FY21 CoC Competition Awards

HUD has released the FY21 CoC competition awards. The Springfield-Hampden County CoC has been awarded $6,470,022. In addition to regular and YHDP program renewals, the CoC also received funding for three new or expansion projects:

  • YWCA-Alianza-VOC DV Transitional Housing-Rapid Rehousing Project (7 TH and 22 RRH units), $709,877
  • MHA Chestnut St – Permanent Supportive Housing (20 units), $119,790
  • VOC Family Supportive Housing Expansion (4 units), $77,761

HUD’s announcement includes links for the full list of awards.

CoC Funding Opportunities

The Springfield-Hampden County Continuum of Care has released notice of two funding opportunities. Deadline for both applications is noon March 11, 2022.

Permanent Supportive Housing

The Springfield-Hampden County Continuum of Care seeks a nonprofit organization to operate an existing scattered-site permanent supportive housing program for 32 chronically homeless individuals.

For more information and to apply: https://www.cognitoforms.com/CityOfSpringfield1/PermanentSupportiveHousingProvider

Housing for Homeless Young Adults

The Springfield-Hampden County Continuum of Care is making up to $450,000 in capital funds available for a nonprofit organization to create affordable housing units in Hampden County for homeless young adults aged 18-24.

For more information and to apply: https://www.cognitoforms.com/CityOfSpringfield1/FundingAvailabilityHousingForHomelessYoungAdults

2022 Point-in-time Count

The Hampden County 2022 homeless point-in-time count will take place Wednesday, February 23, 2022. The first attachment to this email is an explanation of the count. Feel free to forward to anyone you think may be interested. There are two great ways you can help make sure we get a comprehensive count:

1.     COLLECT SURVEYS FROM HOMELESS PEOPLE WHO VISIT YOUR AGENCY

You can help us identify unsheltered people by collecting information on people you serve who are unsheltered. For two weeks after the count, you can ask people where they slept on the night of Feb. 23. If they were unsheltered on that night, you will use this survey form to conduct a brief survey with them. No need to count people who stay in shelters—the shelter staff count their guests.

If you would like to participate in this type of information gathering, please attend a brief orientation/training on the count. Trainings are scheduled for: 

·       Thurs., Feb. 17, 3:30 – 4pm,  Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83581935710?pwd=enpQZC82Y0luR1lPczEwckpjMzdiQT09

·       Wed., Feb 23, 11 – 11:30 am, Zoom link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87806876812?pwd=NjdDLzZiOCt1Z0QxRUJzMGw4QW10Zz09

2.     JOIN THE SPRINGFIELD STREET COUNT

You can also be part of the Springfield street count on February 23. If you would like to be part of the team that goes out that evening, please contact Dave Havens at dhavens@mhainc.org or 413-244-4650. Dave will fill you in on training for the street count.

City of Springfield Request for Proposals – FY22 Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Program

The City of Springfield Office of Housing has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking applications from nonprofit organizations to provide services for people experiencing homelessness. The program funds projects that provide: 1) Street Outreach; 2) Emergency Shelter; 3) Homelessness Prevention; and 4) Rapid Rehousing.

Click for the RFP and application.

The deadline for proposal submission is no later than noon on March 8, 2022.

FY21 CoC Application

The Springfield-Hampden County CoC Board of Directors has approved our FY21 CoC Program Application for submission to HUD. Use the links below to access the full CoC Application, the Project Priority List, and all project applications.

