Our partners at Westcop’s Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) have partnered with Hand Up Paid Forward, Black Excellence at Unilever, Dove, Knorr, Vaseline and Helmans’s in distributing Holiday Boxes of Joy filled with Unilever products to local veterans. Please see the flyers below for complete details.
You are cordially invited to the
Westchester County Continuum of Care Partnership to End Homelessness
2021 Annual Meeting
Thursday, December 16, 2021 at 10:00am
At this meeting, attendees will receive an update on the activities of the CoC and a presentation of our plans and goals for 2022 followed by a Q&A session.
This meeting will take place on Zoom and YouTube oll attendees will be provided links upon registration using the link below:
https://tinyurl.com/WCoC2021AnnualMeeting
Please click on the image below to download a PDF of the flyer.
The WCoC is currently seeking a Planning Associate. We are seeking a candidate with exceptional written communication & organization skills. We would most prefer a candidate with a working knowledge of the system of care for people experiencing homelessness in Westchester.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
Develop, produce and distribute well-crafted written communications such as website content, meeting materials, presentations, emails, and promotional materials to be distributed to stakeholders which include non-profit, pubic and private organizations as well as people experiencing homelessness and the general public. (HTML/web design experience prefered.)
Act as community liaison providing information about the CoC and it's resources, conducting orientation for new participating agencies; and year-round recruitment of volunteers/donation entities to assist in CoC activities.
Recruit and maintain relationships with community-based event volunteers and donation activities. This includes the ability to collect and transport donated items.
Serve as a representative/information source for CoC member organizations, providing information on events, activities, requirements and deadlines.
Facilitate and provide administrative support to CoC workgroups.
Maintain all participating CoC organization and staff information including contact information, contact preferences, staff interaction, etc.
Support the CoC Board by recording and providing meeting minutes, sign-in sheets and other relevant documentation.
Work collaboratively with fellow staff members of PD&D and the CoC admin team, as well as CoC member organizations and outside agencies and community partners.
Conduct HUD reporting and compliance activities, including program monitoring, needs and quality assessments on homeless service programs using our Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and other data sources.
Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
Demonstrated strength in written communications.
A passion ending homelessness as well as compassionate toward people experiencing homelessness is essential to this role.
Previous experience conducting Point In Time (PIT) Count of persons experiencing homelessness OR other volunteer recruitment experience is required.
Working knowledge of the Westchester system of care for people experiencing homelessness, our Coordinated Entry System and our HMIS database a very big plus!
Maintain and respect the sensitive, private and confidential nature of information.
Ability to work in a team environment and independently.
Excellent organizational and time management skills, with an orientation toward detail, and the ability to work on several projects at one time with multiple deadlines.
Exceptional ability to take projects from concept to completion.
Solid data entry skills and comprehensive knowledge of Excel, Outlook, and Word with a fundamental understanding of relational database processes.
Ability to effectively communicate with internal and external stakeholders.
Demonstrated professionalism through one’s work, and interaction with colleagues. Understanding that, regardless of the administrative nature of the position, the quality of the work performed directly affects the public reputation and internal efficiency of PD&D and the CoC.
Please note: This PLANNING ASSOCIATE position falls under the PLANNING GRANT for the Westchester County Continuum of Care Partnership to End Homelessness, managed by Program Design and Development, LLC. Though we encourage applicants with social service experience and interest, we ask that the description and qualifications for the position are carefully reviewed and considered before applying.
Program Design & Development LLC is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.
Free Dental Screening by the Touro College of Dental Medicine
Date: Wednesday, December 8, 2021
Time: 11:30am to 1:30pm
Location: Grace Church Community Room, 33 Church Street, White Plains NY 10601
For more information please call Shauna White 914-949-3098 x9751
To download a PDF of the flyer in both English and Spanish, please click the image below.
Start out the Holiday Season by staying healthy! The Westchester County Department of Health is hosting a Pediatric Vaccine Clinic on Saturday, November 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for children ages 5 to 11. The clinic is by appointment only, at 134 Court Street in White Plains.
To make an appointment, visit westchestergov.com/health
The cities of Yonkers, Mount Vernon and New Rochelle, as well as Westchester County on behalf of the rest of our cities, towns and villages have a unique opportunity to utilize $12 million dollars from the American Recovery Act through HUD's HOME Investment Partnerships Program to improve access to housing in our communities. If you'd like to help shape how we do it, we are listening!
