Saturday, March 5, 2022

NYS OASAS ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY OF MORE THAN $3.2 MILLION TO SUPPORT HOUSING PROVIDERS WHO WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS AFFECTED BY SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER


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 Funding Will Cover Rental Subsidies for Individuals with a History of Substance Use Disorder who are Homeless or at Risk of Homelessness

 The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) today announced the availability of more than $3.2 million in funding for OASAS Permanent Supportive Housing Providers to provide rental subsidies for individuals with a substance use disorder (SUD). This initiative will help provide short-term transitional housing for individuals leaving OASAS residential treatment or correctional facilities who cannot otherwise access permanent housing. Up to $1.44 million is available in the first year of the program, and $1.8 million in the second year.

“A safe place to live is one of the most important factors to staying healthy, especially for people with a history of addiction. But it is an unfortunate reality that many people impacted by addiction face difficulties in securing housing that supports their health,” OASAS Commissioner Chinazo Cunningham said. “OASAS is committed to safe and supportive housing for all those in need across New York State, and we will continue to work to provide New Yorkers with the assistance necessary to succeed in remaining healthy.”

The Transitional Safety Unit initiative is a pilot funding opportunity which will provide rental subsidies for up to two units at the county level fair market rent or actual cost, whichever is lower, for a studio or one-bedroom apartment. This initiative is designed to provide short-term supportive housing, with the goal to help individuals transition to permanent housing. While this funding is only for rental subsidies, providers will still be expected to deliver standard supportive housing services, such as case management, to tenants.

Information about eligibility and available funding for this initiative can be found here.


Senator Pete Harckham said, “The lack of safe housing is an obstacle to sustainable recovery for residents dealing with substance use disorder, whose transition back into daily life can be difficult enough as it is. The rental subsidies OASAS will make available to treatment housing providers will assist residents with their transition and save lives statewide.”

 

Assemblymember Phil Steck said, “New York State invests millions every year in recovery treatment and having access to dependable, safe housing is a critical to part of the recovery process. Releasing a vulnerable person to the street dramatically increases the likelihood of their relapsing, therefore we have a moral obligation to provide those in recovery the tools they need to succeed.” 

New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state’s toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369). 

Available addiction treatment including crisis/detox, inpatient, residential, or outpatient care can be found using the NYS OASAS Treatment Availability Dashboard at FindAddictionTreatment.ny.gov or through the NYS OASAS website.

If you, or a loved one, have experienced insurance obstacles related to treatment or need help filing an appeal for a denied claim, contact the CHAMP helpline by phone at 888-614-5400 or email at ombuds@oasas.ny.gov.

Bronx Chamber of Commerce - Bronx Business News You Can Use

 

Legislative Updates, New Grants, Events and Much More
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(Friday) Extra, Extra
Click here for this week's video, covering:

  • Updates on city & state mandates and other COVID regulations
  • Liquor sales
  • Upcoming event highlights
  • and more!
New York City and State COVID Updates
NYS Governor Kathy Hochul lifted the State's mask mandate for schools on March 2, citing strong vaccination rates, declining trends in new COVID cases, and updated guidance from the CDC.
  
NYC Mayor Eric Adams also officially announced today, March 4 that Key To NYC vaccine requirements and the mask mandate for the City's public school children will be lifted on Monday, March 7, as long as there are no sudden surges in COVID cases (masks will still be required for public school students younger than the vaccine-eligible age of 5 in NYC, however).

This means that restaurants, fitness centers, and other indoor entertainment venues will no longer be required to ask patrons and customers for proof of vaccination (however, private businesses and organizations may choose to continue requesting mask wearing and/or proof of vaccination at their indoor premises). Vaccination requirements and attestation for their employees remain in effect at this time. NYC's public employee vaccine requirement is also expected to remain in place, and masks continue to be required on mass transit.

