TASK FORCE ON HOMELESS SERVICE
January 20, 2004 minutes
MEMBERS PRESENT: Bruce Beale, Randy Beeman, Katherine Dinsdale,
Rich Forney, Caroline Hicks, Barbara Huppee, David Johnson, Steve Ozark, Mike Rundle, Jim Schneider,
Sara Taliaferro, and Sarah Terwelp
MEMBERS ABSENT: Tami Clark (U), Candy Davis (U), Helen Hartnett (E), Shirley Martin-Smith (E), Barbara Tucker (U), and Tom Wright (U)
STAFF PRESENT: Monica Cardin, Cindy Nau, and Margene Swarts
PUBLIC PRESENT: Janeine Cardin, Sandi Kelly, and Sharliyn Wells
Rundle called the meeting to order at 4:11 p.m.
Approval of December 16, 2003 minutes
Taliaferro stated that on page 4, the last paragraph, “exasperating“ should be “exacerbating.”
Beeman said he notified Nau that he would not be in attendance December 16, 2003, thus his absence should be excused. Nau apologized and stated she would make that change.
Huppee moved to approve the December 16, 2003 minutes with the corrections. Taliaferro seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Discussion of January 6, 2004 gaps meeting
Rundle stated that it would be good to have some brief explanatory text with the report.
Terwelp suggested that “for convicted felons” on page1, #8 be amended to encompass those in jail and examples of mental hospital wards be listed, e.g. Osawatamie and Stormont Vail. Taliaferro asked if the Task Force would amend it to say “for those people in the justice or jail system.” Nau suggested saying “inmates being released” since number eight pertains to planning for housing upon release.
Terwelp inquired about #11 on page 4 -- Homeless Community Safety Network.
Nau stated that it pertained to keeping the homeless individuals integrated in the community in order to enhance safety. Nau further stated that it probably should be moved to page 2 as #23, since it is really a service need and not a material/facility need.
There followed a brief discussion regarding violence in the homeless community wherein Rundle stated that it was unsafe to be homeless since they are subjected to rape, theft, and assault. He felt it was important for the community to be aware of that so they could understand why a safe place needs to be secured.
Taliaferro stated that WTCS should be listed as another shelter that provides shelter to victims of domestic violence.
Ozark asked about Johnson’s work in Des Moines, Iowa and the service care van. Nau stated that it was listed in #11 and #15 on page 2.
Schneider stated he thought those that put the report together did a nice job. Nau thanked him saying Tami Clark, Sara Taliaferro, and herself had composed the report.
Schneider stated the central thing that pulled everything together was case management. Case management tied a lot of the needs and services together and he believed that the Task Force should create a firm vision of case management. He believed it would need to start from the street and go up from there.
Taliaferro asked if case management should be number one. Schneider stated that Ozark e-mailed him and suggested another “roll-up your sleeves” meeting to take the components and make them flow together so when a commissioner reads the report, it makes sense.
Rundle asked for any suggestions or questions about the report. Ozark stated that they would be valued because the end goal is to make suggestions to the Mayor on how to fill the gaps and needs.
Huppee asked what the deadline was for giving the report to the Mayor. Rundle stated that budget discussions are a major factor and it would be best to get the report to the Mayor as early in the budget cycle as possible.
Nau stated there are things that still need to be added to the report, for instance on page 3 half-way houses are listed as a material/facility need. This gives the impression there are no half-way houses in Lawrence even though there are a few like Hearthstone and First Step House. Some of the gaps listed are being addressed in a minimal fashion, like the half-way houses, and that should be noted. Nau suggested the Task Force review the report and add whatever information they are able to add to get a complete picture of existing gaps.
Ozark stated housing was a big question for him.
Huppee stated she wanted to ask the stakeholders for clarification on what they do and do not offer.
Johnson volunteered to create an outline of the proposed case management structure.
Huppee commented that the Task Force is not going to cure homelessness, but if there is a reasonable program in place that helps those that want help and those in crisis, she believed that would be the best the community could do.