WAYS THIS FUNDING CAN BE USED:
Creation or Preservation of Affordable Housing
Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA)
Supportive Services, Homeless Prevention Services, and Housing Counseling
Purchase and Development of Non-Congregate Shelter
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS OPPORTUNITY PLEASE VISIT:
https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/home-arp/
JANUARY 11, 2022 2:30 PM - 4 PM
THIS EVENT IS 100% ONLINE LINK SENT UPON REGISTRATION
TO REGISTER:
HTTPS://TINYURL.COM/HOMEARPFORUM
Click on the image below to download the flyer.
The Office of State Senator Shelley B. Mayer will be offering a Narcan training at Central Park Recovery located at 2176 Central Park Ave in Yonkers, NY 10710 on December 6, 2021 at 6pm.
This training is recommended for anyone at risk of an opioid overdose, friends, family, community organizations and agencies who wish to be trained.
Naloxone (Narcan kits) and resources will be provided after the training is completed.
Advanced registration is required by November 22, 2021. To register contact:
Nicole Intervallo - nintervallo@centralparkrecovery.com - 914-619-5242
Office of Shelley B. Mayer - smayer@nysenate.gov - 914-934-5250
Please click on the image below to download the flyer. This training is not offered by the Westchester Continuum of Care Partnership to End Homelessness, please direct all inquiries to the contacts above.
THE WESTCHESTER CONTINUUM OF CARE PARTNERSHIP TO END HOMELESSNESS TO HOST ANNUAL MEETING
(White Plains, NY) – The Westchester Continuum of Care Partnership to End Homelessness (CoC) will host their annual meeting on priorities online September 30, 2021 at 10 a.m. The mission of the Westchester Continuum of Care Partnership to End Homelessness is to coordinate all of the stakeholders, systems and resources available to prevent and end homelessness in Westchester County.
We want to hear from YOU about Westchester County’s:
· Current unmet needs among people experiencing homelessness
· Suggestions to improve current homeless services
· Strategies to prevent and end homelessness
This meeting is your opportunity to help determine what improvements can be made to our system for preventing and ending homelessness in Westchester County. Anyone wishing to attend can do so by following the links below:
Join on Zoom: HTTPS://TINYURL.COM/WCOCEDUCATIONZOOM
OR
Join on YouTube: HTTPS://TINYURL.COM/WCOCYOUTUBE
Registration is not required. Simply use one of the links above to join at the time of the meeting. The session will last approximately 90 minutes. This session will be recorded. A computer or device with audio capability must be used to view/attend this session.
Each year, in accordance with the policies of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Westchester CoC hosts a meeting open to the public. This insures the Westchester community can inform and determine the priorities of the CoC as it serves people experiencing homelessness in the county.
All attendees are welcome to propose priorities in housing, eviction prevention and other services to assist people facing homelessness in Westchester County. Attendees who would like to present will be required to indicate this intention in advance by emailing continuumofcarewc@gmail.com.
Presentations will be limited to three minutes. Presentations can be made via Zoom. Alternatively, presenters who do not feel comfortable with public speaking or do not have access to the technology needed to participate online, will have the option to submit a written letter to be read during the meeting.
The Westchester County Continuum of Care Partnership to End Homelessness is a public/private partnership including governmental agencies, non-profit and for-profit entities providing housing and services to people experiencing homelessness. Continuum of Care Partnerships (CoC) exist all over the United States. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires any organization seeking federal funding for housing or services for people experiencing homelessness belong to their local CoC.
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About Westchester County
Westchester County, located in the heart of the historic Hudson Valley, covers 500 square miles and has a population of just over one million. Originally home to Native Americans, who were members of the Lenape tribe, it is today a rich mix of many cultures and landscapes. The County is a blend of bustling cities, quaint villages and picturesque towns as well as open spaces and a network of beautiful parks. Westchester is made up of 6 cities, 19 towns and 20 villages. Westchester County is known for top-notch public schools, and a high quality of life. The County is also an intellectual capital, boasting a highly educated workforce, competitive colleges and universities, Fortune 500 companies, world changing non-profits, and cutting-edge research centers. Westchester is led by County Executive George Latimer, who took office in January 2018 as the ninth County Executive. Using inclusion and openness as a foreground, Latimer is fighting to make Westchester a destination for all people to live, work and enjoy. Learn more about Westchester County by visiting www.westchestergov.com
NYAPRS NOTE: This announcement comes from our colleagues at the New York State Psychiatric Institute’s Center of Excellence for Cultural Competence, Columbia University Medical Center. From Hardship to Hope, a Peer-Led Financial Wellness Program funded by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, is conducting focus groups with people with lived experience of financial hardship and thoughts of suicide, from anywhere in the United States. The first pilot of the program is getting ready to begin later this fall. Your personal experience would be very helpful to the research team in developing a program that is as feasible, culturally responsive, and effective as possible. Participants will be provided $50 for their input.