"We will make proper public health decisions to keep our city safe. We will pivot if we see a reason to change any policies... COVID changes, it shifts, it modifies. We must be open to do the same," Mayor Adams said. "And if we see a rise in cases or hospitalizations, we're going to come back. It's imperative we know this battle is still on."
Hospitality Industry Updates from NYC Hospitality Alliance
The NYC Hospitality Alliance played an instrumental role in passing the recently-enacted Temporary liquor license law and is fighting hard in support of Governor Kathy Hochul's proposal to reinstate “Drinks To Go,” the popular policy that allows restaurants and bars to sell wine and cocktails for takeout and delivery.
 
The Governor announced that as part of her executive budget, she is seeking to double the workforce of the State Liquor Authority that is responsible for processing liquor license applications. The Bronx Chamber and the Alliance applaud the Governor's commitment to directing more resources to SLA to help improve the agency's processing times for liquor license applications.
 
The SLA also recently issued a new ruling that that interprets the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law in a way that will allow beer and wine to be consumed in movie theaters pursuant to a beer and wine license.  

 CLICK HERE to view the Governor's full March 2, 2022 press conference

Grant Opportunities
 NBC 4 New York/WNBC, Telemundo 47/WNJU and the Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation’s Project Innovation grant challenge is returning for a fifth consecutive year. $315,000 in grants are available in this year’s Tri-State grant challenge. Applications accepted starting today through March 25.

Apply For The American Small Business Growth Program
With Wells Fargo’s support, 700 small business owners will get access to the complete SLAP Program – with a value of $4,000 each! While all are welcome to attend the SLAP Bootcamps, only 700 US-based small business owners will get the comprehensive 13 months of support that comes with being enrolled in SLAP.
Don't Miss Our Upcoming Events!
Wed. March 16 6:00 - 8:00pm
St. Patrick's Day Networking Mixer

Jimmy Ryan's
3005 Middletown Road
Bronx, NY 10461

Member Tickets: $20 Future Members: $25



Join the Bronx Chamber and the financial experts at TD Bank for the next workshop in our free BXCC How to Get Bankable Series:
 Establishing and Fixing Business Credit

Tuesday, March 15
9:00 - 10:00am

Register HERE
FREE NYC Small Business Services Webinars
Improve Your Business With QuickBooks
3-Part Series: March 7, 8, & 9
Learn the key features & benefits of QuickBooks accounting software, to help you keep track of daily
transactions, as well as develop financial reports such as Income Statements, Balance Sheets, and Cash Flow Statements during this FREE 3-part workshop.
You will learn how to:
• Set up your chart of accounts
• Record purchases, bills & accounts payable
• Record your sales, receive payments, make deposits
• Create reports to understand business performance
El 9 de marzo a las 10:00am
El Departamento de Servicios para Pequeños Negocios (NYC Department of Small Business Services) lo invita a un taller sobre la certificación M/WBE (Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise) de la ciudad de Nueva York – una certificación para negocios cuyos dueños son mujeres o forman parte de un grupo minoría.

Aprendera sobre:
  • La certificación M/WBE
  • Como registrarse en el Portal de Información del Beneficiario (Payee Information Portal, PIP)
  • Como registrarse y eligir códigos de identificacion para servicios y productos (NIGP)
  • Como iniciar una solicitud para obtener la certificación MWBE

Bronx Chamber Foundation Signature Event
Women of Distinction Scholarship Awards Luncheon
Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope

Friday, March 25, 2022
11:30am - 2:00pm at Villa Barone Manor

Click HERE for Sponsorship Packages
Many thanks to our sponsors:
Con Edison, Ponce Bank, Verizon, The Monroe Foundation, Simone Development, New York Botanical Garden, Orange Bank & Trust Co., KZA Realty, Sandra Erickson Real Estate, Woodlawn Cemetery & Conservancy, and F&F Insurance (list to date)

For Tickets: foundation@bronxchamber.org

Now Hiring
The Bronx Chamber is now hiring two Fellows to add to our outreach team! Please check out the available one-year Fellowship positions, and share with qualified applicants!

  • Click HERE for Restaurant-Hospitality Fellowship Position
  • Click HERE for Business Outreach Fellowship Position
CUNY Internship To Employment Program