APRIL 2021 NEWSLETTER

The Office to Prevent and End Homelessness – now part of the Fairfax County Department of Housing and Community Development – is committed to eliminating the disproportionality of people at-risk of or experiencing homelessness from communities of color and other marginalized populations by providing equitable paths to safe, stable, affordable housing.

 

 

COVID-19 UPDATES

Thanks to the ongoing dedication of numerous partners, the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Partnership to Prevent and End Homelessness has continued to address the needs of those at risk of and experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Temporary Shelter Available During COVID-19: More than 1,450 people have transitioned into Quarantine, Protection, Isolation, and Decompression (QPID) Hotels since April 16, 2020 with locations operating across Fairfax County. The QPID Hotels are managed by several non-profit partners, including Cornerstones, FACETS, New Hope Housing, and Shelter House. Northern Virginia Family Service operates a Central Intake (703-267-3511) to triage referrals to the QPID Hotels. Fairfax County released a video to provide information on how to access temporary shelter.
   
• American Rescue Plan Act – Housing and Homelessness Assistance: President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) into law on March 11, 2021, a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package with nearly $50 billion in essential housing and homelessness assistance, including $27.4 billion for rental assistance and $5 billion to assist people experiencing homelessness. 
   
• Eviction Prevention: The Eviction Moratorium established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to temporarily halt evictions of tenants unable to make rental payments has been extended. The moratorium that was scheduled to expire on March 31, 2021 is now extended through June 30, 2021. Fairfax County’s Eviction Webpage continues to serve as a resource that compiles eviction prevention data and information related to basic needs assistance, the eviction process, tenant rights, financial and medical assistance, emergency shelter, legal services and more.
   
• COVID-19 Vaccination: For information on the COVID-19 Vaccine and its administration locally, please visit Fairfax County’s Vaccine Website. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Housing and Urban Development have published the following flyers regarding the COVID-19 vaccine:
  • Why Get Vaccinated?
  • Flyer for People Experiencing Homelessness
  • Flyer for Front Line Workers
     

Thank you to the many providers that are serving people in our community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Each and every one of you are sincerely appreciated.

 

PARTNERSHIP UPDATES

• Effective immediately, HUD’s Office of Special Needs Assistance Programs (SNAPS) will use two different listservs on HUD’s website (SNAPS Competitions listserv and SNAPS Program Information listserv) to communicate information developed by HUD/SNAPS concerning:
  • Continuum of Care (CoC) Program;
  • Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Programs;
  • Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP);
  • Other Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) developed by SNAPS; and
  • Any other information related to SNAPS programs and the work to end homelessness.
    
    Information and guidance produced by HUD technical assistance providers regarding SNAPS programs will remain on the HUD Exchange and new information will continue to appear. However, documents and communication written by SNAPS will no longer be sent through the HUD Exchange listserv. This includes information regarding the FY 2021 CoC Program Competition and other information related to SNAPS programs.

 

• Board of Supervisors Housing Committee Meeting: In January 2020, the Board of Supervisors divided what was formerly the Health, Housing, and Human Services Committee into two separate Committees: Health and Human Services and Housing. This division gives the Board more time to discuss policies and plans for topics in each subject area and permits longer and more in-depth conversations. The Housing Committee explores opportunities, resources, funding, and programs to address housing needs, such as affordable and workforce housing. The Committee also discusses implementation of the Housing Strategic Plan. The Board of Supervisors Housing Committee is scheduled to meet at 9:30 a.m. on April 6, 2021.
   
• Marcia Fudge Confirmed as Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development: Marcia Fudge was officially sworn in as the 18th Secretary of Housing and Urban Development on March 10, 2021. As Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Fudge now leads a federal department with wide reach throughout the United States, including the Offices of Housing, Community Planning and Development, Federal Housing Administration, Public and Indian Housing, Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, Policy Development and Research, Field Policy and Management, Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae), Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes, and Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.
   
• Hypothermia Prevention Program: The Hypothermia Prevention Program, which opens during the winter months to provides warm shelter, food, and other supportive services, served its last guests of the season on the night of March 31, 2021. As of April 1, 2021, the Hypothermia Prevention Program is closed and individuals in need of continued services can be directed to Coordinated Services Planning or the emergency shelters serving single individuals. Thank you to the many partners that supported operations in the Hypothermia Prevention Program locations established across the county this past winter.
   
• Family Services Program Manager: Bobbi Mason joined the Office to Prevent and End Homelessness as the Family Services Program Manager on March 29, 2021. In this role, she will oversee and monitor the homeless services projects working with households with children. The projects span the continuum from prevention to housing. Bobbi is transitioning to HCD/OPEH from the Fairfax County Department of Family Services (DFS) where she worked for 7 years as a Domestic Violence Specialist, DFS Housing Advocate, and Community Wellness Coordinator. She brings a wealth of knowledge gained from extensive education and over 25 years of experience in supporting households engaged in child welfare, domestic violence, housing, and homeless services.

 

DATA SPOTLIGHT

• On March 18, 2021, HUD released its 2020 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) Part 1 to Congress. This report outlines the key findings of the Point-In-Time (PIT) count and Housing Inventory Count (HIC) conducted in January 2020. Specifically, this report provides 2020 national, state, and CoC-level PIT and HIC estimates of homelessness, as well as estimates of chronically homeless persons, homeless veterans, and homeless children and youth.

FUNDING INFORMATION

• FY 2020 Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development(HUD) has released a NOFA, Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly program, which provides Capital Advance funding for the development of supportive rental housing for Very-Low-Income persons aged 62 years or older and project rental subsidies in the form of a Project Rental Assistance Contract (PRAC) to maintain ongoing affordability. Applications are due by May 26, 2021.

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

Please register for the following trainings if you have an interest in attending. By registering, we will be able to inform you of any adjustments or cancelations due to COVID-19.

• Motivational Interviewing
  Thu, April 1, 2021
  3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
  Attendees will be introduced to the concept of Motivational Interviewing and given valuable techniques and skills to motivate and support people experiencing homelessness.

• Supporting Sexual Assault Survivors
  Wed, April 21, 2021
  1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
  One in four women and one in six men will experience sexual violence in their lifetime. Help transform the response to sexual assault with information about sexual violence, plus learn how to be supportive to victims and how they can access community resources.

• Move On Webinar Series – Spring 2021
  This series of seven webinars begin March 3, 2021 and runs through May 12, 2021. The series is designed to introduce participants to the tools and resources they need to develop and implement Moving On strategies and programs, which help tenants who wish to move on from supportive housing.

• Impact of Child Sexual Abuse on Adult Male Survivors
  Tues, May 17, 2021
  3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  Doug Tinder shares his story of surviving and healing from childhood sexual abuse to help normalize conversations about male childhood sexual abuse and to enable survivors and the community to work together to heal and prevent abuse. He will discuss the prevalence, gravity, and lifetime impact of this type of trauma, as well as the healing process and the support survivors may need.

• Responding to LGBTQ Survivors of Sexual Violence
  Wed, Jun 16, 2021
  1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
  The Virginia Anti-Violence Project will explore institutional barriers and normative beliefs that make LGBTQ people vulnerable to sexual violence and discourage survivors from seeking help. The discussion will include best practices to help services providers and community members improve the response to LGBTQ sexual violence survivors, as well as efforts to address harmful barriers and beliefs.