Author: Jason Thorpe

City of Tucson Issues Request for Letters of Interest from Qualified Agencies to Provide CARES Act Summer Heat Relief Day Services for People Experiencing Homelessness

Responses Due: June 7, 2021 – 12PM AZ Time

On May 26, 2021, the City of Tucson released a Request for Letters of Interest from eligible non-profit agencies with capacity and experience to operate summer heat relief day services for people experiencing homelessness through Federal CARES Act allocations awarded through the HUD Community Development Block Grant program.

Download the Request for Letters of Interest.

Questions about this solicitation should be directed to Jodie Barnes at Jodie.Barnes@tucsonaz.gov.

 

New Resource for TPCH Members!  We are excited to announce the launch of the TPCH Online Training Center.  This e-learning platform includes more than 30 on-demand webinars and training modules related to housing and homelessness and is provided as a free resource to TPCH member agencies.  Over the coming months, we will continue to add training topics of interest to our members. We encourage you to check out the training center by following the link above or visiting www.tpch.net and selecting E-Learning at the top of our homepage.  In order to access online training content, users will need to register by providing their name, email, and the TPCH member organization with which they are affiliated.  Accounts will be activated within 2-3 business days of registration and upon verification of the organization’s TPCH membership. Available Courses Opioids & Medication Assisted Treatment 101 Suicide Prevention Coordinated Entry Competency Training Series Coordinated Entry Phased Assessment Training Series Reducing Intake Trauma COVID-19 Vaccine Ambassadorship Head Start Resources for Families Domestic Abuse 101 Intersections of HIV & Intimate Partner Violence Series Trauma-Informed Care Trauma-Informed Practices in Shelters Harm Reduction Human Trafficking 101 Sex Trafficking 101 Education Resources for Youth & Families Indirect Costs Recovery in HUD Programs Youth Collaboration Training Series Race Equity 101 Training Series Fair Housing Core Principles of Housing First & Rapid Rehousing Rapid Rehousing Institute Training Series Courses Coming Soon Continuum of Care Program Eligible Costs Continuum of Care Program Eligible Activities Emergency Solutions Grant Eligible Costs Emergency Solutions Grant Eligible Activities Housing Quality Standards Inspector Training LGBTQ+ Competencies Training Series Advocacy 101 Interviewing Skills Secondary Trauma Crisis Intervention Techniques/Dispute Resolution Using Data for Decisions Social Security Insurance for People Experiencing Homelessness Want to access training but not a TPCH member?  Encourage your organization to join TPCH.  Learn more about membership options and benefits at www.tpch.net/join.

Join TPCH & the U.S. Social Security Administration for our Upcoming Workshop: Social Security Benefits & Applications

Wednesday, May 26, 2021 @ 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Click here to register online. 

The U.S. Social Security Administration has launched streamlined approaches for enrolling people experiencing homelessness and other vulnerable groups in social security insurance benefits. This training will provide an overview of the application process and eligibility to help homeless service providers assist eligible persons to apply for and enroll in social security benefits.

Presented by Jack Burns, U.S. Social Security Administration

Cost

This training is free and open to homeless service agency staff and volunteers in Arizona.

Click here to register online. 

Join TPCH & Arizona Housing Coalition for our Upcoming Workshop: Secondary Trauma

Tuesday, June 15, 2021 @ 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM

Click here to register online through the Arizona Housing Coalition. 

This workshop will introduce direct service staff to the causes, symptoms and experiences of secondary/vicarious trauma and its impact on helping professionals. Participants will learn to identify common warning signs and symptoms of vicarious trauma along with self-care practices and strategies to prevent and recover from vicarious trauma.

Presented by Nicole Lance and Eric Bailey of Extraordinary Balance.

Cost

This training is free for members of TPCH and/or the Arizona Housing Coalition.  The training is open to the public with a cost of $30 per participant for attendees who are not members of TPCH or the Arizona Housing Coalition.

This training is provided by the Arizona Housing Coalition in partnership and with funding provided by the City of Tucson and Tucson Pima Collaboration to End Homelessness.

Join TPCH & Arizona Housing Coalition for our Upcoming Workshop: Using Data for Decisions

Wednesday, June 2, 2021 @ 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM

Click here to register online through the Arizona Housing Coalition. 

