Greenburgh Section 8 accepting applications beginning March 8

The Greenburgh Housing Authority is accepting applications for Section 8 beginning March 8 at 9 AM. Only the first 2000 applications submitted will be accepted. Large families should apply. Applicants must apply online by following the link: www.greenburghhousing.org 

The section 8 housing voucher program is a federally funded program in which the family pays no less than 30% their monthly adjusted income but no more than 40% of their monthly adjusted income for rent.

Peer Support Mentor Position in Mount Vernon

Peer Support Mentor Position in Mount Vernon, N.Y.

Competitive Salary, Full Time/Part Time Positions with Excellent Benefits

The Mental Health Empowerment Project, Inc. (MHEP) is a self-help and Peer Support agency organized in 1988 to develop and strengthen self-help and mutual support activities throughout the United States. MHEP currently has Peer Support positions (P/T & F/T) open in Mt. Vernon, N.Y. The F/T position will be 37.5 hours per week with benefits and the P/T position will be 20 hours per week.

Bi-Lingual candidates are encouraged to apply

Responsibilities of these positions include but are not limited to:

• Working with people in both one-to-one and group settings, facilitating peer support groups, events and activities.

• Helping people establish creative community connections and assisting them to develop natural supports.

• Establishing connections to community-based activities that enhance wellness, recovery and social engagement.

• Engaging people in one-to-one recovery planning, using tools such as Wellness recovery Action Planning; Eight Dimensions of Wellness.

• Assisting people to choose, record and achieve personal milestones.

• Offering individualized advocacy and support services to help a person learn about and protect their rights and interests.

• Organizing and coordinating wellness/recovery events and activities.

Qualifications:

To be considered for any of these positions a candidate must have direct, personal experience using mental health services, be comfortable talking about that experience and be confident modeling principles of recovery and wellness.

The ideal candidate will also:

• Be an active team member, offering support and assistance to ongoing projects.

• Be able to work independently on projects, meeting deadlines and taking initiative.

• Have basic computer skills; competence in Microsoft Office required.

• Demonstrating knowledge of job duties through follow-up and accurate record keeping is important.

• A clean NYS Driver’s License and/or reliable transportation is required.

• Candidate will have their NYS Peer certification or be in the process of obtaining certification within six (6) months of hiring. Please note that the minimum qualification for certification is a High School Diploma or GED.

MHEP is an equal opportunity employer. We actively recruit and hire qualified people who may have disabilities without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age or sexual orientation.

Please send resume and cover letter to Tanya Stevens, C.O.O., MHEP, Inc., at 3 Atrium Dr., Suite #205, Albany, N.Y. 12205, via e-mail to Tstevens@mhepinc.org or fax to (518) 434-3823.

Town of Yorktown New York Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program (Section 8) Opens its Waiting List Online for Two Days Only

ONLINE ONLY

Thursday, April 28, 2022-Friday, April 29, 2022

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that The Town of Yorktown Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program announces the acceptance of preliminary applications for housing assistance during the dates of April 28th, 2022 at 12:01 am through April 29th, 2022 at 11:59 pm. ET.  The list will close immediately following the aforementioned timeframe.

Pre-applications will only be accepted online.  The Town of Yorktown has no preferences of any kind. Applicants do not need to rush to apply as this wait list is not on a first- come, first-served basis. All pre-applicants will have an equal opportunity of being selected. Five hundred qualified applicants will be placed on the list by random lottery.

Applicants can apply at https://www.waitlistcheck.com/NY1819-3766

The Housing Choice Voucher Program assistance covers the rent portion that exceeds approximately 30% of an eligible family’s monthly income. Any and all income-eligible households may submit a pre-application. Acceptance and/or assistance are based on income verification and other eligibility requirements.

In order to qualify, your total household income for all family members must be below the maximum income levels, based on family size as follows:

Family Size  Income Limits: (income limits are current and subject to change)

1-   $44,650

2-   $51,000

3-   $57,400

4-   $63,750

5-   $68,850

6-   $73,950

7-   $79,050

8-   $84,150

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are a person with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation in order to submit an application, please contact the Section 8 office in writing (must include a phone contact number), post marked no later than April 22, 2022.

To download this information please click on the underlined text for the English or Spanish language version.

