Maricopa Regional Continuum of Care: September Newsletter

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Continuum of Care Membership Application Openings

The Continuum of Care Board is seeking new members to serve a 3-year term. The Board oversees a diverse array of partners to develop regional solutions to end homelessness and invites interested parties to apply. The application for the Continuum of Care Board will close on September 14, 2022 at 5:00 p.m.

The Continuum of Care Youth Advisory Council is seeking new members to serve a 3-year term. The council seeks to elevate youth voice in program creation, implementation, and service delivery and invites anyone interested to apply. The application for the Youth Advisory Council will close on September 9, 2022 at 5:00 p.m.

The Continuum of Care Lived Experience Committee is seeking new members to serve a 3-year term. The Committee represents a diverse array of partners developing regional solutions to end homelessness while utilizing their lived experience to shape programs and policy and invites anyone interested to apply. The application for the Lived Experience Committee will close on September 9, 2022 at 5:00 p.m.

The Continuum of Care Coordinated Entry Committee is seeking new members to serve a 3-year term. The Committee serves to problem-solve issues facing the coordinated entry system and invites anyone interested to apply. Representation is needed for following seats: Funder, Jails, Singles, ESG, and Persons with Lived Experience. The application will open on September 12, 2022 and close on September 30, 2022 at 5:00 p.m.

PAST MEETINGS

The Continuum of Care Board approved the Continuum of Care Charter and Strategic Plan in August after making revisions in the prior months. The Board also approved Rank & Review recommendations for the Annual Notice of Funding Opportunity, January 24 as the 2023 Point in Time Count date, and opened recruitment for new Board members with applications due September 14. Finally, the Board approved the Homelessness Trends Report for Quarter 2 as well as talking points that are now live on the MAG website. The Board will be meeting twice in September to approve Notice of Funding Opportunity priority lists.

The Continuum of Care Committee discussed the System Flow Dashboard and the increasing number of elderly experiencing homelessness in the community. The Committee is reviewing their name to provide further clarity to the Continuum of Care and external partners. The Committee reviewed the Community Adopted Best Practices and will bring them back to the Committee for approval in September.

The Coordinated Entry Committee (CEC) continues to work on the housing restriction grid that will assist in identifying housing restrictions within housing programs. CEC has also begun looking into individuals that are on the By-Name-List that appear to be housed. They will be conducting a deeper dive on this data and will have a discussion on next steps to address this at the next CEC meeting, September 1. The CEC will begin recruiting new members on September 12, representation is needed for following seats; Funder, Jails, Singles, ESG and Person with Lived Experience. 

The Data Committee (DSC) performed an in-depth review of the HMIS Data Quality Plan in August, as well as an annual review of the other four HMIS policies the Committee oversees. All policy updates will be approved in September. Additionally, the DSC Data Analytics workgroup will hold its first meeting in September. In this meeting, workgroup members will begin the process of addressing higher level data requests and create policy suggestions informed by this analysis.

The ESG Committee continues to review Street Outreach standards to adopt to ensure there is alignment with all ESG providers, streamlining standards for non-profits providers who apply for these funds. In September, the Committee will begin the conversation of analyzing, comparing, and standardizing monitoring practices of ESG-funded programs throughout the continuum.

The Lived Experience Committee (LEC) provided feedback on the ASU app “Safe Hygiene 4U." The app is designed to help those struggling with homelessness find safe hygiene options. LEC has decided to begin working on a Shelter Bill of Rights to be adopted by the community. LEC has extended the deadline to apply for membership to September 9.

The Local Jurisdiction Committee held their first official meeting in August and met with Javelina to review the Regional Public Education Campaign materials and provide feedback for Javelina to incorporate. In September, the Committee will be electing co-chairs and continuing to implement the steps of Pathways Home.

The Race Equity Committee reviewed the changes to the Board Charter and with the Board vote in August, officially became a Committee. The Race Equity group will begin recruiting new members in September, select co-chairs to lead the Committee, continue to implement Race Equity work based on the Board Strategic Plan, and provide input into the Coordinated Entry assessment.   

The Chronic Workgroup has its quarterly meeting, September 20 at 3 pm to go over progress of the subgroups that were created. The Outreach Subgroup will begin working closely with the Outreach Collaborative on next steps. The Long Shelter Stayers Subgroup reviewed new data from the weekly By-Name List that shows the number of Long Shelter Stayers has decreased. The group will be taking a deeper dive to identify the reason for the decrease. Homeless I.D. Project has been supporting the efforts of both subgroups by reviewing client lists to identify who has been connected to them and who needs obtaining vital documents.

