Maricopa Regional Continuum of Care: August Newsletter

New Forms Available! 

As part of a growing list of resources, there are now updated versions of the Disability Verification Letter and Chronic Homeless Verification Letter. We hope these fillable forms and associated explainers assist your work. Additionally, the CoC has launched an online Grievance Form for clients who have received services within the Maricopa Regional CoC ensuring clients feel heard and coordination among the CoC, providers, and clients.  

NOFO Applications Due August 8 

The FY2023 CoC Notice of Funding Opportunity has been underway, with an informational kickoff session in July and a new online portal for project applications. Please remember to submit all final materials and complete applications prior to the due date of August 8, 2023. The Rank & Review Committee’s evaluations will begin in late August. 

PSH/RRH Community Conversations 

Please join us for a Community Chat designed for Permanent Supportive Housing Providers and Rapid Rehousing Providers on August 22, 2023. We are providing a space for housing providers to learn from one another, ask each other questions, and get support from your fellow providers. The first 30 minutes will be dedicated to PSH providers, the last 30 minutes will be focused on RRH providers, and the middle 30 minutes will be open to both. Register here! 

Website Updates 

Have you seen the latest updates to the CoC website? There are new interactive progress report webpages for the Strategic Plan and Pathways Home, a refreshed overview of the CoC, updates to the list of Coordinated Entry Access Points, and more! We encourage you to revisit the many tools available. CoC staff is always seeking feedback on further adjustments to streamline this information, so please feel free to reach out with any comments to HSInfo@azmag.gov.  

DES and DCS: TANF State Plan and Notice of Public Hearing 

The Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) and Department of Child Safety (DCS) are requesting your input regarding the 2023 update to the State of Arizona Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) State Plan. The TANF Block Grant provides annual funding to states, territories, the District of Columbia, and federally recognized Tribes to make income support available to low-income families with children, as well as to offer a wide range of services such as work-related activities, childcare, and refundable tax credits designed to accomplish the program’s four broad purposes. Please submit input via written comments no later than August 28, 2023 including your signature and e-mail address as well as the name of the organization you represent, if applicable. You may email comments to despolicyunit@azdes.gov or mail comments to the following address: Arizona Department of Economic Security, ATTN: Policy Unit, P.O. Box 6123, Mail Drop 111G, Phoenix, AZ 85005. 

New Additions to the MAG Team! 

Over the next few weeks, you may see some new faces on the MAG homelessness team.  

Brian Gruters joins us as a Human Services Planner. Brian recently moved to Phoenix with his family—a three-year-old girl, five-year-old boy, amazing wife and two scruffy mutts. He’s a native Flagstaffian, graduated from U of A, and loves exploring the Sonoran Desert, Mogollon Rim, and hidden corners of the state. After 15 or so years working in other parts of the country on issues related to housing, behavioral health and homelessness, he’s very excited to be back home in AZ and joining MAG. Reach out to Brian at bgruters@azmag.gov.  

Matt Finley joins us as a Human Services Intern. Matt is currently pursuing his master’s degree in social work at Arizona State University, with a passion for violence prevention, mental health advocacy, and the establishment of community-responsive program structures. He earned his Bachelor of Social Work from The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. Alongside his internship at MAG, Matt expands his skills and knowledge through research roles at ASU Watts College. His prior experiences are rooted in diverse areas, encompassing homelessness and housing services, crisis intervention, educational settings, and AHCCCS health plans. Reach out to Matt at mfinley@azmag.gov.  

PAST MEETINGS 

A complete description of each of the CoC meetings can be found on the CoC Committee Overview where you can learn more about the Committees, find out when they meet, or contact the appropriate MAG staff member. Registration for CoC meetings and events can be found on the Meeting and Event Calendar. 

The Continuum of Care Board reviewed and approved a new logo for the Continuum of Care, Program Performance Measures, and priorities and interview questions for the Notice of Funding Opportunity. In addition, the Board reviewed updates from Pathways Home including an overview on Threshold, updates on the Strategic Plan, and an overview of the Phoenix Rescue Mission Gaps Analysis.  

The Continuum of Care Committee received a recap of the Arizona legislative session provided by Nicole Newhouse of the Arizona Housing Coalition. The CoC Committee also received updates on Program Performance Measures, the Move On Workgroup, and the Connecting Our Systems of Care Workgroup. The Committee reviewed their priorities and responsibilities for 2023 which they will continue to discuss in August.  

The Coordinated Entry Committee discussed the increase reviewed numbers of singles and families entering the system, including the increase in youth numbers due in part to several new youth programs coming into the system. The committee also discussed and reviewed at length the work of the Coordinated Entry Evaluation Workgroup. CE leadership is working with Solari and MAG staff to determine next steps. Once finalized, a plan will be shared with the CoC Board and others for input on implementation. The CE DV workgroup met and continues discussion regarding how to get buy-in from DV shelters across the region in using the new reporting tool to help match individuals in need with available housing.  

The Data Committee (DSC) discussed BNL policy and access, including widening access to the BNL and options of changing both the BNL and System Flow Dashboard to a 90-day policy. The Committee also unanimously voted in new co-chair, Thaddaeus Gassie, to join Randy Hade. 

The ESG Committee welcomed TJ Reed and Margaret Adams as new co-chairs of the committee. The group voted to approve the ESG and CoC Written standards and reviewed the funding matrix created to aid conversations on further aligning procedure and policy among the recipients. The committee also had a productive conversation on actionable steps that could be taken to address ESG administration challenges across the jurisdictions.  

