City of Lawrence, Kansas

COMMUNITY COMMISSION ON HOMELESSNESS

August 9, 2011 Minutes (Lawrence City Commission Room)

Members present: Hubbard Collinsworth, Brad Cook, Karin Feltman, Charlotte Knoche, Mike Monroe, Shannon Murphy, Samantha Snyder,

Members absent: Wes Dalberg, Cary Strong

Staff present: Danelle Dresslar, Margene Swarts

Public present: Steve Cowan, Saunny Scott, Hilda Enoch, Loring Henderson, Rebecca Buford, Robert Baker

The meeting was called to order at 8:30 am by Chair Knoche.

ITEM NO. 1 Introductions

The members of the CCH introduced themselves.

ITEM NO. 2 Approval of the Agenda and the July 12, 2011 Minutes.

ACTION TAKEN

Motion by Collinsworth to approve the Agenda and the July 12, 2011 meeting minutes of the CCH. Seconded by Cook.

Motion passed unanimously.

ITEM NO. 3 Receive 2^nd Quarter report from Bert Nash Homeless Outreach Team.

The CCH received the report.

ITEM NO. 4 Housing Vision Reports.

a. Emergency Shelter – LCS Relocation Update

Loring Henderson, Executive Director of the Lawrence Community Shelter was present to give a report on the relocation efforts of the shelter. Henderson said no definitive plan or timeline for the relocation has been set. The Executive Board has not met since the County Commission made the announcement regarding the property purchase on Franklin Park Circle. Henderson reminded the CCH the County is in negotiations to buy the land around the building on Franklin Park Circle. The covenant will continue to exist, but with the County being the majority land owner the trustees of the covenant will change and new trustees will be appointed. The County is looking to buy 30 acres around the site for a future location of the County Public Works facility. The County will appoint the new trustees. There are some aspects of the original site plan that had to be modified to fit the covenants in place currently, and those items will be able to be revisited. These include the ability to provide kennel facilities for pets traveling with shelter guests.

Henderson said LCS is still negotiating with the seller of the Franklin Park Circle building, and they have begun negotiations again since the announcement. The shelter needs to raise the rest of the purchase funding, so the steering committee for fundraising will be revived and that process will begin again. Henderson said there is a major grant from the Mabee Foundation that has been given an extension, and this gives the shelter the ability to have until December to raise the funds for the purchase of the building. Henderson said that while the County is negotiating to buy the land, the shelter will be independent of the County, so LCS will not operate as an entity under them.

Knoche asked Henderson if there was a tentative timeline.

Henderson said the construction folks have indicated once construction starts on the building there will be approximately a six month project to get the building ready to occupy. Henderson anticipates the shelter will not be in there this winter, but will be in by next winter if everything proceeds as it appears it is. The Special Use Permit for the current location will expire in April of 2012, and LCS will more than likely apply for a one year extension of that permit to give proper time for the building to be ready. Henderson said LCS had been looking at other sites as well, and there was another site that was identified as a reasonable location for the shelter. This particular location was a viable secondary option, while Franklin Park Circle remained the priority choice.

Feltman asked if there was currently bus service to the Franklin Park site.

Murphy said at this time there was no bus service to the Franklin Park area.

Henderson said the transportation aspect has always been part of the relocation plan into this area. The City has said the Douglas County Jail and the Shelter will have a bus stop close to that area. There should be more information forthcoming regarding the transportation element to the site.

Knoche asked how many guests were currently at the Shelter.

Henderson said the limit for the shelter occupancy is 75 guests. This summer the shelter has had to provide some overflow because of the excessive heat. In the winter the overflow goes to churches when the temperatures are below freezing. Currently the overflow is due to the excessive heat warnings. Henderson said on any given night the shelter could have 95 to 100 people requesting a bed. The shelter has also had a lot of families requesting space. He indicated the previous night the shelter held 38 family members, and the shelter has been consistently receiving calls regarding shelter space for families. Families have priority at the shelter. They have often been running at 100 people needing space, and they have overflow options for an additional 15 at Trinity Lutheran Church. The Salvation Army has also provided overflow shelter a few times as well. Everyone is fed at the main site, after which they are able to relocate to the overflow areas. The capacity in the new shelter will be 125. Henderson indicated that 125 people is now looking like it is a normal occupancy number instead of one that has room to maneuver.

Murphy asked if the 125 number was flexible for the new site or if it was a set number that had no option for movement.