Adding a data lens to your organization’s toolkit has the potential to act as a catalyst for informed change. However, these efforts must be intentional and run deeply within an organization. This can be a challenge when terms like “data” and “evaluation” are being used so frequently (sometimes missing the necessary intention) and without much clarity as to where you should start!

This workshop will begin by establishing the WHY for being a data-informed organization and conclude by providing you with foundational tools for cultivating a culture of inquiry using data. We will also discuss the funder-grantee dynamic, and how alignment is needed to build capacity for these efforts. Our holistic approach prioritizes key partnerships and stakeholders, sustainability of efforts, and the thoughtful use of data.

Facilitators
Melissa Kovacs, PhD, PStat – FirstEval, LLC
Deven Wisner, MS – Viable Insights

Cost

This training is free for members of TPCH and/or the Arizona Housing Coalition.  The training is open to the public with a cost of $30 per participant for attendees who are not members of TPCH or the Arizona Housing Coalition.

This training is provided by the Arizona Housing Coalition in partnership and with funding provided by the City of Tucson and Tucson Pima Collaboration to End Homelessness.

Join TPCH for our Quarterly Membership/General Council Meetings on Thursday, May 13. 

3pm-5pm (virtual meeting conducted using Zoom) 

This meeting will be held virtually and pre-registration is required. Register online at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUoc–pqz4oE9SJ3nIhi-aPRHLfnJ484UTF. After registering, you will receive an automated email with details to access the meeting.

Summary Meeting Agenda

Community Celebrations
Facilitated by Daniela Figueroa, CoC Board Chairperson

Social Security Insurance Expedited Access for Vulnerable Populations
Presented by Jack Burns, Social Security Administration

TPCH Online Training Center Overview
Presented by Brandi Champion, CoC Lead Agency (City of Tucson)

Quarterly Update on TPCH Activities
Presented by Jason Thorpe, CoC Lead Agency (City of Tucson)

TPCH Committee and Coalition Updates
Presented by Committee and Committee Leaders

Follow the links below or visit https://old.tpch.net/about/general-council/
to download meeting agenda and materials.

Meeting Materials

Download the May 13 General Council Meeting Agenda

Download List of Current TPCH Voting Members as of May 2021

Download the Draft February 11, 2021 General Council Meeting Minutes

TPCH Indirect Cost Recovery Training for CoC and ESG Projects April 8, 2021    –    1pm-2:30pm Click here to register. Confused about indirect costs and how to charge them, including the use of the recent de minimus option? HUD’s Office of Special Needs Assistance Programs (SNAPS) has released the Indirect Cost Toolkit for CoC and ESG Programs technical assistance product! During this TPCH webinar, recipients and sub-recipients for Continuum of Care (CoC)—including Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP)—and Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) programs can learn about indirect costs under 2 CFR 200 and how to calculate, allocate, and charge them based on HUD’s recently released guidance. This training is excellent for organizational management, finance, and grants staff at organizations providing services through HUD’s Continuum of Care Program, Emergency Solutions Grant Program, Domestic Violence Bonus Program, and Youth Homelessness Demonstration Project. Click here to download to the HUD Indirect Cost Toolkit for CoC and ESG Projects.  Click here to register for TPCH’s April 8 Indirect Cost webinar.

Click here to register.

As of March 25, 2021, all people experiencing homelessness are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in Pima County.  Vaccines are being provided at multiple vaccination clinics and through pop-up vaccination events at congregate shelters, day programs, and meal sites. Join TPCH, Pima County Health Department, and El Rio Community Health Center for an informative training about COVID-19 vaccine options for people experiencing homelessness.

• Learn basic information about each of the COVID-19 vaccines available in Pima County
• Find out how people experiencing homelessness can schedule a vaccine appointment or receive a vaccine at pop-up homeless vaccination events
• Hear about common vaccine concerns and fears that lead to vaccine hesitancy
• Learn effective messages and tips you can use as a vaccine ambassador to help people experiencing homelessness build vaccine confidence and get vaccinated

This two-hour training is perfect for homeless services staff in street outreach, shelter, day center, meal site, and housing programs, as well as people with lived experience of homelessness and other trusted community leaders including faith leaders, librarians, and others who interact regularly with people experiencing homelessness.

Click here to register for the April 2 Vaccine Options and Ambassadorship training. 

