DECEMBER 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.

PARTNERSHIP UPDATES

• Bi-Annual CoC Meeting:
  January 12th | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
  The goal of the CoC (Continuum of Care) Meeting is to connect partners in the Fairfax-Falls Church Community to build and strengthen common understanding of homeless system initiatives and performance outcomes. In this virtual meeting, the Regional Racial Equity Assessment findings will be presented. The methodology used in the assessment process, identified racial disparities, data gaps, as well as regional trends, strengths, and challenges specific to each jurisdiction will be shared by C4 Innovations and the Racial Equity Action Council members. Information on how to join the meeting can be found below:

  Join Zoom Meeting: https://c4innovates.zoom.us/j/4491676533
  Meeting ID: 449 167 6533
  Call in: +1-301-715-8592, 4491676533#

• Hypothermia Prevention Program: The Hypothermia Prevention Program expands shelter capacity each winter for individuals experiencing homelessness through overflow space at existing shelters and auxiliary off-site programs hosted largely in partnership with faith communities. The Hypothermia Prevention Program officially starts on December 1 and concludes the morning of April 1. More information on the dates and locations will be shared soon at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/homeless.

• Point in Time (PIT) and Housing Inventory (HIC) Counts will take place January 26, 2022: The PIT and HIC Counts are annual events, mandated by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), that tally the number of people experiencing homelessness on a given night, as well as the number of beds available for individuals experiencing, and that have experienced, homelessness.

• FY2021 HUD Continuum of Care Competition:  The CoC’s Consolidated Application for $10,747,930, including $9,238,151 in renewal funding to support 19 existing permanent supportive housing and rapid rehousing projects, $461,908 in Bonus funding for two new permanent supportive housing projects, $770,726 in Domestic Violence Bonus funding for a new rapid rehousing project, and $277,145 for a Planning Grant was submitted on November 10, 2021. The CoC Application, which providers an overview of the homeless services system is available at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/homeless/continuum-care. 
   
• Continuum of Care Committee: The Continuum of Care (CoC) Committee, the governance of the CoC, met on October 13th and approved the Bylaws and CoC Operations policy. The finalized policies and meeting minutes can be found at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/homeless/coccommittee.
  
   
• Countywide Strategic Plan: The Board of Supervisors officially adopted the Countywide Strategic Plan on October 5, 2021. The final version, along with an updated video highlighting the Ten Community Outcome Areas, are posted at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/strategicplan/. The Housing and Neighborhood Livability Outcome Area includes several strategies to specifically address homelessness.

DATA SPOTLIGHT

Millions of Americans are Housing Insecure: The National Alliance to End Homelessness and the Homelessness Research Institute prepared a brief on the results of surveys conducted since April 2020 showing insight into the economic factors impacting a household’s risk for eviction and housing insecurity. Although historically, eviction has not always been shown to have an immediate impact on a household’s experience of homelessness, “it is possible that some unknown number of people are slowly spiraling down into literal homelessness and that, without sufficient intervention, they may have a hard time getting out of it.”

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

• Consolidated Community Funding Pool: The Consolidated Community Fund Pool (CCFP) Funding Application Package RFP# 2000003360 and RFP# 2000003361 is now available. The CCFP is a competitive funding process for human services programs developed and administered by nonprofits and community-based organizations. Proposals must be received electronically through Fairfax County’s online Procurement Portal on or before the submission deadline. Submissions will only be accepted through the portal. Fairfax County will not accept proposals submitted by paper, telephone, facsimile (“FAX”) transmission, or electronic mail (i.e., e-mail) in response to this RFP. Proposals must be received no later than 2 p.m. on December 2, 2021.
   
• Food Access Program: The Food Access Program (FAP) is intended to aid the community in recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Community based organizations and Houses of Worship (501(c)3 organizations located in or serving Fairfax County) can apply for funding in three different lanes to ensure that our local food system remains strong and sustainable. There will not be an RFP process, but rather an informal application. For more information and to fill out the DocuSign application, go to https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/neighborhood-community-services/community-impact-unit. For additional questions and to receive the application in Spanish, contact NCSFAP@fairfaxcounty.gov. The deadline to apply is December 10, 2021 at 4:30 p.m.   
   
