Housing First University Upcoming Events
 HFU Upcoming Events Take a look at our upcoming HFU events from now through April 2023. We hope you join us soon! February 2023 Webinars Eviction Prevention Strategies  February 22, 2023 | 2:00PM – 4:15PM ET 11AM PT, 12PM MT, 1PM CT Social Work Practice Level: This course is appropriate for beginner, intermediate, or advanced BSW/ MSW learners Social Work Continuing Education Credit: 2 CE Credits Fees: $20 general registration; additional $5 for registration with social work CE credit Congratulations, you got your client housed! Now, how do you keep them there? The Housing First model was initially developed to serve the individuals in our communities with some of the greatest barriers to success—chronic homelessness, serious and persistent mental illness, substance use disorders, and other disabilities. We know that programs maintaining a high fidelity Housing First practice typically report a housing retention rate of between 85-90%, but this work is not without its challenges. Unwanted guests, noise disturbances, damages, clutter, and unsanitary conditions are just some of the issues property managers, clinicians, and other support professionals contend with in supporting their clients to maintain successful tenancy. In this session, we’ll discuss setting expectations, communication, harm reduction in supportive housing, and strategies for addressing common tenancy challenges. Landlords, program participants, and support staff all share a common goal—keeping people housed! Join us to learn how to preserve your landlord relationships while supporting participant needs and preventing eviction. More Info & Registration March 2023 Webinars Housing First: How & Why It Works  March 7, 2023 | 2:00PM – 4:45PM ET11AM PT, 12PM MT, 1PM CT Social Work Practice Level: This course covers intermediate level material Social Work Continuing Education Credit: 2.5 Fees: $20 general registration; additional $5 for registration with social work CE credit Housing First is an evidence-based program model defined by adherence to 38 distinct fidelity measures. However, most “Housing First” programs in operation today are actually using a less stringent low-barrier approach to housing. In fact, criticisms of the Housing First model are largely rooted in confusion between the two. As one might guess, programs straying from fidelity to the evidenced-based model cannot anticipate achieving comparable success rates, such as 85-90% housing retention after five years. In this session, presenters will assist attendees with examining the intricacies of how a high fidelity Housing First program actually operates. Presenters will invite attendees to assess their agency’s current fidelity to the model, explore common deviations from fidelity among low-barrier housing programs, and identify ways to improve service outcomes through aligning service provision more closely with evidence-based practice. Attendees will explore the importance of participant self-determination, interdisciplinary staff, community inclusion, supported employment, and integrated care all as parts of the Housing First model. Ample time will be allotted for Q&A. More Info & Registration Harm Reduction & the Therapeutic Alliance: Responding to Recurrence of Use  March 23, 2023 | 1:00PM – 3:15PM ET10AM PT, 11AM MT, 12PM CT Social Work Practice Level: This course covers intermediate-level material Social Work Continuing Education Credit: 2 Fees: $20 general registration; additional $5 for registration with social work CE credit. Relationships impact outcomes. As such, we know that open and honest communication can lead to increased safety for those engaged in high risk behavior. In this session, we’ll explore the bond between provider and participant as one of the primary vehicles for positive change. Centering our approach in authenticity, collaboration, and compassion, attendees will explore strategies for building and maintaining a therapeutic alliance with individuals managing substance use disorders, serious mental illness, and other behavioral health challenges. Presenters will contrast themes of “accountability” and “enabling” with the importance of rapport, empathy, and unconditional positive regard. We will review practical applications of harm reduction skills in clinical interactions and touch on the intersections of harm reduction and abstinence-based recovery models. Presenters will discuss strategies to help individuals explore their relationship to risk behaviors in a manner that emphasizes safety, connection, and bodily autonomy, while decreasing stigma and shame. More Info & Registration April 2023 Webinars Uncovering Implicit Bias  April 11, 2023 | 12:00PM – 2:15PM ET9AM PT, 10AM MT, 11PM CT Social Work Practice Level: This course is appropriate for beginner, intermediate, or advanced BSW/ MSW learners Social Work Continuing Education Credit: 2 Fees: $20 general registration; additional $5 for registration with social work CE credit As service providers, we often engage with and serve marginalized communities. Though our stated values may be to positively support the people we serve, our unconscious biases may present a barrier to developing a trusting and meaningful rapport with our clients. This training aims to help participants expose their own implicit biases and offers key strategies to mitigate the impact of those biases for the people we serve. Practical tools for self-awareness and intervention will be explored in a safe and non-judgmental space. More Info & Registration Service Providers in Recovery and Harm Reduction: The challenges and rewards  April 26, 2023 | 1:00PM – 3:15PM ET10AM PT, 11AM MT, 12PM CT Social Work Practice Level: This course is appropriate for beginner and intermediate BSW/ MSW learners. Social Work Continuing Education Credit: 2 Fees: $20 general registration; additional $5 for registration with social work CE credit Supporting people who use drugs requires a recognition of the multiple pathways of recovery that are possible. A harm reduction approach is a central ingredient in helping people define their own recovery. Service providers with lived experience are often the most well-equipped to develop the therapeutic relationship necessary to use this approach, yet may have been drawn to this work through an abstinence-based recovery journey. This session explores how staff in recovery utilize lived experience to support substance users in harm reduction spaces. It addresses the challenges staff encounter in the field and how organizations can support them. Presenters will lead a discussion with attendees about how lived experience impacts their work as service providers. More Info & Registration Learn More About All Our Webinars Here     [HousingFirstUniversity.org] |
Lancaster County Housing & Redevelopment Authorities
What We Do
The Lancaster County Reentry Coalition (LCRC) is a robust, diverse, and growing collaborative of stakeholders united by a shared vision and engaged in a shared mission. Each stakeholder has a unique and important role yet is committed to collectively implementing this shared plan to ensure successful reentry opportunities exist for every re-entrant returning to their communities from jail or prison.
