the Gala click here.

NewBridge Services is a nonprofit community organization founded in 1963, provides innovative mental health, substance abuse, housing, children’s and senior services and education programs. Whether dealing with stress, grief, or substance abuse or in need of parenting, relationship or caregiving advice, NewBridge offers counseling programs, educational forums and life-enriching services to help people bring balance to their lives.

This is from KnowlegePlex.

Poll Finds Affordable Housing a High Priority

Americans Cite Importance of Affordable Housing
03/21/2007 | PR Newswire US

While nine out of ten Americans say it is important to provide affordable housing in their communities, less than half say national housing policy is on the right track, according to a press release from the National Association of Realtors ®. The survey, by Zogby America, also found that seven in 10 Americans would be more likely to vote for a presidential candidate with a detailed platform for affordable housing production. The poll was conducted on behalf of NAR and the other organizations that have partnered to launch a national affordable housing awareness campaign to reestablish housing as a national priority. From March 21 to April 9, affordable housing advocates across the country will sponsor events highlighting the critical need for affordable housing programs, policies, and resources, the release said. For more information on the “Housing America 2007″ campaign or to access the study, click here.

This update on housing first permanent housing projects is from KnowlegePlex.

Housing Authorities, Police Support ‘Housing First’ for Homeless

New Complex for Homeless Opens in Salt Lake City
03/24/2007 | Deseret Morning News (Salt Lake City)

City Hopes to Cut Woes of Chronic Alcoholics
03/24/2007 | Deseret Morning News (Salt Lake City)

Program to Help Homeless Advances
03/22/2007 | Springfield Republican (Massachusetts)

Rehabbed High-Rise Will House Homeless
03/23/2007 | Dayton Daily News (Ohio)

A just-opened supportive housing complex for chronically homeless people in Salt Lake City is “the first of its kind in Utah,” reported the Deseret Morning News. The multimillion-dollar project was spearheaded by the Housing Authority of Salt Lake City. The 100-unit facility aligns with the “Housing First” approach that has worked elsewhere in the country, the article said. Residents of two of the four floors will face no restrictions on use of alcohol, while all residents will have access to optional on-site case management. The complex is part of the state’s 10-year plan to end chronic homelessness, the article said.

Salt Lake City is also operating a housing first oriented program to place chronically homeless people — many of whom also have substance abuse problems — in their own apartments, reported the Deseret Morning News.

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On Tuesday March 27, 2007, the Passaic Interagency Council on Homelessness (PCICH) held a press conference prior to the regular meeting of the Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders to announce the 2006 Continuum of Care Awards. This year’s award of $1,669,164 will create a total of fourteen (14) new units of permanent, affordable and supportive housing for the Chronically Homeless. The three agencies that were funded for new projects were Eva’s Village, St. Paul’s Community Development Corporation and St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center. (Pictured above from left to right - Jeff Crum, NJCDC, Charles Featherson, Passaic County Department of Human Services, Heather Plan and Randi Moore, Monarch Housing Associates, Sr. Gloria Perez, Eva’s Village and John Carluccio, City of Paterson, Department of Community Development).

In addition to the yearly Continuum of Care application, the Passaic County Department of Human Services along with various organizations and stakeholders from the community have been working to develop a Ten Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness. The plan which is due to be released soon calls for the development of six hundred (600) units of permanent supportive housing for the Chronically Homeless over the next ten years.

In addition at the same meeting, the Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders unanimously endorsed the Homeless Trust Fund. Freeholder Director Elease Evans, pictured in the center of the front row, understands the importance of the Homeless Trust Fund as one of the first seven steps of Passaic County’s plan to end homelessness in ten years. Ms. Evans is a co-chair of the Passaic Interagency Council on Homelessness (PCICH) which is developing the ten year plan. (Pictured from left to right seated Sonia Rosado, Elease Evans, Tahesha Way, standing Terry Duffy, James Gallagher, Pat Lepore and Bruce James).

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This information from Alison Recca-Ryan from the Corporation for Supportive Housing.

Attached please find the registration form for the 2007 Homeless Planning and Continuum of Care Summit scheduled for May 1, 2007. This year, the Summit will be held at the Conference Center at Mercer, located at 1200 Old Trenton Road, Trenton, from 8:30am – 4:00pm. There is no cost for the Summit, however participation is limited to 5 representatives from each Continuum.

Highlights of this year’s Summit will include:

Opening Remarks from Diane Johnson – HUD NJ Field Office Director

HUD2007 and into the future

Opportunities and challenges within the Continuum of Care

Aligning NJ with HUD priorities

Training on the 2007 Continuum of Care Application

Results of the 2007 Point-in-Time Count of the Homeless

Proposed Statewide Continuum of Care Performance Outcomes

Service Funding for Permanent Supportive Housing

Please complete the registration form and return via e-mail [Email address: nj.temp #AT# csh.org - replace #AT# with @ ]. Registrations must be received no later than April 20, 2007. We look forward to seeing you there!

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services is accepting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2007 for Services in Supportive Housing Program grants. The purpose of this program is to help end chronic homelessness by funding services for individuals and families experiencing chronic homelessness in coordination with existing permanent supportive housing programs and resources.

The following three permanent supportive housing programs are eligible to apply:

Previous CHI grantees;
HUD permanent supportive housing programs (Shelter Plus Care, SRO, SHP Permanent Housing, or SHP Safe Haven programs); or
Permanent supportive housing programs funded by non-HUD sources.

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