Have you ever felt like giving up because of your financial difficulties?
Are you interested in sharing your experiences with a research team?
WHY: Our team at New York State Psychiatric Institute is conducting a research study to test a new financial wellness program for people experiencing financial difficulties and recent thoughts of ending their lives. This program seeks to help people improve their financial situation and feel more hopeful about their future.
WHO: We would like to get input from people with lived experience to help us develop an effective program. We are looking for people aged 18-64 who have had thoughts of ending their lives because of their financial difficulties in the last 2 years.
WHAT: If you are interested in offering your input, we invite you to participate in a 90-min focus group via HIPAA-compliant Zoom. We will ask for your opinion about the types of supports that could be most helpful. We will also ask for your feedback on program activities and resources.
COMPENSATION: $50 via PayPal.
HOW: If you are interested in participating, please fill out this form:
Or use the QR code below (using your camera from your smart device):
A member of our study team will contact you to give you more information about the focus group. If you have any questions about this research study, please e-mail us at: fromhardshiptohope@nyspi.columbia.edu.
Click the image below to download a PDF of the flyer for the event.
Click on the image below to download a PDF of the event details.
Click on the image below to download a PDF of the event details.
HUD SNAPS PROGRAM INFORMATION - September 8, 2021 - In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision that invalidated the CDC’s eviction moratorium, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is using every tool at our disposal to help safeguard the millions of Americans now in danger of losing their homes.
Our programs and resources protect HUD-assisted households from eviction and should be sought out by all Americans who are seeking assistance in avoiding eviction, relocating to new homes in the event an eviction moves forward, and fighting unfair evictions. Through our Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, we are ready to protect people of color, families with children, people with disabilities, LGBTQ people, and others who may disproportionately face eviction through discriminatory policies and practices.
HUD also has a responsibility to assist landlords, owners, public housing authorities, and all our stakeholders in weathering this public health crisis.
HUD and our partners are taking a broad range of actions to help prevent evictions. They include:
Fighting unfair evictions – HUD is making over $19 million available to fair housing partners to help them respond to possible fair housing violations, many of which relate to the pandemic and evictions. The funds will enable private fair housing enforcement organizations to respond to fair housing inquiries and complaints, conduct fair housing testing, and implement education and outreach activities related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds will also be used to address fair housing issues affecting individuals and families experiencing housing instability, including those who may face displacement due to discriminatory evictions and foreclosures. HUD is also ramping up funding and education for HUD-approved housing counseling agencies to work with clients to understand their options if they are facing eviction.
Providing legal assistance – HUD is making $20 million available to non-profit or governmental entities to improve the availability of legal assistance at no cost to low-income tenants at risk of or subject to eviction. These funds will provide services in areas with high rates of evictions or prospective evictions, including rural areas. This grant program plays an integral role in helping individuals and families—including people of color, people with limited English proficiency, and people with disabilities—avoid eviction or minimize the disruption and damage caused by the eviction process.
Keeping people housed – HUD has instituted an eviction moratorium to protect borrowers with HUD-supported or FHA-insured mortgages. This includes people living on Tribal lands with HUD Indian Housing Loans. HUD will also act to require public housing authorities and owners participating in HUD’s project-based rental assistance program to provide tenants facing eviction for non-payment of rent with additional time and other protections to allow them the opportunity to secure emergency rental assistance that may stave off eviction entirely. For the duration of the presidentially-declared national emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic, HUD will extend the time its programmatic regulations require before a tenant must vacate a unit once a notice of eviction for non-payment has been issued from 14 days to 30 days, consistent with CARES Act protections and the protections already in place for FHA-insured Multifamily mortgages where the borrower is under a forbearance agreement. Additionally, in order to initiate eviction, HUD may require additional steps of covered landlords.
Connecting people with rent relief – HUD is working with the Department of Treasury to help Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) grantees connect tenants behind on rent or concerned about paying future rent with financial assistance. Throughout this year, HUD has brought our expertise on housing programs to Treasury, providing advice and assistance on program design and implementation, and engaged HUD-approved housing counseling agencies. As part of a whole-of-government approach, we call on state and local ERAP grantees to lean into the flexibilities provided in this program and get assistance out quickly to those who need it the most.
