ACEH Weekly Digest for 6/23/2021
Please reach out to [email protected] if you have questions, suggestions or resources you would like to share in the weekly digest.
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Anchorage Daily News (ADN)
As more details emerge, Anchorage Mayor-elect Bronson’s homeless shelter plan draws many questions — and growing backlash
“We do need that shelter before the winter gets cold again. That is life and death for people in our community here in Anchorage. So I applaud the urgency and the focus around addressing those life-and-death needs,... But, shelter is not a solution for homelessness." - Jasmine Boyle, ACEH Executive Director
View full ADN article here
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Anchorage Reentry Coalition Landmark Survey
The Anchorage Reentry Coalition is interested in identifying programs, organizations, and groups (“landmarks”) currently operational in Anchorage that are engaged and supporting reentry efforts in one way or another. There is continued interest surrounding the topic of incarceration and prisoner reentry across the community, and while there have been major disruptions across all facets of daily life over the last year the need for reentry support has not subsided.
More details and questionnaire link is HERE (2-3 minutes questionnaire)
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Upcoming Meetings
Committee on Housing and Homelessness Meeting
This meeting will be in person in Chambers or for members who cannot attend in person, you may dial into the Assembly bridge line. Members of the public will either have to attend in person or can listen to the recording after the meeting.
View agenda and handouts on the Committee Page
Homeless Prevention & Response System Advisory Council Monthly Meeting
National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH) Updates
New IRS Tool Can Be Used to Access Stimulus Checks
A new IRS tool now makes it easier for people experiencing homelessness to access stimulus checks.
The Non-filer Sign Up Tool is designed to help eligible individuals and families who don’t normally file income tax returns:
- claim Child Tax Credits granted under the American Rescue Plan;
- register for the $1,400 third round of Economic Impact Payments; and
- claim the Recovery Rebate Credit for any amount of the first two rounds of Economic Impact Payments they may have missed.
This tool addresses a major obstacle to accessing payments for people experiencing homelessness, as well as those in housing programs. Providers are encouraged to familiarize themselves with it as soon as possible.
National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) Updates
Emergency Rental Assistance
Guidance on Direct-to-Tenant Emergency Rental Assistance
The CDC eviction moratorium is set to expire at the end of June. Emergency rental assistance (ERA) program administrators must move quickly to assist tenants whose landlords are resistant to receiving rental assistance, so that tenants are not put at risk of eviction and homelessness. Though some program administrators have expressed apprehension about implementing direct-to-tenant payments of assistance, recent guidance from the U.S. Department of Treasury explicitly allows and encourages direct-to-tenant payments. A Treasury memo outlines guidance around direct-to-tenant assistance, program trends, and key considerations. Renters should not lose out on critical assistance due to the unwillingness of landlords or utility companies to participate.
Read more of this article here
NLIHC Sends Letter to Biden Administration Urging Extension of Eviction Moratorium, Whole-of-Government Approach for Distributing Emergency Rental Assistance
NLIHC on June 14 sent a letter calling on the Biden administration to strengthen, extend, and enforce the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) federal eviction moratorium. The letter also urges the administration to implement a whole-of-government approach to distributing emergency rental assistance (ERA) more efficiently and equitably. The eviction moratorium is set to expire on June 30, leaving over six million renter households – predominantly households of color, extremely low-income households, people with disabilities, and other marginalized populations – at heightened risk of eviction and, in worst cases, homelessness.
Read more of this article here
National Housing Law Project Summarizes HUD Emergency Housing Voucher FAQ and Offers Advocacy Tips
The National Housing Law Project (NHLP) released a 12-page “ FAQ and Advocacy Tip Sheet for Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHVs).” HUD’s Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH) has posted frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) program created by the American Rescue Plan Act (see Memo, 6/14). Public housing agencies (PHAs) were eligible to apply for a share of 70,000 EHVs (see Memo, 5/10), and PIH announced EHV allocations available to 696 PHAs (see Memo, 5/17). PIH maintains a list of public housing agencies (PHAs) that applied for and were awarded EHVs on a special EHV website.
Read more of this article here
US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Updates
New CoC and ESG Virtual Binders Available on the HUD Exchange
What Are Virtual Binders?
The Virtual Binders are comprehensive, online training resources that make key information easily available to CoC- and ESG-funded program staff. Each Virtual Binder reflects a range of learning styles and offers a variety of ways to interact with the topics.
The Virtual Binders assist CoC and ESG recipients and subrecipients:
- Understand program regulations and requirements
- Position themselves to operate programs in full compliance of the CoC Interim Rule and the ESG Interim Rule
- Orient and train staff
Topics Covered
Ten binders are available with this initial launch:
There are also 26 At A Glance documents that provide concise guidance on key CoC Interim Rule topics. At A Glance documents are designed to be printed or shared as standalone tools to address specific questions and concerns.
View the CoC and ESG Virtual Binders
Stay Up to Date on the HOME-ARP Program
The American Rescue Plan (ARP) provides $5 billion to assist individuals or households who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, and other vulnerable populations, by providing housing, rental assistance, supportive services, and non-congregate shelter, to reduce homelessness and increase housing stability across the country. These grant funds will be administered through HUD’s HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME).
In the coming months, resources, training, and guidance will be made available to support HOME-ARP Participating Jurisdictions (PJs) and subrecipients. Don't miss out on important updates and information—there are two new ways to stay up to date on the HOME-ARP program:
Outreach Updates
The next mobile vaccination clinic with Visit Healthcare is this Friday, June 25 th at the Web from 2:00pm-3:00pm. Outreach staff will be assisting on the ground as vaccines are administered.
Reminder: The next Outreach Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 23rd at 10 AM.
Please reach out with any questions or comments: [email protected] 907-312-9478
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Case Conferencing and Coordinated Entry Training
If you have any questions about these meetings or are interested in coordinated entry access point training for you or your team, please contact Mac Lyons at [email protected] |
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If you have thoughts or suggestions, we want to hear from you. Please let us know what you think. Email us at [email protected]
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