05.25.2020
Happy Memorial Day

We honor those who sacrificed thier lives for this country including those who fought and continue to fight on the front lines of this pandemic you are all our heroes!

News from Springfield:

The General Assembly , in the early hours on Sunday, May 24 passed HA5 to SB264 the FY21 Budget including $41,796,900 million for Supportive Housing Services, an increase of 1.5% from FY20, and goes to the Governor who is expected to sign it. This budget is based on borrowing from the Federal Government which may not happen yet gives authority to send money including direction over any federal assistance.

SHPA wishes to Thank the General Assembly and the Administration in seeing the critical importance of funding for Human Services, including supportive housing services.

Thank you to our coalition partners and all of you for your calls and letters your voices always make a difference. However, our work does not stop here. We must continue to raise our voices and ensure that your work continues to remain in the spotlight and reflects the ongoing importance of prioritization for payment. More to come..

In the meantime, we will be sending out information on how to contact legislators for their support.

Additional allocations of Interest:

CAPITOL 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:

WEBINAR

Supportive Housing Systems Integration

This webinar will discuss the importance and benefits of working with other large system for supportive housing residents, agencies, and the overall sector.

The focus will be on the Health, Justice and Child Welfare & School systems with an emphasis on the 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.

Thursday, June 4
1:00p - 3:00p CST

SHPA Members - FREE
Supportive Housing Residents - FREE
IDHS Supportive Housing (Homeless & DMH) Grantees - FREE
Non-Members & Others - $15.00

Training facilitated by:

Register Here

For more information contact:
Aaron Eldridge Sr. at a.eldridge@shpa-il.org or
Jennifer M. Orban at j.orban@shpa-il.org
you may reach them at (217) 321-2476

SOARing Over Lunch!

Tuesday, May 26, 2020
1:00 p.m. ET

During this time of social distancing, we have added an additional SOARing Over Lunch call for the month of May!
Our next SOARing Over Lunch call is scheduled for Tuesday, May 26, at 1:00 p.m. ET.
Please join us for this informal call to have your SOAR questions answered directly by the SAMHSA SOAR TA Center! While there is no agenda set in advance for these calls, we do want your ideas! Please e-mail us at soar@prainc.com to submit any questions and/or topics that you would like us to discuss.
** These are listen-only calls.**
Participants will type questions into a chat box and listen to the presentation via computer speakers.
Log-in: h ttps://prainc.adobeconnect.com/soaringoverlunch2/
Choose Listen Only on the bottom right of the Join Audio Conference box.*
*If you don't have computer speakers, please contact us for phone access: soar@prainc.com.

Add SOARing Over Lunch to Your Outlook Calendar

7 graduate students in colorful clothing, smiling with a tree in the background. Most holding laptops or mobile devices.

Application period reopened until June 19th!

Get funded for your graduate student research project!

TIME SENSITIVE -- PLEASE DISTRIBUTE WIDELY

Interested in finding out more about the Analyzing Relationships between Disability, Rehabilitation and Work (ARDRAW) Small Grant Program? Sign up to attend one of our informational webinars:

Applications for Research Stipends Due: Friday, June 19, 2020

For more information and to apply: https://ardraw.policyresearchinc.org

Substance Use Disorder Services & Community Bright Spot

COMMUNITY BRIGHT SPOT:

Philanthropic organizations and charitable donors in Illinois have long been an incredible resource for vulnerable families throughout the state. When COVID-19 first began impacting our communities and State facilities, their support was vital to the families suffering the most.

In particular, the Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund, which has raised and distributed $30 million to date, has been life-saving during the pandemic. In collaboration with the Office of the Governor, the United Way of Illinois, and the Alliance of Illinois Community Foundations, funding has been distributed to nonprofit organizations that serve individuals, families, and communities across Illinois who have been hit hardest. Through these funds, the goal has been to support residents in need of emergency food and basic supplies, interim housing and shelter, primary health care services, and nonprofit safety and operations assistance.

This assistance has brought some needed relief to Illinois’ 16 Child Care Resources & Referral (CCRR) agencies and to many community providers. CCRR agencies are hubs of coordination for diverse child care services, supports and activities in their service delivery areas. During the pandemic, CCRRs have provided great resources to families, and I am excited to share more about their impact in today’s Bright Spot.

Today’s Bright Spot: Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (CCRR)
With a daily charge to administer the Child Care Assistance Program, CCRRs have been leading the way in providing guidance and support to community organizations that are serving families during this difficult time.

Through the Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund, providers were able to distribute debit cards to families in need. Given the constraints of stay-at-home requirements, these providers had to be especially innovative in how they engaged their clients. For example, staff from the Children’s Home & Aid (CHA) in Chicago set up in a Panera parking lot.

This funding brought critical support for families, with providers focusing on those experiencing homelessness, clients exiting child welfare, and families with a special needs child. Recipients were very grateful, with one family sharing the following in a handwritten note to the Illinois Network of Child Care Resources and Referral Agencies:
“Thank you to the agency and those who contributed in this donation. May God continue to bless you. From the bottom of my heart and on behalf of my two daughters, Emily & Angelica, thank you. Also thank you to Norma for all of your support. Many thanks.”

Congratulations to CCRRs for helping many families to continue accessing food, safe housing, and other essential needs. Thank you for your leadership.

Sincerely,
Grace B. Hou

Secretary, IDHS

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Federal Partners & Updates:

OTHER Announcements:

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.

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

(schedules subject to change as determined by committee chairs)

For more information on how to participate please contact SHPA staff at
(217) 321-2476

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@SHPA_IL