The Lived Experience Committee received a presentation from The Logical Foundation and provided feedback on the Notice of Funding Opportunity Lived Experience question. The Lived Experience Committee will be reviewing the Shelter Bill of Rights in August.  

The Local Jurisdiction Committee reviewed the quarterly updates on Pathways Home, and discussed the information needed to expand connections to or develop additional diversion and prevention programs. An outline for a Diversion & Prevention Toolkit set a foundation to be further explored in an open Working Session on August 15. Service providers currently offering these programs are highly encouraged to attend! The committee also met for a data-focused Office Hours earlier in the month and heard a draft proposal of the jurisdictional dashboard. 

The Race Equity Committee leadership are focusing meetings and speakers on the four identified goals in the 2021 Race Equity report focusing on redesigning the Coordinated Entry assessment, inclusion of people with lived experience, building capacity to use data, and conducting training and organizational change activities in the workforce. Further, a Race Equity workforce workgroup is looking for membership. If you are interested in furthering the conversation about a more diverse workforce, from frontline to leadership, email Kelli Williams for more details: kwilliams@azmag.gov. Membership for the Race Equity Committee was open in July; new members were selected by a workgroup and will be announced during the August meeting.  

The Youth Action Committee took a break to celebrate their completion of the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Project application; awards will be announced by HUD this fall. The Youth Action Committee will be reconvening in August to discuss the work they would like to accomplish before the end of 2023. 

The By-Name List Workgroup is reviewing the BNL survey results and outlining educational materials to address common misunderstandings and knowledge gaps.  

The Communications Workgroup reviewed changes made to the Homelessness Trends Report and recommended some additional changes for the Quarter 2 report. The group decided to begin a Communications Listserv to distribute common talking points throughout the Continuum of Care. If interested in being added to the Listserv, please reach out to Katie at kgentry@azmag.gov.   

The Connecting to Systems of Care Workgroup decided to hold a feedback session with Rapid Rehousing partners to see what gaps currently exist and what contributes to clients returns to homelessness. In response, the workgroup will formulate a plan to bridge those gaps and next steps.  

The Emergency Shelter Workgroup continue to meet to review the coordination of singles shelter and how to best ensure individuals are able to access shelter when available. The workgroup discussed coordination through the Emergency Shelter Spreadsheet as well as the use of the occupancy dashboard that will be launching in mid-August. In the future, the group will discuss expanding access to the spreadsheet to additional groups and how to best ensure access to shelter. 

The Move On Workgroup is finishing developing the training materials needed to roll out the pilot of move ons from Permanent Supportive Housing to a housing voucher or Rapid Rehousing clients who need additional rental assistance but do not need additional supportive services. The workgroup presented to the Continuum of Care Committee seeking feedback on their current workflow plan. The workgroup is planning to pilot the program to evaluate outcomes and see if this is a sustainable model. 

The Outreach Collaborative will reconvene in August. Be on the lookout for an invite by the end of the week. If you are interested in participating, reach out to Brian at bgruters@azmag.gov.  

The Public Housing Authority Workgroup reviewed EHV lease ups and almost all PHAs are at full capacity. The workgroup also received information on the Move On Workgroup pilot and discussed applying for vouchers in partnership with the CoC in the future.  

The Veteran Collaborative welcomed many new faces to the Collaborative and took time to learn more about the new members and the work they do. The Collaborative then heard roundtable updates, which included a status update on the Arizona Housing Coalition and Arizona Department of Veteran Services’ (ADVS) Higher Level of Care pilot program, which has been extended into FY2024 and has assisted 16 veterans so far, ADVS’ partnership with the Coalition for Military Families on a suicide prevention grant, and information on the COMPACT Act. 

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE 

A summary of the 56th Legislative Session was presented to the Continuum of Care Committee from Nicole Newhouse, Executive Director of the Arizona Housing Coalition, and can be watched here. Legislators returned to the Capitol to continue the session on July 31. 

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

UPCOMING MEETINGS, TRAININGS, AND WEBINARS 

Click here to learn more about the CoC Learning Gateway and on-demand training opportunities, or check out the CoC Event Calendar for live events. 

Disability Accessibility Training – Join the Arizona Center for Disability Law to learn about Title II & III of the Americans with Disabilities Act and how it applies to your program. Participants will hear from J.J. Rico, a legal expert, on the requirements for serving individuals with disabilities, ensuring reasonable accommodations, and various best practices to ensure compliance with regulations. Register Here! 

August 23 from 11 am – 12 pm 

Adultism Training – Please join us for a training session on Adultism by the Youth Collaboratory! This training will cover key definitions and terms, a background on what adultism and how it relates to power dynamics, systematic barriers, and directly impacts young people. Register here! 

August 17 from 12:30 pm – 2 pm 

Maricopa HMIS Trainings: Solari Crisis and Human Services, the HMIS lead for the Maricopa Regional CoC, hosts a series of trainings each month for Homeless Management Information System users. Learn More and Register Here! 

PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITIES 

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. 

Interested in reviewing the System Performance Measures and seeing changes over time? Check out the recently launched System Performance Measures dashboard!  

Click this link to view previous months’ newsletters.    

Please do not reply to this email. It will not be delivered to MAG. 

You have received this email because you are subscribed to the GovDelivery service for the Maricopa Regional Continuum of Care Board, Maricopa Regional Continuum of Care Committee, or Homelessness Prevention Stakeholders. You may change your subscription preferences by clicking on the links below.