Free Tax Preparation Assistance by VITA/EITC

The VITA/EITC program continues assisting in tax preparation until Monday, April 18, 2022 at the following offices:

• Mount Vernon Career Center, 130 Mt. Vernon Avenue, 1st floor, Mount Vernon, New York 10550

• Westchester Community College, Valhalla Campus, 75 Grasslands Road, New York 10595

Click the highlighted words to download the flyer in English and Spanish flyers for more information. 

Westchester County Accepting Applications for 2022 Business FIRST Grant Program

Up to $17 million in funding available to support nonprofits and religious organizations impacted by COVID-19 pandemic

Video Link to the Announcement at 17:32-25:07

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY (February 22, 2022) – The Westchester County Office of Economic Development is now accepting applications for the 2022 Westchester County Business FIRST grant program. This year’s grant program will provide up to $17 million to support nonprofits and religious organizations facing challenges as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. Applications will be accepted online starting today and the application period will remain open for about four weeks.

Westchester County Executive George Latimer said: “Our nonprofits and religious organizations have been a vital resource to the communities they support throughout the duration of the pandemic. This round of grant funding is an investment in organizations that are critical to our residents and in need of financial relief.”

Westchester County Director of Economic Development Bridget Gibbons said: “Westchester County’s nonprofits and religious organizations play an important role in our community and our economy. Many of these organizations have faced an increased demand for services, significant costs for personal protective equipment (PPE), loss of funding and other pandemic-related challenges that have impacted their operating costs and income. This grant funding will help to cover some of their expenses as they continue providing invaluable services throughout our communities.”

Westchester County Business FIRST: Financial Investments for Recovery and a Sustainable Tomorrow provides immediate financial relief to organizations in Westchester County that have been negatively impacted by the pandemic. This round of funding will provide qualifying nonprofits and religious organizations with grants of up to $45,000. Grants will be provided on a reimbursable basis only and recipients must provide receipts to Community Capital before any funds will be disbursed. 

The County is offering technical assistance to help nonprofit and religious organizations with the application process. The goal is to ensure that the process to complete the application and submit it, along with the required documentation, isn’t a barrier to potential applicants. To facilitate this a number of experienced nonprofits will be providing support, led by Jan Fisher, Executive Director of Nonprofit Westchester. Organizations needing help applying for a grant can email Business-FIRST@westchestergov.com.

To be eligible for a grant, the organization’s primary location must be in Westchester County. The organization must be currently open with plans to stay open, or temporarily closed with plans to reopen in 2022.

Organizations who received funding from the federal government through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) or the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) are eligible to apply but the use of the 2022 Business FIRST grant funds should not duplicate purposes. Organizations who received a Business FIRST Grant in 2020 from Westchester County are not eligible for this grant opportunity, nor are organizations who received or will receive a Shuttered Venue Operators Grant from the SBA.

The Westchester County Business FIRST grant program is being administered by the Westchester County Office of Economic Development through the American Rescue Plan.

For more information on the application process, visit https://westchestercatalyst.com/business-first-programs/grants/.

About Westchester County Business FIRST

Westchester County Business FIRST: Financial Investments for Recovery and a Sustainable Tomorrow is a grant program designed to offer immediate financial relief to small businesses and nonprofits in Westchester County that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Westchester County Office of Economic Development works to improve the County’s economic well-being and quality of life.  This includes a broad range of activities to attract, create and retain jobs, and to foster a resilient, pro-growth and inclusive economy. For information, visit https://westchestercatalyst.com/.

Lisa Reyes (she/her/hers)

Office of Westchester County Executive George Latimer

Communications

Lreyes@westchestergov.com

(914)- 995- 2918

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

City of Yonkers 2022 Youth Summer Employment Program

2022 Summer Youth Employment Program

Registration for Lottery

Youth ages 14 - 20 (depending on the day and month of your 21st birthday) are eligible to register for the 2022 Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). 

Registrants must email the following information to chanele.harris@yonkersny.gov by March 31, 2022

• First & Last Name (if you have two last names you must use both names when registering)

• Address (include apartment number)

• City, State, and Zip Code

• Phone Number

• Date of Birth

• Email Address

• Age

The registration process does not secure a position in the Summer Youth Employment Program. 

