On March 25th, the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) released a Request for Applications (RFA) for providers seeking to expand Supportive Individual Residential Alternative (IRA) Residential Habilitation and Family Care opportunities within their existing certified residential programs. Grant funding may be used to invest in existing capacity, develop new capacity, and/or support people who want to move to a more independent and integrated setting. OPWDD intends to release a separate RFA focused on developing capacity across non-certified housing opportunities.
This funding is available from the enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) provided by the American Rescue Plan Act, which states may use to supplement existing expenditures for home and community-based services (HCBS). The most recent update to New York State’s enhanced FMAP spending plan (available here) allocates $10 million to this initiative.
Eligible applicants are not-for-profit organizations that:
- Are certified by OPWDD under the 1915(c) OPWDD Comprehensive Waiver to deliver Residential Habilitation Services;
- Are not on OPWDD’s Early Alert list at the time of application; and
- Have experience operating Supportive Residential Habilitation and/or Family Care Services, or demonstrate a commitment of the Board of Directors to develop new Supportive Residential Habilitation opportunities and/or Family Care Services.
The RFA is available here and SPG’s summary of the opportunity is attached. Applications are due on May 4th. OPWDD will host an applicant conference on April 6th at 1pm. To register for the conference, interested parties must email fmapgrants@opwdd.ny.gov with contact information and the title of the RFA in the subject line by April 5th.