Monarch Housing’s Blog!

Deadline no earlier than September 26th!

Date could change based on an announcement in the Federal Register next week!

On July 24, 2008, HUD held a webcast that included information on the 2008 CoC NOFA and explained how to use the new e-snaps system to submit an application. Programs covered by the NOFA are the Supportive Housing Program, Shelter Plus Care, and the Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation for Single Room Occupancy program. This webcast also included information on Rapid Re-housing.

If you missed the Webcast, you can view the presentation slides by clicking here.

As part of the webcast, HUD announced that the deadline for submission would be no earlier than September 26, 2008.

E-snaps offers a variety of training that can be helpful to those involved in the 2008 CoC competition. Click on any of the links for the Adobe PDF version of the training.

e-snaps Online Training Navigation Tutorial

e-snaps Overview

eLogic Model

SF-424

Exhibit 1:

Continuum of Care Structure and Member Groups

Housing Inventory Information

Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS)

CoC Strategic Planning

Homeless Populations and Subpopulations

Exhibit 2:

Accessing Exhibit 2

To view all E-snaps training click here.

Important Announcement regarding the 2008 CoC Homeless Assistance Competition!

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Special Needs Assistance Programs (SNAPS) announces the availability of the electronic application for the 2008 Continuum of Care (CoC) competition. The application for 2008 is available only through e-snaps, a new online system.

HUD strongly encourages CoC representatives (those organizations that complete Exhibit 1 of the application) and project applicants (those organizations that complete Exhibit 2 of the application) to:

1. Review training materials about e-snaps that are available on HUD’s Homelessness Resource Exchange (HRE), and

2. Watch the 2008 Continuum of Care NOFA broadcast, which is scheduled for Thursday, July 24 from 11:00 to 2:00 pm EDT. The broadcast will include an overview of the NOFA as well as instruction for e-snaps, and will be archived for viewing no later than 5:00PM on Monday, July 28, 2008.

e-snaps is available by clicking here www.hud.gov/esnaps or can be accessed from HUD’s HRE.

NOTE:

Project applicants must establish e-snaps user ID and password before accessing the SF-424 and Exhibit 2. Step by step instructions are included in the SF-424 training module located by clicking here. Applicants must complete SF-424 in order to access Exhibit 2.

CoC Leads that established e-snaps user ID and password during the CoC Registration process may access Exhibit 1.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has launched a new Homelessness Resource Center web site. This new resource is designed to be a social networking site to help homeless service providers connect with each other by sharing knowledge and experiences. Web site users will be able to download resources and practical tools, rate and comment on content, post helpful information, and learn about upcoming events.

After our first visit we could identify several benefits of this new site to anyone involved in ending homelessness.

To visit the site click here.

Second Chance Act needs $70 million in 2009!

Key policy issue at Congressional Reception!

One of the three policy issues for the 2nd Annual Congressional Reception is adequate funding for the Second Chance Act. The position of the New Jersey Advocacy Network to End Homelessness advocates for Congress to provide $70 million for the Second Chance Act programs in fiscal year 2009.

Please read this entire policy position paper. To read it as a separate document click here. For more information on the Second Chance Act click here.

The Second Chance Act has been explicitly billed as a “first step” in developing a more effective federal response to the problem of people leaving corrections without adequate support. This act reauthorizes and revises an existing grant program within the Department of Justice, providing money to states for reentry programs, and it creates a federal interagency task force to study and coordinate policy. The act also commissions a number of research projects, including a study of barriers in federal policy to successful reentry, and authorizes grants from the Department of Justice directly to nonprofits for reentry programs.

Housing is a key part of any reentry strategy, and it is addressed in a number of ways in the Second Chance Act:

Under the state grants program, housing activities are eligible uses of program funds, from providing housing directly to assisting people in securing housing from the private market or other housing programs.

Another eligible use of funds is strengthening the capacity of prisoners’ families to provide stable living situations.