If Selected in Lottery

If selected, via lottery, you will receive a phone call, text message or email to submit the following documents, no exceptions:

• Social Security Card;

• TANF Application attesting to Parent Income (will receive during application process;

• New York State Identification Card from the Department of Motor Vehicles (MANDATORY);

• Third or fourth marking period report card (if attending high school); and

• Working Certificate/Papers (Requirement: if under the age of 18 you can obtain the working certificate/papers from the Yonkers Board of Education at One Larkin Plaza or online by presenting the following documents);

• Application for Working Certificate/Papers must be completed by parent/guardian

• Social Security Card, Passport, Valid Birth Certificate, School ID or New York State Non-Driver’s License

• Physical Exam from Primary Care Physician (PCP) within 12 month

NYAPRS Responds to OMH's Guidance on Involuntary and Emergency Admissions

NYAPRS Note: Last Friday, OMH released the attached guidance informing our field, hospitals and other key stakeholders that the current “danger to self’ standards that can authorize involuntary transport and admission to a psychiatric hospital bed includes a “person’s refusal or inability to meet his or her essential need for food, shelter, clothing or health care, provided that such refusal or inability is likely to result in serious harm if there is no immediate hospitalization.”

Whereas this standard has been on the books for some time, NYAPRS and our colleagues are extremely concerned that encouragement to apply these standards more frequently might replace a more appropriate community response with a reflexive admission. In no way do we want to see anyone come to serious harm or loss of life but, at the same time, we want to ensure that the powerful tool of involuntary removal and confinement be used very carefully and judiciously.  

Hospital stays must not be seen as a remedy for homelessness in place of appropriate community housing and support models. Just as the state is putting 600 hospital beds in NYC back online, the State and City should be also double the number of low threshold Safe Haven and crisis stabilization beds that are contemplated at this time, possibly using empty hotel space, and triple the number of behavioral health crisis stabilization and step down centers in NYC and in the rest of the state to provide more appropriate alternative settings for large numbers of these individuals. Recovery Options in Buffalo is developed an array of crisis programming under one roof that provides an excellent model (https://behavioralhealthnews.org/the-respite-and-recovery-peer-run-crisis-service-model/).

Increased use of inpatient psychiatric services must also lead to dramatically improved hospital discharge planning practices, ensuring access to the transitional support of a peer bridger and appropriate housing and case management for all.

We must also closely significantly raise the  level of trauma informed culturally competent approaches that are used to engage, assess and possibly hospitalize individuals who already have long histories of trauma. Finally, OMH must assume strong responsibility for frequent and ongoing training and close oversight over how counties, providers and hospitals apply these standards.

OMH Expands Involuntary Admission Criteria to Include ‘Perceived Inability to Meet Basic Living Needs’

NYAPRS Report   February 22, 2022

Last Friday, the NYS Office of Mental Health expanded criteria for individuals to be involuntarily taken into custody and transferred to a hospital or Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program for evaluation and possible admission.

This has historically applied to individuals who appear to be mentally ill and who are deemed to be conducting themselves in ways that are regarded as demonstrating potential dangerousness to self or to others,

The new guidance now extends involuntary admission criteria to include those who appear to be are posting a serious harm to self and others via their perceived inability to meet basic living needs (which has been often defined as “a failure to obtain necessary food, clothing, shelter or medical care”  because of the impairment, even when there is no recent dangerous act.

As a result, they can be involuntary evaluated and hospitalized by: 

·     Involuntary Admissions on Medical Certification (“2PC”)

o   Evaluation by 2 psychiatrists and leading to a period of confinement for up to 60 days (2PC admission)*

·       Emergency Admission for Immediate Observation, Care, and Treatment

o   Evaluation by 1 physician for an ‘emergency admission to a local psychiatric hospitals for up to 14 days.

o   Staff psychiatrist must, within 48 hours after admission, examine the patient and confirm the first MD's finding that the patient meets the Emergency Standard. 

·       Emergency Admission to a Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program

o   They can remain on EA status for up to 72 hours after which they can be converted to formal involuntary admission status

*the patient, a friend or relative, or the Mental Hygiene Legal Service may request a court hearing to contest the involuntary retention at any time during such period.

