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05.18.2020
News from Springfield:
 

 

The General Assembly is schedule to return to Springfield and reconvene Wednesday May 20. under strict IDPH recommendations. Here is the COVID-19 Session Plan and a letter of pledge from Speaker Madigan to House Republican Leader Jim Durkin and the Democratic Caucus pledge to follow said guidelines. 
  • Senate will be in session at the Capitol
  • House will be located at the BOS Center
  • The Capitol & Stratton Building will remain closed to the public unless visiting the district offices escorted by a member of staff. 
  • Members of the public will have limited access at the BOS Center. 
See the COVID-19 Session Plan for additional details. 

 

CAPITAL REPORT FROM THOMSONWEIR
Mike Thomson, Michael Weir, and Aaron Chambers of ThomsonWeir, LLC have since 2012 provided SHPA with government affairs and strategic communications services. They advocate for our interests and regularly share important information for our members. 
 
 
Illinois E-News:
      

COVID-19 Resources for SOAR Providers
 
Across the country, SOAR providers have been developing new and innovative methods to engage applicants and complete Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) applications during the COVID-19 pandemic. The SAMHSA SOAR TA Center is here for you during this difficult time and has created a dedicated webpage of resources for SOAR providers. This webpage provides information on and answers to common questions on the following topics: 
  • Unemployment Insurance and its impact on SSI/SSDI
  • Economic Impact Payments and SSI/SSDI 
  • COVID-19's impact on the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
  • Federal resources 
  • National partner resources 
  • Suggestions from the field
In addition to this resource page, the SAMHSA SOAR TA Center hosted a webinar on April 16, 2020, “SOAR Implementation During COVID-19.” In this webinar, SAMHSA SOAR TA Center staff and SOAR providers from Nashville, Tennessee, and Austin, Texas, discussed innovative ways to continue providing SOAR services while maintaining a safe physical/social distance. SOAR providers shared how they are using new (and old!) modes of communication to keep SSI and SSDI applications moving forward. Presenters described strategies for communicating with the Social Security Administration (SSA) and Disability Determination Services (DDS) while offices are closed or operating remotely. Participants also learned about the impact of unemployment and stimulus payments on Social Security benefits. The slides and supplementary materials from this webinar are available for download.
Is your agency using an innovative practice to connect with SOAR applicants? Share it with the SAMHSA SOAR TA Center! Thank you for your commitment to the individuals we serve and the SOAR process during this challenging time. 
 
Visit the COVID-19 Resources for SOAR Providers Page
 

 

House Passes the “HEROES Act” with Key Housing Resources and Protections!


Thanks to your powerful and effective advocacy, the House of Representatives voted today to approve the ‘‘Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act,” which includes NLIHC’s top priorities to ensure housing stability during and after the coronavirus pandemic for people experiencing homelessness and America’s lowest-income and most marginalized people.
The HEROES Act provides $200 billion in housing and homelessness resources, including:
  • The “Emergency Rental Assistance and Rental Market Stabilization Act” to provide $100 billion in emergency rental assistance to help keep the lowest-income and most marginalized renters stably housed.
  • A national, uniform moratorium on evictions for nearly all renters for one year.
  • $11.5 billion in homeless assistance grants to help prevent and respond to COVID-19 outbreaks among people experiencing homelessness.
  • Nearly $13 billion in additional funding for HUD and USDA housing providers and the residents they serve, including $1 billion in new, emergency housing vouchers.
For more details on the HEROES Act, see NLIHC’s analysis. Our statement on the passage of the bill is here: https://bit.ly/2WYpOA1
While this is an important milestone, we have a lot more work to do to ensure these critical resources are a top priority among members of Congress for this next coronavirus relief package.

Take Action


We need your sustained advocacy over the next few weeks to ensure these vital HEROES Act resources and protections for people experiencing homelessness and low-income renters make it into the final, negotiated bill and get signed into law.
  1. Urge your senators and representatives to cosponsor the “Emergency Rental Assistance and Rental Market Stabilization Act!” More than 140 representatives and 34 senators are already cosponsors, but we need more! Find the phone numbers of your members of Congress here or send an email from NLIHC’s Legislative Action Center. Then tweet about it using the hashtag #RentReliefNow!
  2. Sign this letter to Congress to show your support for this critical legislation. National, state, and local organizations and government officials are invited to sign.
  3. Amplify the need on social media using #RentReliefNow. Tag your member of Congress. Find out if they’re already a cosponsor of the bill. 
Thank you for your advocacy!
   
__________________________________________________

This standalone appendix may be utilized by the state during emergency situations to request amendments to its approved waiver, to multiple approved waivers in the state, and/or to all approved waivers in the state. It includes actions that states can take under the existing Section 1915(c) home and community-based waiver authority in order to respond to an emergency. Other activities may require the use of various other authorities such as the Section 1115 demonstrations or the Section 1135 authorities.i This appendix may be applied retroactively as needed by the state. Public notice requirements normally applicable under 1915(c) do not apply to information contained in this Appendix.
  _________________________________________________

Federal Partners:             
  • National Alliance to End Homelessness: CLICK HERE 
  • National Low Income Housing Coalition: CLICK HERE
  • US Inter-agency Council On Homelessness: CLICK HERE
 
OTHER RESOURCES:
SAVE THE DATE
THURSDAY 
JUNE 4, 2020
 1:00p - 3:00p

Supportive Housing System Integration

This webinar will discuss the importance and benefits of working with large systems for supportive housing residents, agencies, and the overall sector. The focus will be on Health, Justice, and Child Welfare & School Systems with an emphasis on COVID-19 response of these systems statewide and nationally. We hope to arm the audience, both leadership, staff, and direct services staff with best practices in engaging, building relationships, and potential policy changes. 
 
Presented by:                              Facilitated by:
 
                    

 
Registration coming soon !                  
Continuum of Care News:
 
Come JOIN SHPA and be part of a strong coalition of Supportive Housing Providers who are committed to the expansion of supportive housing across the State of Illinois to address the issues of homelessness, unnecessary institutionalization, and persons with disabilities, advocating for the increase in resources for supportive services, and leading policy and systematic changes to benefit those we serve and the efficient and effective delivery of services. Click on the link above and contact David Esposito, Executive Director at d.esposito@shpa-il.org

Not a Supportive Housing Provider, yet want to support our work, click here for our 2020 Sponsorship Opportunities. 
GET ON BOARD

Want to get more involved with SHPA?
One of the best ways to stay in the know with all things SHPA and permanent supportive housing is to join our standing committees. All committees meet by phone so that members from all over the state are able to join.
Visit our website for committee descriptions:

 
SHPA Committee Meetings Scheduled:
Legislative Committee - Third Thursday of the Month @ 9:00a
Resident Committee - Fourth Wednesday of the Month @ 4:00p
Governance Committee - Fourth Tuesday of the Month @ 2:00p
Standards & Best Practices Committee - Fourth Monday of the Month @ 11:30a
This month's S&BP Committee meeting will take place on Tuesday, May 26 @ 11:30a
(schedules subject to change as determined by committee chairs)

For more information on how to participate please contact SHPA staff at
(217) 321-2476
STAY UP-TO-DATE ON WHAT SHPA IS DOING
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Monday Memo is supported in part by:

The Woods Fund, Chicago Community Trust, Harris Family Foundation, and the
IL Department of Human Services






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Supportive Housing Providers Association · 6 Lawrence Square · Springfield, IL 62704 · USA

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