• Virginia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services: DBHDS is seeking experienced providers to deliver supportive services to individuals with a serious mental illness or developmental disability who live in certain Low Income Housing Tax Credit properties. Applicants must meet the criteria specified in the RFP, including submission of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the LIHTC owner. The RFP includes information on a pre-proposal conference and contact information for DBHDS's Procurement Office. Proposals are due December 9, 2021.
   
• Virginia Housing Homeless Assistance Grant – FY22 Don Ritenour Charity Golf Classic: The intent of the Virginia Housing Homeless Assistance Grant is to fund organizations that primarily serve families and individuals experiencing homelessness, individuals fleeing domestic violence as described in the HEARTH Act, and provide emergency shelter and/or permanent supporting housing services. Grant funds should be used to supplement an organization’s program, not be the sole source of funding. The period of performance for this funding opportunity is July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023. Proposed budgets must be in the amount of $20,000. Organizations seeking funding should apply to Virginia Housing’s Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) using Virginia Housing’s Grants Management System at https://vhdagrants.com/. For questions concerning this program or assistance with application submission, contact Sue Armstrong, Strategic Housing Officer, at 804-343-5550. The application is due January 15, 2022.
   
• Supportive Services for Veteran Families: The Department of Veterans Affairs recently announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program in FY 2023. The NOFO contains information concerning the SSVF Program, the renewal and new applicant supportive services grant application processes, and the amount of funding available. Applications are due no later than February 7, 2022.

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.

• A Courageous Conversation: Reflection and Our Work with Victims of Sexual Violence
  December 6, 2021
  11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
  This virtual training is intended for any person working or volunteering with victims of sexual violence. This training will introduce participants to a comprehensive view of sexuality and how our worldview impacts our thoughts, values, and beliefs about sexuality.  During the training you will use a tool called the Courageous Conversations Protocol to examine how your values and beliefs may impact your work with clients. This training is part of a research study. Training participants will be invited to be interviewed about their experience of the training and how the presented material might impact your approach to your work with victims of sexual violence. Interview participants will receive a $25 VISA e-gift card immediately after the interview. Interviews will occur virtually using Zoom. Training participants are not required to participate in the interview.

• COG Racial Equity Foundational Learning Session 1
  December 8, 2021
  10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
  This learning session is a part of the COG Regional Homeless Services in Racial Equity and Systems Analysis. The objectives are the session are to establish a shared understanding of connections between racism and homelessness, provide a general overview of racial equity concepts in practice, and increase skills to initiate productive conversation about race and racism.   

• COG Racial Equity Foundational Learning Session 2
  December 15, 2021
  10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
  This learning session is a part of the COG Regional Homeless Services in Racial Equity and Systems Analysis. The objectives are the session are to increase skills to interrogate cultural shifts and white supremacist characteristics within their organization and wider CoC, build an understanding of racial and ethnic disparities at a systemic level, and provide concrete tools for implementing anti-racist practices within ones’ spheres of influence. 

• A Complete Overview of the Virginia Fair Housing Law
  (use ‘DPOR’ in the keywords search)
  December 1, 2021 & December 16, 2021
  12:45 p.m.
  The Virginia Fair Housing Office offers an interactive three-hour seminar taught by Mahalia "Mally" Dryden-Mason, Fair Housing Training Specialist. Mally is approved by the Real Estate Board and the Fair Housing Board as a course provider whose seminars meet the requirements for real estate continuing education and fair housing certification. This presentation covers the following: History of the Virginia Fair Housing Law, Exemptions in the Law, Restrictive Covenants and Retaliation, What Is A Protected Class?, Newly Added Protected Classes in Virginia, Explanation of Each Protected Class: Race, Color, National Origin, Religion, Sex, Familial Status, Elderliness, Source of Funds, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Veteran Status, Fair Housing For Persons With Disabilities, Group Homes and the Fair Housing Law, Accessibility (Construction) under Fair Housing, Unlawful Discriminatory Housing Practices, Fair Housing and The Housing Providers, Other Regulated (Housing Related) Transactions, Disparate Impact as a Standard of Fair Housing, Fair Housing Updates, Examples of Actual Fair Housing Cases.