FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT: Planning and Management Services for the Westchester County COC Partnership to End Homelessness

The County of Westchester, acting by and through its Department of Community Mental Health, is requesting proposals from qualified vendors to provide planning and management services for the Westchester County Continuum of Care Partnership to End Homelessness (“CoC”) program.

Due Date:

May 24, 2023 4:00:00 PM

Clarification Date:

May 16, 2023 4:00:00 PM

Clarifications to be posted by:

May 19, 2023 10:00:00 AM

To view the full RFP, please click here and scroll down: RFP (westchestergov.com)

Westchester County Continuum of Care Partnership to End Homelessness Presents: 2023 Coordinated Entry Workflow Refresher

Date & Time: May 17th 2023 1:00pm-3:00pm

Coordinated Entry Workflow Refresher :

Our HMIS Administrator, Daniel Gore, and our WCoC Admin team will walk attendees through the process of creating and maintaining Coordinated Entry project enrollments as well as answer questions attendees may have from using the system.

Who should attend:

The training is mandatory for all new staff who create, maintain or review Coordinated Entry enrollments. This includes but is not limited to CE Assessors, shelter & housing provider staff, case managers, outreach workers and DSS staff.

Click here to register

Mental Health Association of Westchester Job Fair - April 26, 2023

Join a team of passionate and innovative staff at

The Mental Health Association of Westchester!

The Mental Health Association of Westchester is recognized nationally and locally as a premier employer fostering mental health. We value lived experience, emphasize teamwork and provide professional training opportunities. From care teams to softball teams, working together is what we do best!

We are committed to creating a supportive and inclusive work environment that celebrates diversity and promotes mental wellness in our community. Our team is passionate about making a difference in the lives of our clients and their families, and we are looking for like-minded individuals who share our vision. Please join us at our upcoming Career Fair to learn more!

DTR Behavioral Health Mobile Clinician needed!

Wednesday, April 26
9:00 am - 2:00 pm

Hampton Inn
200 W. Main Street, Elmsford, NY 10523

Transition Linkages Fair

Westchester County Presents: The 18th Annual Transition Linkages Fair!

An Event for Parents, Educators & Advocates to Learn more about Adult Services & Transition Planning

Visit with Representatives from more than 60 Vendors

Serving Westchester County for Information on:

  • Adult Day Programs

  • Benefits & Financial
    Planning'

  • Care Coordination
    Organizations
    Clinical & Behavioral
    Services

  • Eligibility & HCBS-
    Waiver

  • Prevocational Programs

  • Postsecondary Education

  • Transition Services and
    Programs

  • Supported Employment

WCoC Presents: 2023 Spring Symposium

Join us for our annual Spring learning event! Please use the form at the bottom of this page to register. 

3/22/2023 - Human Trafficking Training: Presenter David M. Ryan will present to us about the impact of Human Trafficking on the people and communities we serve. He will provide concrete action steps on what to do if you or your organization is serving someone who isexperiencing trafficking. This training is open to all personnel at every level. This training is recommended to all staff providing direct client care.

3/28/2023 - Coordinated Entry Workflow Refresher: Our HMIS Administrator, Daniel Gore, and our WCoC Admin team will walk attendees through the process of creating and maintaining Coordinated Entry project enrollments as well as answer questions attendees may have from using the system. This training is mandatory for all new staff who create, maintain or review Coordinated Entry enrollments. This includes but is not limited to CE Assessors, shelter & housing provider staff, case managers, outreach workers and DSS staff.

3/30/2023 - HMIS Case Notes Training: On January 1, 2023 the use of Case Notes to update colleagues serving the same individuals and families in our system became mandatory. This training will outline what types of activities, status changes and special circumstances that require case notes to keep everyone in the loop effectively. This training is mandatory for all CE Assessors and outreach workers, as well as all housing and homelessness prevention providers that receive referrals from Coordinated Entry.

Senior Housing 62+: Manhattan Avenue Senior Apartments - NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS.