Providing Tools to Help Public Housing Authorities, HUD-assisted Landlords/Tenants, and People Experiencing Homelessness – HUD program offices have delivered webinars, created documents answering frequently asked questions, granted waivers to ease administrative burdens created by the pandemic, and are distributing relief resources such as Emergency Housing Vouchers and additional assistance to people experiencing homelessness as quickly as possible.
You can find more information https://www.hud.gov/rent_relief
2021 RFI Proposers conference will be held at 1:30 pm on Friday September 3rd.
This meeting will discuss all aspects of this RFI, especially considerations for designing projects with partners in order to access the HUD bonus category points. The CoC Bonus is offered by HUD to provide services and permanent housing to homeless households.
The Request For Information (RFI) offered by the Westchester Continuum of Care to solicit proposals from eligible partner agencies requesting to be included as sub-recipient providers in the application to HUD for Continuum of Care Bonus (CoCB) and Domestic Violence Bonus (DVB) projects, which might be awarded through the FY2021 Continuum of Care (CoC) Program competition.
The RFI and the forms required to submit a proposal can be found here: https://www.wcochomeless.org/fy2021-applications
Only Continuums of Care which score high enough will receive CoC Bonus and/or DV Bonus funding.
CoC’s are allowed to submit more than one CoC Bonus and/or DV Bonus application to HUD, so the Westchester CoC may choose one or two CoC Bonus partners and one or more DV Bonus partners to submit an application.
Responses to the CoC Bonus RFI must request either 50% or 100% of the maximum available from HUD
Responses to the DV Bonus RFI can request any amount from $50,000 to $1,271,640
The DV Bonus is offered by HUD to provide services and housing to homeless households fleeing domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking, and/or human trafficking. Individuals and families who have been made homeless or are at eminent risk of homelessness by attempting to flee are eligible for HUD funded housing as stated in the Category 4 Definition of Homelessness in the HEARTH ACT.
The maximum funding request total for applications from Westchester CoC for the CoC Bonus is $1,045,034.
The maximum funding request total for applications from Westchester CoC for the DV Bonus is $1,271,640.
Responses to this CoC Bonus RFI are due September 21 at 1pm.
As noted below, there will be a conference to discuss the RFI this Friday September 3 at 1:30pm.
Join the meeting on WebEx as follows:
Join from the meeting link
https://westchestergov.webex.com/westchestergov/j.php?MTID=ma56279da8f31cc86875a75dbb5d28e31
Join by meeting number
Meeting number (access code): 161 306 9139
Meeting password: RPcRgsYa567
Tap to join from a mobile device (attendees only)
+1-415-655-0001,,1613069139## US Toll
1-844-621-3956,,1613069139## United States Toll Free
Join by phone
+1-415-655-0001 US Toll
1-844-621-3956 United States Toll Free
(Mt. Vernon, NY) – Westchester County’s Department of Senior Programs and Services (DSPS) has issued four (4) requests for proposal (RFPs) from qualified agencies for services that benefit seniors. Funding comes from grants through the federal Older Americans Act as amended, to be funded under the American Rescue Plan Act (SSC6 Services).
The RFPs:
Information Mobility Management (SSC6 Services): This RFP seeks services for persons 60 years or older residing in Westchester County on available transportation services, benefits and entitlements and other areas of concern. This RFP has a due date of Tuesday, September 28, 2021.
Crime Prevention And Safety Program (SSC6 Services): This RFP seeks services for persons 60 years or older residing in Westchester County, consisting of educational presentations on benefits and entitlements for seniors who are victims of crime and strategies to help seniors avoid crime victimization, and other areas of concern. This RFP has a due date of Tuesday, September 28, 2021.
Information & Assistance - Senior Housing (SSC6 Services): This RFP seeks services for persons 60 years or older residing in Westchester County, to provide direct housing counseling, assistance with accessing entitlements for NYS IT-214 and rent exemptions, section 8, weatherization and home improvement deferred loan programs, as well as other related services. This RFP has a due date of Tuesday, September 28, 2021.
Immigration Assistance (SSC6 Services): This RFP seeks services for persons 60 years or older residing in Westchester County, to provide immigration services, benefits and entitlements and other areas of concern and linking such individuals to such appropriate community resources, opportunities and services. This RFP has a due date of Tuesday, September 28, 2021.
