DOH Announces Application Process for EQUAL Funds

(Oct. 8, 2024) The State Department of Health issued a Dear Administrator Letter (DAL) on Oct. 3rd announcing the application process for funding under the Enhancing the Quality of Adult Living (EQUAL) Program for SFY 2024-2025.  Operators of Adult Homes and Enriched Housing Programs who provide services to individuals receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), State Supplemental Program (SSP) benefits, Safety Net (SN) assistance, and/or Medicaid (with respect to residents of assisted living programs) are eligible for EQUAL Program payments. The purpose of this program is to enhance the quality of care and life experience for residents receiving SSI, SSP, SN, and/or Medicaid by providing additional funding to licensed and certified Adult Care Facility (ACF) operators. 

Conditions for Participation in the Enhancing the Quality of Adult Living (EQUAL) Program 2024-2025 are available here. 

Funding is utilized to improve or expand services and/or enhance the facility’s physical environment. It is anticipated that a total of $6,532,000 will be available in 2024-2025 in the following categories:    

1. Local Assistance Funding: $3,266,000.00 - Local Assistance Projects will be available to support improvements to the quality of life for adult care facility residents by funding projects including clothing allowances, resident training to support independent living skills, improvements in food quality, outdoor leisure projects, and cultural, recreational, and other leisure events. 
2. Capital Improvement Projects: $3,266,000.00 - Capital Improvement Project funds will be available to support the enhancement of the physical environment of the facility and promote a higher quality of life for residents. Payments shall be made for the purpose of providing quality care and services to eligible residents to better meet their needs and improve the physical environment of a facility.

Applicants should note the short turnaround time and take note of the application details in the DAL as well as the following important information: 

• Applications must be electronically submitted by 5:00 pm on 10/24/2024. After this date and time, the application will no longer be available, and hard copies will not be accepted. Applications that do not include all required, complete materials by 5:00 pm on 10/24/2024 will be deemed incomplete and ineligible for funding.

•  Facility operators who do not apply by the prescribed deadline will be interpreted as declining to participate in the EQUAL Program

Questions must be submitted via email to ltcresidentialsupport.equal@health.ny.gov.

Contact: Diane Darbyshire, ddarbyshire@leadingageny.org, 518 867-8828.