MANHATTAN AVE SENIOR APARTMENTS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

Affordable Units Available for Qualifying Seniors Aged 62+ 

GREENBURGH, NY__ The Greenburgh Housing Authority’s new senior affordable housing complex built in partnership with Georgica Green Ventures, at 52 Manhattan Avenue, adjacent to the Theodore D. Young Community Center, is now leasing, with 44 one-bedroom apartments available. 

The units are all one-bedrooms reserved for households aged 62+ with incomes at or below 30%-60% of the Westchester Area Median Income, with rents between $597-$1,367 depending on what AMI percentage you fall in. 

Tenant pays utilities (appliances and heat are all electric), with trash and sewer included in rent. 

An application and further information is attached. Applications must be postmarked by April 9, 2023. A public lottery will be held on April 21 at noon at the GHA, 9 Maple Street, White Plains, NY.The beautiful new affordable housing apartments on Manhattan Ave will enhance the quality of life of senior citizens and increase the property value of the surrounding community. Many seniors have contacted me in recent months inquiring how they can be considered for this development which is within walking distance of shopping at Crossroads shopping center, the Theodore Young Community Center, Route 119. 

The CHALENG Process: Identifying and Meeting the Needs of Homeless Veterans

Project CHALENG (Community Homelessness Assessment, Local Education and Networking Groups) unites homeless service providers, advocates, Veterans and concerned citizens toward the goal of meeting the evolving needs of Veterans who are homeless.
This process describes the needs of homeless Veterans, identifies the barriers they face in obtaining permanent housing and works to resolve them through planning and cooperative action.

Since 1994, CHALENG has built thousands of partnerships—involving community and Veterans’ groups, law enforcement agencies and federal, state and local government—that are improving services for homeless Veterans. Project CHALENG has two main components:
• CHALENG surveys that assess local challenges faced by homeless Veterans, identify unmet needs and encourage partnership action to meet those needs
• CHALENG meetings fostering collaboration between VA and community service providers to address CHALENG-identified barriers to housing Veterans who are homeless and preventing homelessness among Veterans.

Data from CHALENG has assisted VA in developing new services for Veterans, including the Homeless Veteran Dental Program, the expansion of the Department of Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing program, the Veterans Justice Outreach programs and the Supportive Services for Veteran Families program.

Community organizations also use CHALENG data in applications for grants that assemble VA, other government and foundation dollars to address the local needs of Veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Affordable housing opportunity: 645 Main Street, Peekskill, NY

645 MAIN STREET, PEEKSKILL, NY

82 Units available!

Amenities: Lounge with access to rooftop landscaped courtyard. Computer Center, Fitness Center, and Central Laundry. Walking distance to Metro North train and downtown. Parking garage with EV stations. Energy efficient green design.

Application Due: March 20, 2023

Lottery will be held via Zoom on March 31st 2023 at 3pm.

Income restrictions apply.

HUD Publishes HOTMA Final Rule Preview

On January 31, 2023, HUD posted a preview version of the final rule implementing sections 102, 103, and 104 of the Housing Opportunity through Modernization Act of 2016 (HOTMA) (P.L. 114-201).

Only certain portions of sections 102 and 104 apply to Community Planning and Development (CPD) programs. Specifically, these sections affect current and potential beneficiaries of affordable housing activities, public facilities and improvements, and public service activities funded through CPD programs.

In addition, the rule includes conforming regulatory changes to four CPD programs:

  • HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME)

  • Housing Trust Fund (HTF)

  • Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG)

  • Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS Program (HOPWA)

The effective date of the provisions applicable to CPD programs will be established upon publication of the final rule in the Federal Register. CPD grantees may not implement these provisions prior to the effective date.

Read the Preview Version of the HOTMA Final Rule

Sections 102 and 104

The changes made by sections 102 and 104 of HOTMA are described below:

  • Section 102 revises the definition and calculation of annual and adjusted income and addresses how income and eligibility is determined, including the frequency of income reviews. It also creates a safe harbor to allow the use of an income eligibility determination of another provider of federal public assistance; increases the threshold for certain deductions made when calculating adjusted income; creates financial hardship exemptions for adjusted income; and eliminates the use of the Earned Income Disallowance.