The Youth Workgroup approved their new mission statement, which is as follows: 

The Youth Provider Workgroup seeks to convene providers in Maricopa County to achieve the goal of applying for the Youth Homeless Demonstration Project Grant in 2023. This workgroup will accomplish this by collaborating, sharing resources, and meeting the identified needs as stated by youth and young adults, ages 14 to 24, in Maricopa County. 

The Youth Provider Workgroup will evaluate this mission statement annually and amended as needed.

The Outreach Collaborative welcomed Scott Hall, City of Phoenix, to provide an update on the Salt River Project. Outreach teams will be working collaboratively to support the effort. Brittnie Stanton, provided an update on CASS’s updated policies and program changes. The Outreach Collaborative continues to work on outreach mapping to determine which areas are covered and identify where coverage is needed. The group has decided to provide support to the chronic outreach subgroup. They will be discussing steps to meet the overall goal of ensuring chronic individuals are connected to services, assessed, obtaining vital documents, and working towards ending their homelessness.

The Communications Workgroup reviewed talking points for the Homelessness Trends Report that were reviewed and approved by the Board in August. The workgroup will continue to work on a Communication Plan for information coming into the Continuum of Care, out of the Continuum of Care, and between Committees on the Continuum of Care to ensure understanding and communication across groups.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

During the month of September, the Housing Supply Study Committee will meet weekly on a statewide tour to receive community input in Flagstaff, Tucson, Sierra Vista, and Sedona. The full schedule and locations can be reviewed at this link. Community members are encouraged to participate via public testimony. The Study Committee will return to meeting every other week at the State Capitol during the month of October.

The Arizona Housing Coalition leads the efforts to end homelessness and advocate for safe, affordable homes for all Arizonans. For any questions, please contact Joan Serviss with the Arizona Housing Coalition at joan@azhousingcoalition.org, join the Arizona Housing Coalition, or get involved in their Advocacy Committee if you are a member.  

UPCOMING MEETINGS

CoC Meeting and Event Calendar

All meetings subject to change. If you are interested in attending and do not have a meeting invite, please reach out to hsinfo@azmag.gov.

• Coordinated Entry Committee – September 1 at 3:00 p.m.
• Outreach Collaborative – September 8 at 1:00 p.m.
• Data Committee – September 12 at 10:00 a.m.
• Continuum of Care Board – September 12 at 2:00 p.m.
• Racial Equity Leadership Group – September 12 at 3:00 p.m.
• Continuum of Care Committee – September 14 at 9:30 a.m.
• Youth Provider Workgroup – September 15 at 10:00 a.m.
• Local Jurisdiction Committee – September 15 at 2:00 p.m.
• Coordinated Entry Committee – September 15 at 3:00 p.m.
• Communications Workgroup – September 20 at 11:00 a.m.
• Chronic Quarterly Workgroup – September 20 at 3:00 p.m.
• ESG Committee – September 21 at 10:30 a.m.
• Lived Experience Committee – September 23 at 10:00 a.m.
• Continuum of Care Board – September 26 at 1:30 p.m.
• Coordinated Entry Committee – September 29 at 3:00 p.m.

UPCOMING TRAININGS AND WEBINARS

Arizona Housing Coalition: Introduction to Fair Housing

September 12 at 2:00 p.m.

HUD: Regional Teams Technical Assistance Initiative

Part 1: September 6 at 1:00 p.m. or September 13 at 10:00 a.m.

Part 2: September 8 at 1:00 p.m. or September 16 at 7:00 a.m.

Administration for Community Living: Long-Range Plan Stakeholder Engagement

Disability Groups and Advocacy Organizations - September 13 at 10:00 a.m.

Individuals with Disabilities and Those Supporting Them - Sept. 28 at 10:00 a.m.

Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) and BCBS Arizona Health Choice’s Office of Individual and Family Affairs (OIFA): Adult Family Support

October 7 at 10:00 a.m. To register, email Denise Cox at denise.cox@azblue.com. For questions, contact Jaime Green at jamie.green@azahcccs.gov.

PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITIES 

DUE Friday, September 2 - Funding to Supplement Emergency Food and Shelter Programs. Click the link below for a full description and to learn more.

Click this link for open Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Requests for Qualifications (RFQs), Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA), and Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO).

RESOURCES

Click this link for available service provider resources, including toolkits and definitions.

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