CoC Application

Project Applications

  1. HMIS
  2. CSO-FOH Coordinated Assessment Project
  3. DV Coordinated Entry Project
  4. VOC Family Supportive Housing
  5. MHA Permanent Supportive Housing
  6. Gandara Shine Rapid Rehousing
  7. MHA Chestnut Street PSH
  8. Way Finders Turning Point
  9. CHD Family Supportive Housing
  10. CSO-FOH Permanent Supportive Housing
  11. RVCC CoC Program
  12. Viability Next Step
  13. Catholic Charities Rapid Rehousing
  14. YWCA-Alianza DV TH-RRH
  15. VOC Family Supportive Housing Expansion
  16. Catholic Charities Rapid Rehousing Expansion

CoC Annual Meeting + Board of Directors Meeting

The CoC’s Annual Meeting will take place on Friday, November 12, 9-10:30 am, on Zoom. The Annual Meeting is combined with a Board of Directors meeting.

Please join us! The meeting is open to anyone interested in the Hampden County response to homelessness in our community.

Register at https://forms.gle/aTJGgWybteMuMKpV8 and we will send you the Zoom link for the meeting.

Agenda

  • Year in Review: Accomplishments and Pandemic Lessons
  • Focus on Racial Equity
  • CoC Business: Election of Officers, Approval of FY2021 CoC Application to HUD, Review of Governance Charter

FY21 CoC Competition: Project Selection and Ranking

The CoC Review and Ranking Committee has completed its work. The following projects have been selected to be included in our CoC application to HUD for funding:

Tier 1  
1.HMIS$61,992
2.CSO-FOH Coordinated Entry$243,000
3.DV Coordinated Entry$230,263
4.VOC Family PSH$133,367
5.MHA CoC PSH$778,027
6.Gandara RRH$385,828
7.MHA Chestnut St $119,790
8.Way Finders Turning Point$67,809
9.CHD Family PSH$594,035
10.CSO FOH PSH$251,329
11.RVCC CoC Program$324,797
12.Viability Next Step$539,633
13.Catholic Charities RRH$408,130
Tier 2  
14.YWCA TH-RRH$721,631
15.VOC Family PSH Expansion$77,761
16.Catholic Charities RRH Expansion$191,482

In addition, HUD is automatically renewing all YHDP projects.

Upcoming trainings: domestic violence and homelessness

How to Help DV Survivors in Your Homeless/Housing Programs

Wednesday, October 6, 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. ET

Case managers and other staff working in homeless/housing programs are keenly aware that domestic violence (DV) is a factor in many of the households they serve, and that sometimes they must respond, intervene, and offer resources. This training is designed to provide tools and information for homeless/housing program staff to assist them with working safely and effectively with survivors. Featuring speakers from the National Alliance for Safe Housing as well as the Western Massachusetts region’s own DV programs, topics include local resources, DV dynamics, how a survivor’s risk analysis factors into decisions about staying or separating, and how staff can navigate their responsibilities to both members of the household with increased safety as the goal. Presenters will also offer tips on partnering with DV advocates and agencies and invite discussion about how collaboration between the two provider sectors can be enhanced.

Register here: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uHm_3f8qRy6QpCSF3fG5Ig

Addressing Survivor Safety and Confidentiality Within Coordinated Entry Systems

Tuesday, October 19, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. ET

Survivors of domestic and sexual violence often seek assistance from the homeless system and Coordinated Entry (CE) staff are often the first service providers they come into contact with. This webinar is designed to introduce some basic concepts and best practices related to discussing safety with survivors participating in CE. How CE staff can assess for domestic violence using newly designed models that center survivor agency will be discussed, along with insights on how to support survivors in determining their housing needs and best practice models for partnering with DV agencies and maintaining VAWA compliance.

Register here: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vEv8h1qiTUOaFrULyYltlA

Sponsored by the Western Massachusetts Network to End Homelessness.

FY2021 CoC Competition: Request for Proposals

The Springfield-Hampden County Continuum of Care has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for renewal, expansion and new projects. Allowable project types for this competition are: Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH), Rapid Rehousing (RRH), Joint Transitional Housing-Rapid Rehousing (TH-RRH) and Coordinated Entry (CE).

Applications are due by 4:00 pm on October 15, 2021. A Bidders’ Conference will be held via Zoom on September 29, 2021 at 10 am.