Westchester County Housing Stabilization Program Request for Proposals

The Westchester County Department of Planning (WCDP) is offering this Request for Proposals (RFP) to enable non-profit agencies to apply for a 2022 Housing Stabilization Program - Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention grants to provide assistance to keep low and moderate income Westchester residents from becoming homeless. They County expects it may have multiple sources of funds to pay for the direct assistance to be provided under this program. At least one of these sources of funds must provide assistance to households who have been impacted by COVID-19.

Interested parties may obtain the complete RFP, including the application, from the Westchester County website for Requests for Proposals at www.westchestergov.com/rfp.

Please be advised that all matters concerning this RFP, from the date of issuance until the contract awards are made, are to be directed in writing to the below named contact person.

Any questions must be sent to Ms. Tarlow no later than 4 p.m. on  January 21, 2022. An addendum with the answers to all questions asked will be issued no later than January 28, 2022.

An e-mail proposal MUST be received no later than 4:00 pm on Friday, February 4, 2022. Please deliver to:

PJTT@westchestergov.com

In addition, submit an original document by mail, postmarked no later than February 4 to:

Pamela Tarlow

Westchester County Department of Planning

148 Martine Avenue, Room 432

White Plains, New York 10601

NYS: OTDA Offering FREE Training for Homeless Service Providers

Sponsored by the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance and offered to staff providing direct homeless services in upstate NY and Long Island by the Professional Development Program, Rockefeller College, University at Albany. 

January, February & March 2022 Trainings 

Apply for all upcoming trainings offered January, February and March with the click of a button. By clicking the link below, you will find descriptions for each training and the dates and times they will be offered. This link will be updated every six to eight weeks, and when it is we will send you a reminder to check out the new offerings. 

There is no charge to participants. 

Click on or type the link below into a browser for descriptions and class application information. 

Homeless Services Training Resource System

https://bit.ly/3kZngNL 

Once application is accepted, you will receive a link with registration or additional information in a separate email. 

You can apply for any or all of the following classes:

·    Case Management Essentials for Shelter Workers Part 1: Interviewing & Goal Setting

·    Case Management Essentials for Shelter Workers Part 2: Documentation

·    Coming Together: Leveraging Diversity to Enhance Shelter Services

·    Hoarding Disorder and Homelessness

·    Substance Use and Its Impact on Shelter Residents

·    Trauma and Homelessness Part 1

·    Understanding Opioid Use and Effective Shelter Staff Response

·    Working Effectively with LGBT Residents

Please note:

*This training is exclusively for staff providing direct services to homeless individuals and families in shelter settings. Each date and time is limited to five people per organization, however we will offer the same topic multiple times each quarter to provide all staff from larger organizations an opportunity to attend. If a class is filled, you will receive information about dates and times for upcoming classes.

* If you are unable to register on-line for some reason, please first send an email to pdp-hst@albany.edu with the trainee name/s, agency, job title, and specific program site/address. Also, please inform us of what problems you encounter with on-line registration. For further assistance, please call (518) 442-6500.

Boxes of Joy

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.

WCoC 2021 Annual Meeting - December 16, 2021

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.

Help Wanted: WCoC Planning Associate - Homeless Services

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 - December 8, 2021

As part of their Wellness Wednesday event series,

Lifting Up Westchester presents

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.

Westchester County Department of Health Pediatric Vaccine Clinic - November 27, 2021

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

HOME ARP Open Forum - January 11, 2022

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.

Narcan Training - December 6, 2021 at 6pm

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.

Press Release from County Executive George Latimer - The Westchester Continuum of Care Partnership to End Homelessness to Host Annual Meeting on Priorities

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. 

About the Meeting on Priorities

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.

About the Westchester Continuum of Care Partnership to End Homelessness

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. 

###

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

'Hardship to Hope' Peer-Led Financial Wellness Program

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:

https://redcap.link/k2tsnxtf

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.

2021 WCoC Meeting on Priorities - September 30, 2021 - Open to All

Click the image below to download a PDF of the flyer for the event.

WCoC & The LOFT Present: 2021 Equal Access Rule LGBTQIA+ Training for Shelter & Outreach Providers

Click on the image below to download a PDF of the event details.