2. What is the Supportive Housing Connection (SHC)?
Collaboration between NJDHS and NJHMFA to provide
landlord outreach and training
rental and other housing assistance
unit referrals and inspections
resident inquiry resolution services to consumers receiving NJDHS rental subsidies

3. What is NJHMFA? NJ’s largest affordable housing funding agency
Independent state agency established in 1964, under the NJ Department of Community Affairs, with assets of $4.5 billion and no reliance on state for operating $
Mission is to finance safe, decent, affordable housing and contribute to the quality of life of the disabled and those with special housing needs
Major Program Divisions
Multifamily
Tax Credit Services
Supported Housing and Special Needs
Property Management
Tech Services
Single Family
Contract Administration

4. Supported Housing and Special Needs
Provides funding for construction and rehabilitation of housing for individuals with special needs
Partners with Department of Human Services, Department of Children and Families, NJ State Parole Board and other state and local agencies to create supportive housing in NJ
Financed 2,000+ permanent supportive and transitional housing units, accounting for 2,250+ special needs beds in NJ over the last 20 years
About 700 beds created for consumers of mental health services
About 600 beds were created for individuals with developmental disabilities
About 330 transitional housing beds
Homeownership opportunities for 34 individuals with developmental disabilities
This division has provided homeownership financing to over 40 families who have adopted children through the old DYFS, which is presently called DCF

5. Supported Housing and Special Needs
Population Served:
Individuals with mental illness
Individuals with physical disabilities
Individuals with developmental disabilities
Individuals with HIV/AIDS
Individuals in treatment for substance abuse
Victims of domestic violence
Runaway and homeless youth
Individuals and families who are homeless
Disabled and homeless veterans
Ex-offenders and youth offenders
Youth aging out of foster care

6. Property Management Division
Monitors approx. 50,000 units in the Agency’s portfolio
Ensures financial and physical integrity of these properties and their compliance with federal occupancy regulations

7. Partnership with NJDHS
Partners since 1989
NJHMFA provides the capital financing for projects while DHS provides the operating and Service Funding
The two entities have collaborated on the following programs:
1989 – Transitional Housing Revolving Loan Program
1996 – NJ Community Housing Demonstration Program
2005 – Special Needs Housing Trust Fund
2012 – Special Needs Housing Partnership Loan Program
2013 – Sandy Special Needs Housing Fund
Coming Soon – Supportive Housing Connection

8. What is NJDHS?
The NJDHS and its eight divisions provide programs and services designed to give eligible individuals and families the help they need to find permanent solutions
Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD)
Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS)
Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CBVI)
Division of Aging Services (DoAS)
Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DDHH)
Division of Disability Services (DDS)
Division of Family Development (DFD)
Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services (DMAHS)
Largest state agency in NJ serving approx. one out of every six state residents
Seniors
Individuals and families with low incomes
People with mental illnesses, addictions, developmental disabilities, or late-onset disabilities
People who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind
Parents needing child care services, child support and/or healthcare for their children
Families facing catastrophic medical expenses for their children

9. What is NJDHS?
Works in partnership with the Administration on initiatives including: 
Medicaid reform
Advancing supported placement of individuals with developmental disabilities and mental illness in the community
Creating employment opportunities for people with disabilities
Sustaining the safety-net of services made available for the state's older population, and individuals and families with low income

10. DHS Division of Developmental Disabilities: New Vision for Support Across the Life Course
OLD WORLD
NEW WORLD
Multiple Service Plans
Inconsistent Policies
Multiple Rates
Contract Reimbursement
State-Only Funding
Limited Service Options
Limited Support Budgets
Limited Flexibility
Slots/Referrals
Waiting Lists
Multiple Assessments
Single Service Plan
Consistent Policies
Consistent Rates
Fee For Service
Federal Funding Match
Expanded Service Options
Expanded Support Budgets
Increased Flexibility
Individual Choice
Access to Services
Single Assessment

11. SUPPORTIVE HOUSING – NEW WORLD SUPPORTIVE HOUSING – OLD WORLD
Lease-Based Housing,
Not Contingent on Services
SINGLE PROVIDER =
Housing +
Supportive Services
Supportive Services Through Social Service Providers

12. Personal Expenses Housing v. Services v. Rent
House designed by <a href=" Chuchla</a> from the <a href=" Project</a>
Handshake designed by <a href=" Pavlov</a> from the <a href=" Project</a>
Clothing designed by <a href=" Fibonacci</a> from the <a href=" Project</a>
Rent
Provided by support services provider agencies
Food
Clothing

13. DHS’s Role in SHC Set policy Provide (rental) subsidy funding
Determine who is eligible for subsidy
Determine subsidy terminations

14. Functions of the SHC Unit referrals
Housing inspections – HUD Housing Quality Standards (HQS)
Rental Subsidy Amount Determination
Rental Subsidy Payments
Resident Inquiry Resolutions

15. SHC Benefits
Assist social service providers with the separation of housing and services
Provide a centralized location for rental subsidy administration, payment, and unit inspections
Connect DHS clients to broader pool of housing opportunities via New Jersey Housing Resource Center (NJHRC)
Assist in mediation of landlord/tenant issues

16. Housing Search Assistance
Tenant responsible for finding unit
NJHRC is a searchable, interactive online database of affordable and accessible housing units available in NJ
Available in 72 languages
Spanish and English Toll-Free Call Center
30 general and advanced search fields

17. Landlord Recruitment
SHC will work with Social Serve to recruit new landlords to participate in this program
SHC will provide training and assistance to new and existing landlords

18. Housing Inspections Based on HUD Housing Quality Standards (HQS)
Conduct:
Prior to move-in
Annually
As needed

19. Rental Subsidy Determination
Conduct to DHS standards:
Initially
Annually
Every 6 months for consumers with no income
Determine consumer’s contribution to rent and rental subsidy portion
Review packets submitted by tenant with assistance of Social Service Provider

20. Subsidy Payments Rental Subsidy Other DHS approved one-time funding
Furniture Stipend
Fire Suppression
Security Deposits
Utility Startup funds

21. Inquiry Resolution
Tenants and landlords must try to resolve issues themselves first
If that does not work, the SHC can help resolve issues

22. Provider/Tenant Role
Tenant will communicate with the SHC in the event of a housing issue
Income documents and other forms will be submitted to the SHC
Provider will assist tenant with communications with SHC
Provider will assist tenant with viewing housing units

23. Landlord’s Role
Sign and adhere to Landlord Agreement and accompanying package
Participate in training, if necessary
Maintain units to HUD Housing Quality Standards

24. Timeline
Begins 2015
New rental subsidies coming online will be integrated into the SHC first
Existing participants will be notified and assisted through the transition

25. Questions? Contact Us! SHC@njhmfa.state.nj.us 1-800-NJHOUSE
Sign up to receive SHC s at