  • Section 104 defines net family assets, establishes an asset limitation for families based on the value of net family assets and property ownership, and provides exceptions for certain investments, including retirement savings and modest increases in income.

Additional Guidance and Resources

The applicability of HOTMA varies by CPD program. Program-specific guidance, resources, tools, and training to implement the new HOTMA provisions will be posted on HUD’s website and the HUD Exchange as they become available.

Scholarships for Westchester Certified Peer Specialists to pursue OASAS-CRPA accreditation

The Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health is continuing to make scholarship opportunities available for NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH) Certified Peer Specialists (CPS), Family Peer Advocates (FPA), and Youth Peer Advocates (YPA) to obtain their NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) or CRPA-Family (CRPA-F) credential (a CRPA-Youth Certification is in development and will qualify for similar scholarship support).

Applications will be accepting on a rolling basis.

To qualify you must:

  • Live in and/or work in a peer support position in Westchester County; priority will be given to those working in such positions.

  • Must already possess OMH CPS, FPA, or YPA provisional or full certification in order to qualify for this assistance.

  • These scholarships may be used to cover training fees as well as State Certification application and testing fees

For more information please contact Adam Black at ASB1@westchestergov.com

New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) Funding Opportunity- Safe Options Support Teams RFP

The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) is seeking proposals from not-for-profit organizations to develop and operate eight (8) Safe Options Support (SOS) Critical Time Intervention (CTI) Teams in regions outside of New York City.

SOS CTI Teams will use an evidence-based CTI approach to provide intensive outreach, engagement, and care coordination services to individuals experiencing street homelessness and those in temporary shelter settings.

Individuals will be identified through collaboration with community partners including outreach teams, law enforcement, hospitals, and others in close contact with those in need. Members will learn self-management skills and master activities of daily living on the road to self-efficacy and recovery.

Free Training Alert: Engage or Enrage - De-escalation Strategies for Mental Health Crisis

Whenever we ask our CoC partners what trainings everyone would like, the topic of crisis de-escalation is at the top of your wish list!

Our partners at DCMH have advised us that there is a FREE online training available through February 2023 by SMI Adviser (a SAMHSA-funded training & public education project.) This training is open to all and is divided into two parts. Each part is roughly one hour long. A participation certification is available and there are credits offered to those holding certain professional credentials.

Please use the links below to navigate to the training. Since these trainings are not offered by the CoC directly, we ask that all questions and inquiries be directed to SMI Adviser through their website.

Engage or Enrage: De-escalation Strategies for Mental Health Crisis - Part One

Engage or Enrage: De-escalation Strategies for Mental Health Crisis - Part Two

White Plains CDBG Public Services Application 2023-2024 Funding Opportunity Announcement

CDBG PUBLIC SERVICES

Funding Application Instructions

Program Year July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024

The City of White Plains (“the City”) Department of Planning, Community Development (“CD”) Program, is soliciting public input on the development of the 2023-24 Annual Action Plan. Please click here or see attached for the posting regarding the White Plains CDBG PUBLIC SERVICES Funding Application Instructions for Program Year July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024. If you have questions please contact:

Judy Mezey
Deputy Commissioner of Planning

City of White Plains

70 Church Street

White Plains, NY 10601

T: (914) 422-1300

Email:jmezey@whiteplainsny.gov

Legal Services of the Hudson Valley Disability Advocacy Project

LSHV will provide free legal representation and assistance for anyone who has applied for SSI (Supplemental Security Income) or SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) and been denied benefits. For further information:

  • Call: 1-877-574-8529

  • Email: JZapata@lshv.org or BPereira@lshv.org

  • “Walk in” to LSHV offices in

    • White Plains - 90 Maple Avenue (entrance on Cromwell Place)

    • Yonkers - 30 South Broadway, 6th Floor

    • Mt. Vernon -  100 East First Street, Suite 810 (8th Fl.)

    • Peekskill - One Park Place, Suite 202

LSHV is dedicated to providing free, high-quality counsel in civil matters for low-income individuals and families who cannot afford an attorney.  For further information on the full range of services and support they offer, visit: www.lshv.org