Ozark commented that there were ways to get support for the case workers free. The faith community and volunteers would be willing and able to help on a day-to-day basis.
Forney noted that caution would need to be used with volunteers. They would have to understand that the person in charge would be the case manager and they should not work against the case manager. There should be one key person in charge and the rest are just support. Volunteers would also have to be careful to let a client do what needs to be done and not do it for them.
Schneider suggested that in the final recommendation, the Task Force might want to include a continuing advisory body to carry out the philosophy.
Rundle suggested that it might be the role of the City to coordinate the service providers. He noted that funding for the HMIS system was not received and alternatives for the HMIS system are being researched with a lower budget.
Dinsdale stated she was hearing coordination was a problem from the beginning to the end of services. There needs to be a consolidated policy by each case worker that dictates to some extent to what services people need that was not addressed on the list. Dinsdale noted that the other end of the problem was that people still do not have access to the services. She thought that the City and the community had gone around and around about ending chronic homelessness, but the City and community need to come up with a plan to end chronic homelessness and decide what it is comfortable with for those that do not access plans or services. She stated that they have yet to address that population.
Rundle stated that it was a “Catch 22,” they would be allowed to do things or not allowed to do things. He stated his first point was that the Topeka Rescue Mission’s intake is directly tied to a series of programs that are tied to a very specific person. There needed to be some entity that coordinates these case workers.
Beale stated that he agreed with Dinsdale. He commented that there are a lot of people without hope and noted dollars, case management, and a detoxification/ stabilization center are needed. After the community has that, then it starts serving the people and someone is needed to manage it. The community needs to buy into it and it needs a hub.
Forney noted that up until now the people could choose where they wanted to get services. Some of those places have overloaded case managers. He also noted that since Bridges, Project Able, and 911 Ohio were not funded, there is no transitional housing for single males and females, which makes up a good portion of the homeless population.
Huppee clarified that there is transitional housing through the City’s HOME funds. Forney stated that he was specifically talking about those with severe drug abuse and mental health issues.
Huppee stated that the money is there for housing, but the case management does not have the money. She also noted that Bridges was a group home. The other transitional housing was transitioning the individual into programs for more stable housing.
Johnson stated that they were working on Bridges and that its programming will change and they would probably only serve four persons at one time instead of eight.
Forney stated that Beale was correct in needing one center.
Ozark stated an independent organization would be the best solution. He stated that if there was a communication problem, the independent organization could step in. He really believes in the strength of an independent board.
Johnson agreed with Ozark and Beale. He does think that independence would create credibility for those using the services. That was why he thought it should be housed with the City.
Ozark stated that it was the only way to get the services. Johnson disagreed and stated that it required voluntary compliance.
Forney asked what would happen to the individual that goes through transitional housing from one agency, gets into Section 8 housing, and refuses to work and pay rent, and is then evicted. Would this person go back into transitional housing? He stated there is a need for continual case management follow-up because people have to have education and support.
Ozark stated that people need more than one attempt. He thought that if the programs were good people would use them. The detox center should help people for a period of five days.
Beale suggested two levels of programs—one for those who are motivated and one for those who are not. He stated that you could not mix the two programs.
There followed a brief discussion regarding the two different programs.
Huppee stated she needed to leave the meeting and would discuss funding at the next meeting.
With regard to funding, Rundle stated that the Task Force should figure out what funding is needed, what is available, and then make immediate and long-term recommendations.
Terwelp stated that she wanted to talk about the unification system saying there should be an incentive for agencies to work together.
There followed a brief discussion regarding which entity could be the hub for the case management and monitoring. Beale suggested possibly the County.
Taliaferro stated some kind of board or task force for oversight is not on the list of needs, but is needed.
Schneider agreed with Taliaferro, but questioned who would decide who sits on the board. Taliaferro stated the City Commission could appoint people to the board.
Schneider stated that the case manager, Bert Nash Mental Health Center, the Salvation Army, and the Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority needed to have a seat on the board and have some say in the hiring.
Taliaferro stated that the Topeka Rescue Mission does have a community-wide board. Rundle suggested the board might meet every couple of weeks to discuss social service needs.