Vision Statement
Lancaster County will welcome individuals who transition from prison or jail back into their communities and provide them with every opportunity for success.
Mission Statement
Lancaster County Reentry Coalition serves to cultivate community engagement, collaboration, coordination, and capacity building to ensure that all individuals who transition from prison or jail have the opportunity to successfully return to their communities.
Steering Committee
| Chief Ed Cunningham, Chair Elizabethtown Police/Second Chance | Judy Erb, Administrator, Lancaster County Behavioral Health and Developmental Services |
| James Severson, Vice Chair, Reentrant, Men’s General Manager of The Way Recovery Houses, Reentry Team in York County for Wellspan Health | Deb Jones, Director of Human Services, Lancaster County Redevelopment Authority |
| Carrie Kurtz, Director of Reentry Planning & Coordination | Scott Theurer, CRS-S, Reentrant |
| Cheryl Steberger, Lancaster County Prison | Scooter Haase, previous LCRC Chair |
| Shawn McNichol, Lancaster County Drug and Alcohol Commission | Eric Kennel, Compass Mark |
| Jen Koppel, Penn Medicine | Brett Cole, Deputy Chief, Adult Probation/Parole |
| Larry George, County Commissioner’s Office | Tara Loew, Apprenticeship and Training Office Director State of PA |
| Tim Shenk, Lancaster / Lebanon IU13 |
Reentry Resource Guide
The Reentry Resource Guide provides resources for reentrants and those that work with them in Lancaster County and is updated continually. If you have any questions or would like to request revisions, please email Carrie Kurtz at ckurtz@lchra.com.
Contact: For more information on barriers reentrants face or to partner in the work of reentry, contact: Carrie Kurtz, Director of Reentry Planning & Coordination of the LCRC, ckurtz@lchra.com, (717) 394-0793 x 122
Summary of Impact Group Priorities
The LCRC is supported by the Lancaster County Redevelopment Authority
Manor at Market Square – Welcoming New Residents
 |
Our award-winning community has immediate availability!  MEMORY CARE Female Shared and Male Shared INDEPENDENT LIVING/PERSONAL CARE Limited Availability Shared and Private Studio and One-Bedroom Apartments EMAIL CHRISTINE FOR MORE DETAILS Or call Christine at Manor at Market Square at 610-816-0900.  |
| 803 Penn Street, Reading, PA 19601 • 610-816-0900 • www.manoratms.com We are an equal opportunity housing provider. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status or disability. |
Fairness in PA Housing
| APRIL 29, 2022 Fairness in PA Housing Includes People of All Ages, Abilities, and Income LevelsThe Department of Human Services (DHS) believes that housing is a right for all Pennsylvanians. Our mission is to ensure that housing assistance is available to all, especially those who need it most. April is National Fair Housing Month. April 11, 2022, marked the 54th anniversary of the enactment of the federal Fair Housing Act, which protects people from discrimination when they are renting or buying a home, getting a mortgage, seeking housing assistance, or engaging in other housing-related activities. Initially, the Fair Housing Act prohibited discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, and national origin. Later, the Act’s protections were expanded to include discrimination on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, and familial status. Pennsylvania has a variety of housing programs and services that can help older adults, people with disabilities, individuals and families with low incomes, or those who are at-risk of or experiencing, homelessness. These programs can connect individuals and families with local assistance in finding somewhere to live, in-home supports, home modifications, and more.Housing Quick Reference Guide | Spanish — DHSSupports and Services for People Experiencing Homelessness — DHS What Type of Housing Assistance is Available? Here are some of the types of services that exist:Housing search — Tools to locate housing in your area.Homeless shelters — Temporary residences for individuals and families experiencing homelessness.Short-term housing — Housing options that typically offer leases of less than six months.Relocation assistance — Assistance with downsizing and relocation.Assisted living facilities — A long-term senior care option that provides personal care support services such as meals, medication management, bathing, dressing and transportation.Housing modifications — Assistance with home improvements, modifications, and repairs that improve the accessibility, adaptability, and/or design of a home.Home and community-based supports — Services that provide assistance with a variety of activities to help individuals remain in their home or community. Housing Resources for PennsylvaniansPennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) Housing Resources www.phfa.org In the Quick Start Housing Resources section, PHFA and the Self-Determination Housing Project’s Regional Housing Coordinators have compiled local housing and social services resources for every county across the Commonwealth, including variety of housing providers such as housing authorities, homeless services providers, access home modification programs, community action agencies, and more. PA Housing Search www.pahousingsearch.com | 1-877-428-8844 This is a free, online rental and homeownership service that helps people search for housing by topics such as rent amount, area of interest, accessibility, or availability of public transportation. A bi-lingual, toll-free number is also available. On