Information on this RFP is available at www.westchestergov.com/rfp.
All proposals must be received at:
The Department of Senior Programs and Services
Westchester County Office Building
9 South First Avenue, 10th Floor
Mount Vernon, NY 10550-3414
For information about the Department of Senior Programs and Services, call (914) 813-6300 or visit www.westchestergov.com/seniors.
On Wednesday, August 18, 2021 the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Fiscal Year of 2021 Continuum of Care (CoC) Program Competition on Grants.gov as well as the Funding Opportunities page of HUD.gov.
The deadline for the opportunity is November 16, 2021, to meet this final date, all local project applications will be due October 17, 2021.
For details about our local competition including the ranking procedures the Westchester Continuum of Care Partnership to End Homelessness (WCoC) Board of Directors approved in March of 2021 which will be used to select projects for WCoC application, please visit https://www.wcochomeless.org/fy2021-applications or click the black bar at the top of any page.
Lifting Up Westchester cordially invites you to the kick-off of their new weekly event.
Wellness Wednesday
Grace Church Community Room
33 Church Street White Plain NY 10601
Wednesday July 21, 2021 from 10am - 12pm
Please see the flyer below for more details. Click on the image to download a PDF to distribute.
The County of Westchester, acting by and through its Department of Community Mental Health (DCMH), is requesting proposals from qualified vendors to provide planning and management services for the Westchester County Continuum of Care Partnership to End Homelessness (CoC).
Due Date: Jul 23, 2021 4:00:00 PM
Info session Date: Jul 13, 2021 10:00:00 AM
Clarification Date: Jul 13, 2021 5:00:00 PM
The Westchester County Continuum of Care (CoC) Partnership to End Homelessness is soliciting Requests for Information (RFIs) from eligible partner agencies to be designated by the Westchester County CoC as the local agency representative appointed to administer the New York State HCR Emergency Housing Voucher Program (EHV) in Westchester County.
A single agency will be chosen based on their ability to administer the EHV project successfully in partnership with HCR, the Westchester County CoC & its member agencies, and Westchester County EHV Steering Committee under the guidelines and requirements set by HUD and HCR.
Applicants should have experience engaging the target population described in this application and successfully & rapidly moving households from temporary housing into permanent housing.
Background:
• The American Rescue Plan included $5 Billion for 70,000 time-limited Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV’s) which expire 09/30/2030. Vouchers may not be assigned/reassigned after 09/30/2023.
• EHVs must be administered by Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) in partnership with their local CoCs
• Westchester’s only access to EHVs is through NYS Homes & Community Renewal (HCR)
• HCR has potentially allocated 482 units to Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, and Rockland Counties
• No county is assured of receiving any specific number; EHVs will be distributed to the four counties on a first come, first served basis.
• HCR has not finalized all aspects of the program but is considering including incentives to landlords and participants including rent above FMR; landlord signing bonus; funding for repairs, security deposits, and rent guarantees; and tenant stipends.
The local CoC will administer the program with a Designated Partner Agency that will confidentially forward referrals made by Westchester CoC Coordinated Entry to HCR or their designated Special Purpose Local Administrator and then work to rapidly transition potentially 100 households or more from their current temporary housing to permanent housing units subsidized with the EHV.
CVR NEW YORK WESTCHESTER COUNTY HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER WAITING LIST OPENING FOR LIMITED TIME STARING MONDAY, JULY 12, 2021 AT 9:00 A.M. ENDING FRIDAY, JULY 16, 2021 AT 4:00 P.M.
Apply 24 hours a day online from any mobile device or computer with Internet access at:
applicantportal.cvrnewyork.com
You must have an active email address to apply.
For assistance during the wait list opening period call 914-256-8877 or email nyinquiries@cvrnewyork.com between 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. daily
Applications must be submitted online through the Applicant Portal. Applications will not be available or accepted at CVR NY’s office, nor will CVR NY provide computers, internet access, or in-person assistance at its office for the submission of applications.
CVR New York encourages anyone to apply. Applicants who are selected will be placed on a waiting list and screened for eligibility as vouchers become available. For eligibility information, please go to applicantportal.cvrnewyork.com. CVR New York will select 5,000 applicants for the Westchester County HCV Waiting List through a randomized computer lottery process. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please email nyinquiries@cvrnewyork.com or call 914256-8877 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. daily during the wait list opening period for assistance.