***March 25, 2021****

All people experiencing homelessness are now eligible for COVID-19 vaccination in Pima County.  People experiencing homelessness have three options to access the COVID-19 vaccine:

Homeless Vaccination Pop-Ups:  El Rio Community Health Center is conducting vaccination pop-up events at community shelters, day centers, and meal sites.  Approximately 200 doses of the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine are being distributed to people experiencing homelessness at pop-up events weekly.

Vaccination pop-up events are only for people experiencing homelessness and are not published.  These events are held in congregate shelters and other places people experiencing homelessness already gather.  If you are not experiencing homelessness, you will not be able to receive a vaccine at these events.  If you are a local shelter or day program and interested in learning more about these events, please email tpch@tucsonaz.gov.

Scheduling through Pima County Health Department: People experiencing homelessness can also schedule appointments for vaccination at any of the Pima County Health Department’s three main vaccination sites (below).  If you schedule an appointment at one of these locations, you will likely receive the Pfizer or Moderna two-dose vaccine. This will require you to make an appointment for a second dose within 2-4 weeks (depending on the vaccine you receive).

Tucson Convention Center (Walk-through)

260 S. Church Avenue, Tucson, AZ

Register online at https://register.vaccine.pima.gov/. (Email address required)

Register by phone: call (520) 222-0199 (Mon-Fri, 8:30am-8pm, Sat & Sun, 9am-4pm)

Tucson Medical Center: (Drive-Thru)

2597 N. Wyatt Drive, Lot 29, Tucson, AZ

Register online at https://register.vaccine.pima.gov/. (Email address required)

Register by phone: call (520) 222-0199 (Mon-Fri, 8:30am-8pm, Sat & Sun, 9am-4pm)

Banner South – Kino Stadium (Drive-Thru)

2500 E. Ajo Way, Tucson, AZ

Register online at https://www.bannerhealth.com/staying-well/health-and-wellness/wellness/covid/pima-county-vaccine.

Register by phone: call 1-833-509-0908

Stay up to date on news and information regarding COVID-19 and vaccination at the Pima County Health Department’s COVID-19 vaccination page.

Scheduling through State of Arizona (University of Arizona): People experiencing homelessness can also schedule vaccine appointments at the State of Arizona’s University of Arizona vaccine center.  If you schedule an appointment at one of these locations, you will likely receive the Pfizer or Moderna two-dose vaccine.  This will require you to make an appointment for a second dose within 2-4 weeks (depending on the vaccine you receive).

Schedule an appointment online (email address required) at https://podvaccine.azdhs.gov/.

Schedule by phone: call 1-844-542-8201

Schedule with Southern Arizona VA (Veterans): U.S. Veterans experiencing homelessness can schedule a vaccine appointment with the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS).

Sign up to schedule an appointment online at https://www.va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine/stay-informed (email address required).

Schedule by phone: call (520)  629-4729

Help TPCH Get the Word Out to People Experiencing Homelessness – Become a TPCH Vaccine Ambassador today.  Click the image below to learn more. 

 

The American Rescue Plan signed into law on March 11 includes another round of direct payments to individuals and families. People who do not have a permanent address or do not typically file taxes, known as nonfilers, are still eligible to receive a stimulus check.

On March 24, 2021, TPCH published Don’t Miss Out: A Guide to the 2021 Economic Impact Payments for People Experiencing Homelessness.  The guide provides information about the 2021 Economic Impact Payments for people experiencing homelessness. It includes answers to commonly asked questions and local resources to help people experiencing homelessness receive Economic Impact Payments if they are eligible. This guide also provides steps people experiencing homelessness can take if they were eligible for the first or second Economic Impact Payments in 2020 but did not receive them.

Click here to download the guide to share with homeless advocates and people experiencing homelessness.

Special Considerations for People Experiencing Homelessness

For the second and third round of payments, people who receive disability support or are part of other federal programs, should not need to take any additional steps to receive their check. The federal government will automatically issue checks to people who are part of these federal programs:

• Social Security Old-Age retirement, Survivors or Disability Insurance
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Railroad Retirement Board benefits
• Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits

For nonfilers, the IRS will use 2019 records, including anyone who used the IRS nonfiler tool (which is now closed) to claim a first or second stimulus check. The IRS has not yet confirmed when payments for nonfilers will be issued. For more information, please visit the IRS’s Get My Payment Frequently Asked Questions.

For those individuals and families for which the IRS already has bank information, they will most likely receive a direct deposit into their bank account. Others may receive a paper check or debit card. People without a permanent address can use the address of a shelter, friend, or family member.