the website, you can also find additional statewide information and resources, including a rental checklist, rent calculator, information on services, transportation, FAQs related to renting, and much more. Public Housing Authorities www.hud.gov/pennsylvania If you need public housing assistance or information about public housing programs, such as Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs), please contact your local public housing authority (PHA). The HCV program is the federal government’s major program that assists families with with low incomes, older adults, and individuals with disabilities obtain safe and sanitary housing in the private housing market. Pennsylvania’s list of PHAs and contact information can be found at the above link. PA LINK to Community Care www.dhs.pa.gov/PA-Community-Care Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRC) are a nationwide effort to assist older adults and individuals with disabilities who need help with activities of daily living. The ADRC in Pennsylvania is known as the Link. The PA Link can: easily connect you to local services through any LINK partner agency; help you explore existing options to ensure a secure plan for independence; assist you with applications to determine eligibility; and help you remain in, or return to, your community. Rural Development Multi-Family Rental Housing Search Tool rdmfhrentals.sc.egov.usda.gov The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s web-based rural housing search tool allows you to click on your county to find information about housing in your area. 2-1-1 United Way www.pa211.org | Call: 2-1-1 PA 2-1-1 is a free resource and information hub that can connect you with customized health, housing, and human services information. By calling 211, you can receive information related to food, housing, employment, health care, along with a variety of other services. PA 2-1-1 also provides a 24/7 confidential phone service and website. For individuals facing a housing crisis, you can also ask for support in learning how to connect to your community’s Coordinated Entry lead and partner agencies. 2-1-1 provides this services in some communities, and can connect you to resources. DHS Emergency Rental Assistance Program dhs.pa.gov/ERAP The Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) was created to help renters dealing with financial challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic. For eligible households, the program offers rental and utility assistance to help Pennsylvanians avoid eviction or loss of utility service. Certain PA counties may still have funding available to help landlords and renters at risk of eviction or losing utility services because of the COVID-19 pandemic.File a Complaint Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) In Pennsylvania, fair housing is enforced by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC), under the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (PHRA). The Act prohibits housing discrimination in the sale, rental, finance, or otherwise to deny or withhold any housing accommodation or commercial property from any person based on race, color, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, disability, sex, familial status, or use of a supportive/service animal for a disability. If you feel you have been the victim of illegal housing and commercial property discrimination, file a complaint or report a bias incident to PHRC: Call the Pennsylvania Fair Housing Hotline at 855-866-5718.Call 717-787-4410 | 717-787-7279 (TTY)Visit one of PHRC’s three regional offices. (Regional offices are currently closed due to COVID-19 precautions. Drop boxes for required forms are available in the lobby of the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh offices.)Pennsylvania Attorney General The Civil Rights Enforcement Section of the PA Attorney General’s Office protects and advances the rights of Pennsylvanians through the enforcement of state and federal civil rights laws. The office reviews every complaint of a civil rights violation to determine the proper response.Submit a Civil Rights ComplaintView the Civil Rights Enforcement Section BrochureAdditional Fair Housing Resources Fair Housing in Pennsylvania — PA Department of Economic Development (DCED)Fair Housing and Lending — PA Attorney General UPDATE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION Did you move? Have a new phone number? Keep the lines of communications open with DHS to receive critical updates concerning your benefits.LOG IN TO COMPASS TO MAKE UPDATES More from DHS Follow DHS on Social@PAHumanServices@PAHumanServicesPA Department of Human ServicesThank you for subscribing!All of us at DHS would like to extend a heartfelt “thank you” to all of our readers as we continue to serve, protect, and educate Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable. If you’re not a DHS regular yet, be sure to follow us on social and visit our For All of Us blog for more reads.DHS & PA Headlines• Department of Human Services Recognizes Holistic Supports in Child Abuse Prevention — PennWatch • State needs ‘continued investment’ in assisted living, department says — McKnights Senior Living |
| Copyright © 2022 Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you have been identified as a DHS stakeholder. Thank you for following the latest news from DHS. Our mailing address is:Pennsylvania Department of Human ServicesP.O. Box 2675Harrisburg, Pa 17105-2675Add us to your address book |
Berks - Lancaster - Lebanon LINK Service Area 
Recent Comments