Ozark stated that there needed to be “a group” that handles day-to-day activities. The service provider and “group” should be independent entities. Rundle agreed that there needed to be an independent agency.
When asked, Swarts stated that she could not think of a City board that operates in that capacity. She suggested the Douglas County Health Department because they have a board that runs in a similar capacity and possibly their duties could be expanded.
Rundle stated that he thought if the board was completely independent, they would still want it to stick to the plan and accountability. He noted Bert Nash has that quasi-partnership. They are a non-profit agency, but have a mental health board, which has annual reporting requirements.
Swarts advised the closest thing she could think of was the Library board, the housing authority, and the hospital. They are tied to the City, but still have autonomy.
Nau mentioned the Cities of Chicago, Illinois and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania have examples of Mayor Task Forces that perform coordination and oversight.
Rundle reiterated that the board would need to have strength of regular reporting and accountability.
Ozark stated that it would be important to hear from the Lawrence Open Shelter. They advocate that all clients should have a case worker.
Johnson stated the split system Beale suggested would provide services and basic safety. He thought the potential existed.
Rundle asked if there were reports from other Task Force committees.
Forney left the meeting.
Establish tasks to be accomplished and timeline
Nau stated she heard two tasks come out of the discussions: (1) the task force should submit more details on the Gaps Report to Nau by 5:00 p.m. on February 4, 2004; (2) Johnson should put together a preliminary case management plan per his offer.
Schneider wanted the Task Force to keep in mind that another long meeting might be helpful. He stated a number of sensitive issues were mentioned and they did need to be addressed, such as what the City can and cannot do. He stated a treatment philosophy needed to be mentioned in the final report.
Rundle said he had reviewed information from Hennipen County on the Internet and suggested the Task Force look at developing some kind of outline like Hennipen County did that might dictate the next step.
Beale agreed that setting up the structure should be another task. They needed something concrete to attack. He noted the biggest issue was how to make the buy in for everyone. Rundle asked if between now and the next meeting if someone could bring the stakeholders together and go over the gaps. He asked Terwelp to pull that together and noted he would be glad to jump in as a facilitator. He also stated that it was time to start talking to the County, specifically Craig Wienaug.
Public Comment
Sharilyn Wells stated she would like to see a plan that encourages and provides enthusiasm and doesn’t just get participants/agencies to buy into the plan through negative reinforcement. Providers should feel that people have a sense of enthusiasm about getting off the street and getting new skills. They do not need to be forced off the streets. They need help building hope for a new life. Wells wished the Task Force the best in their endeavor.
Terwelp left the meeting.
Janeine Cardin stated she knew Nau did research on homeless shelters in comparable communities and inquired as to whether she studied the independent boards in that research. Nau replied she gathered details on board participants, but not on board operations.
Hicks left the meeting.
Cardin also said that there was still a lot of negative press in the newspaper regarding homelessness and remarked that she thought the Task Force should begin working on community outreach. She stated it would help to counter the negative campaigning and dispel the fears of the community. Positive press would also help the community understand what a comprehensive shelter is and would help the community get on board.
Sandy Kelly noted she reviewed the Consolidated Plan and it seemed to her that the City is aware of the gaps. She commented that forming another task force to discuss the Task Force just causes the system to get bogged down. She also commented that the City of Lawrence has a very rich, resource-base within the homeless community. Some of them can do carpentry, etc. Transitional housing is needed and she thought that the right approach was to start and maintain a transitional facility for men. She said she would be trying to get a non-profit agency started for transitional housing for men. Kelly also felt a more comprehensive drop-in center was needed and noted everyone in the community needed some sort of accountability and that there are gaps within every agency.
Adjournment
Rundle noted the next meeting is February 17, 2004 at 4:00 p.m. in the City Commission Room.
The Task Force adjourned by acclamation at 5:35 p.m.
STAFF NOTE: The February 17th meeting has been rescheduled to February 27th in the Performance Classroom of the Lawrence Arts Center from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.