SEPTEMBER 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 1700 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.
• Eviction Moratorium: On August 26th, the Supreme Court overturned the Eviction Moratorium that had been extended until October 3rd to temporarily halt evictions in counties with heightened levels of community transmission. With the Eviction Moratorium no longer in effect, landlords may pursue eviction proceedings for lack of payment of rent. Information on assistance available can be found below:
  • Fairfax County’s Eviction Webpage serves as a resource to provide 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.
  • Northern Virginia Eviction Prevention and Housing Stability Toolkit: The Northern Virginia Affordable Housing Alliance (NVAHA) and Legal Services of Northern Virginia (LSNV) have published a toolkit to explain what can be done to prevent evictions in Northern Virginia and where gaps in eviction prevention currently exists.
• COVID-19 Vaccination:
  • For information on the COVID-19 Vaccine and its administration locally, please visit Fairfax County’s Vaccine website.
  • For vaccine questions and help with scheduling, call 703-324-7404.
  • Vaccine regional campaign videos were developed as part of the StayWellNoVa initiative to provide vaccine information across audiences.

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

• FY2021 HUD Continuum of Care Competition: The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the annual HUD Continuum of Care Competition was released on August 18th. Information on the local competition, including the competition schedule and information on how to apply for new funding opportunities, can be found at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/homeless/continuum-care. A virtual informational meeting (optional) regarding the new funding opportunities will be held at 1:00 pm on September 7th.
   
• Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness: The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) is in the process of creating a new Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness. The federal strategic plan will help communities leverage the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, which represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to not only respond to the immediate needs of the pandemic but also invest in long-term solutions to homelessness. Comments can be submitted online now at usich.gov/fsp.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

• Kaiser Permanente Request for Proposals: Kaiser Permanente intends to award $100,000 in grants before the end of 2021 to nonprofit organizations that are working to address homelessness in more than one city or county. Specifically, grant proposals should:
  • Demonstrate innovative approaches by a single nonprofit organization to reducing the prevalence of homelessness in more than one city or county; or
  • Involve a partnership between two or more nonprofit organizations in different cities or counties that demonstrate innovative approaches to reducing the prevalence of homelessness.

Total available funds are $100,000. Kaiser Permanente anticipates at least two grant awards of $50,000 each. This is subject to change upon review of the submitted applications. The grant term will be Jan. 1 - Dec. 31, 2022. Grant applications must be submitted by Sept. 9, 2021, in Kaiser Permanente’s grants management system, which can be accessed at https://mosaic.versaic.com. After creating an account, use the following access code to apply: MASDC!@GR7.

• 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.

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.

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• Strangulation and Sexual Violence
  Fri, Sept 10, 2021
  1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
  Beth Roach will share her expertise on strangulation and asphyxiation as they are used in intimate partner and non-intimate partner sexual violence. She will describe the general dangers and signs of strangulation, as well as the unique characteristics of strangulation/ asphyxiation of sexual violence victims, how to identify and support strangulation victims, and Forensic Assessment and Consultation Team (FACT) services.
• National Virtual Conference on Ending Homelessness (cost associated)
  Registration Deadline: September 15, 2021
  Conference Dates: September 21-24, 2021
  The virtual conference will cover best and innovative practices in the field, address emerging challenges, and explore how to adapt to the increase in funding now and in the future. The four-day conference will include plenary sessions, networking, and workshops covering a range of topics including homelessness, housing, healthcare, and how to advance racial equity.
• Trauma Awareness 101 Training
  September 22, 2021
  10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
  This training will increase attendees professional capacity understand and address clients and others that have experienced traumatic experiences.  All CoC partners especially front line and support staff team members who work directly with the public and clients will benefit from attending this training.
• Housing Virginia’s Most Vulnerable Conference (cost associated)
  October 4-6, 2021
  Presented in partnership with Virginia’s Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, Housing Virginia’s Most Vulnerable is the Commonwealth’s premier professional development opportunity to explore emerging standards and best practices focused on interventions and services for the most vulnerable homeless populations. Our statewide participants, partners, and sponsors represent organizations that are at the forefront of supportive housing service delivery and program implementation, and we look forward to offering session topics to help operationalize housing as a social determinant of health.
• Fairfax County DV Network Tier One Training
  October 5 - 28, 2021
  4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
  Tier One is a training on the dynamics of domestic violence, the systems that respond to those crimes, and available resources in our community. The training is designed for professionals interested in learning the dynamics of domestic violence in order to deepen their work with clients and community members, and anyone interested in volunteering with Fairfax County’s Domestic and Sexual Violence Services.
• Virginia Governor’s Housing Conference (cost associated)
  November 10-12, 2021
  Virtual or in-person at Norfolk Waterside Marriot, Norfolk, Virginia
  Virginia's largest housing and community development event connects Virginia's affordable housing providers with funders, lenders, realtors, nonprofits, public officials and resources to improve housing in Virginia's communities.
• Sexual Harassment
  Mon, Nov. 15, 2021
  10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
  Sexual harassment can include a wide range of unwelcome behavior of a sexual nature, and can occur in a workplace, learning or housing situation. The speaker will address how to be aware of and respond to sexual harassment, whether you are a victim, witness, or advocate. This presentation will enable participants to raise awareness and decrease tolerance for sexual harassment.