Housing is to be addressed in the strategic plan required of each state receiving funding.

Housing is one of the performance outcomes that each state receiving funding is required to monitor and report to the Justice Department.

Recommendation

The New Jersey Advocacy Network to End Homelessness urges Congress to provide $70 million for the Second Chance Act programs in fiscal year 2009.

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This important HUD webcast is important for all Continuums of Care as well as funded programs.

On Thursday, July 24, HUD is delivering a live webcast on the 2008 Continuum of Care (CoC) Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA). The webcast will include information on the 2008 CoC NOFA and explain how to use the new e-snaps system to submit an application. Programs covered by the NOFA are the Supportive Housing Program, Shelter Plus Care, and the Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation for Single Room Occupancy program.

The webcast will be held from 2:00-5:00 p.m. ET, and will include the following topics:

Part 1: 2008 NOFA Overview

What is New in 2008
Rapid Re-Housing for Families Demonstration Program
Pro Rata Need
Safe Havens

Part 2: Using e-snaps

Completing Exhibit 1 in e-snaps
Submitting an SF-424 and Exhibit 2 in e-snaps

To access the webcast click here. Links for the webcast and training materials will appear in a box on the webcast page approximately 1/2 hour before the scheduled start time. Archived webcasts are usually available in the video library within a week after their initial broadcast.

Mark Fontes of WZBN TV-25 did a video report on the highly successful July 10, 2008, Project Homeless Connect event hosted by the Mercer County Alliance to End Homelessness. Click on the screen to watch this video.

 

 Mercer Project Homeless WZBN-25 [2:06m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Click here to read our previous report.

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NAEH releases policy papers on funding!

Key issue for the July 30th Congressional Reception!

With less than two weeks to go until the 2nd Annual Congressional Reception, the National Alliance to End Homelessness has released several important policy papers on federal funding for housing and supportive services. The New Jersey Advocacy Network to End Homelessness’ mission is to advocate on a federal level for adequate funding for permanent affordable and supportive housing for homeless individuals and families. The Advocacy Network’s next event the Second Annual Congressional Reception will be held on July 30, 2008. Click here for a Save the Date form.

These are the materials on the federal funding that are important to read prior to the Congressional Reception.

2008 Capitol Hill Day Federal Policy Agenda (PDF | 23 KB | 2 pages)

Facts on Affordable Housing (PDF | 58 KB | 1 page)

Federal Spending in Homelessness and Housing (PDF | 54 KB | 2 pages)

FY 2009 Services Appropriations (PDF | 46 KB | 2 pages)

HHS Appropriations: Multi-Year Strategy (PDF | 34 KB | 1 page)

HUD Appropriations: Multi-Year Strategy (PDF | 34 KB | 1 page)

More detailed updates will be provided prior to the July 30th event.

How are lowest income Americans affected by the current mortgage crisis? Commonly described as a problem of mortgage markets and home prices, little attention has been paid to households at the bottom of the housing ladder — extremely low income renters and homeowners — and the persistent mismatch between these families and available affordable housing. In part this is because the data do not easily allow a direct connection between foreclosure or eviction and characteristics such as income, and many of the statistics that will provide in depth information on the changing housing situations of Americans, are still years away from being released.

This Expert Chat will present recent data and analysis on the current housing market and draw some preliminary conclusions about the impact of the current crisis on the affordability and availability of rental housing for the lowest income households. The material in the presentation will draw primarily from recent and ongoing research at NLIHC on foreclosure and rental markets - including the most recent Out of Reach report - providing participants with a comprehensible overview of the emerging patterns and trends to watch.

Current trends and patterns in national housing market indicators such as home prices, rents, and vacancy rates and the implications for these households of greatest concern to the Coalition, the lowest income Americans, will be discussed. Also, findings from NLIHC research on the types of housing and the characteristics of neighborhoods most affected by foreclosure in New England, and the results of a national survey of housing counselors concerning the income and tenure characteristics of the households they serve, will be shared.

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