Henderson said the 125 number is not flexible for the new location. The Franklin Park building has more room so they were able to increase the capacity. Henderson said while capacity is set, if there is a need that can be proven for increasing that number then a discussion can take place regarding raising the capacity. The 125 number is a fixed number with the city, but within the 125 capacity number the Shelter can alter the number of family members and the number of individuals in that count. Henderson said while that part is flexible, the capacity number is not.

b. Temporary Housing – HPRP Program - LDCHA

Steve Cowen was present representing the Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority (LDCHA) and the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing (HPRP) program. Cowen said the program, since November of 2009, has assisted 642 individuals to avoid eviction or to obtain affordable housing. Within this number, 200 people avoided eviction by receiving services, and 34 homeless families have become housed, including 157 minor children. The amount of funding available at the end of July was $79,370 out of the original grant amount of $648,000. Cowen said LDCHA is winding down the program as if the remaining funding is all the funding that will be allocated. The majority of the clients helped have been helped through the Homelessness Prevention portion of the funding. In June and July, LDCHA assisted 25 families with Homelessness Prevention and three with Rapid Re-Housing. Cowen said as the grant is winding down LDCHA is helping those most vulnerable, and Homelessness Prevention has been temporarily closed to focus on Rapid Re-Housing. This money assists those who are literally homeless, either living in the shelter or living somewhere that is not meant for human habitation such as a car or under the bridge. LDCHA and the City have applied for additional HPRP funding through the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC), and are still awaiting the final determination from the State.

Knoche asked if there was any idea of the timeline for the announcement of additional funds.

Swarts said staff thought that the announcement might have been made by this time, but it has not. Staff is attending the Kansas Housing Conference from August 9-11, and will discuss the timeline with KHRC staff at that time if possible. Swarts said there is money not being spent at the State in this program, and KHRC has been pleased with the way LDCHA has administered the program, so the opportunity exists for additional funding to be allocated. KHRC knows the way the program has been set up; once the funding is spent and the program is shut down there are staffing concerns and key positions that cannot be opened back up. Staff is hoping to hear from KHRC sooner rather than later. At some point it will be too late to accept any additional funds because of the staffing concerns.

c. Transitional Housing – TBRA Program - LDCHA

Charlotte Knoche provided an update on the Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) program through LDCHA. She provided a document highlighting some program demographics. Knoche said there are 52 total families and individuals that are being housed through the LDCHA programs at this time. The average household size is two people, and the total amount of children being served currently is 43. The average age of these children is six years old. Knoche added there are more agencies participating as referral sources this year than have been in the past. Referrals can only be accepted through one of the participating agencies for any transitional housing program. LDCHA meets quarterly with agency providers, and twice a month with Bert Nash representatives. LDCHA will continue to issue vouchers for these programs until the money is all obligated. LDCHA staff anticipates the obligation of funds will come sometime in September. It is anticipated LDCHA can house another 15 families at this point. They are finding there are more and more families requiring assistance, and this is especially true for larger families. The larger families take a lot more subsidy to house. The average two year obligation for a single person in TBRA is between $7000 and $10,000. For a family of six this could be closer to $30,000.

Snyder asked if LDCHA prioritizes families with children in their transitional housing programs.

Knoche said that the wait list is strictly in order of day and time of application and not of family status. The only preference given is for Douglas County residents. The size of the family is not taken into consideration.

d. Permanent Supportive Housing – Project Able – The Salvation Army

There was no report on Project Able for August.

e. Permanent Housing - Tenants to Homeowners – Rebecca Buford

Rebecca Buford, Executive Director of Tenants to Homeowners, Inc (TTH) was present to report on their efforts in permanent housing for the Lawrence community.

Buford said TTH has seen an increased need for rental housing in the community, and TTH has seen their rental housing stock increase over the last year. TTH started out with 15 rental units that rent for under $500 a month. In 2010 TTH was awarded $2.2 million in Low Income Tax Credits that were utilized in the Accessible Residential Options (ARO) program, which is HUD project-based assistance. For these 20 units in the ARO program, rent is capped at one-third of the resident’s monthly gross income. The residents must also have a physical disability. With the tax credit award, TTH was able to rehabilitate these units and provide a new level of accessibility. TTH works closely with Independence, Inc. on these units as well for supportive services to the tenants.

Buford said in addition to the ARO project, TTH obtained the Pelathe units at 15^th and Haskell in Lawrence. These units are able to rent for $500 a month for two-bedroom units and one three bedroom unit. TTH is repaving the parking lot at this location, as well as re-siding the buildings and installing new windows. They have put $50,000 into improvements for these units. They were not managed properly for years, and many of the tenants were not even paying rent to live there. This has been a change in that TTH does not have the subsidy available to put tenants in these units with no rent. The hope for TTH is that for those tenants in their 50 rental units, ownership may be something that they are able to work towards. Not everyone in these units wants to be, or can be a homeowner, but the mission of TTH is to work towards that goal.

Buford said TTH also partnered with the City and received over $560,000 in Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) funds. These funds were used to build the Rhode Island Roost Rentals at 11^th and Rhode Island. There are five units at this location. Two of the units are fully accessible. TTH and the City were also allocated an additional $475,000 in NSP Program Income funds, which will be used to build on vacant land as well as purchase and rehabilitate foreclosed homes, which can become rentals and possible rent-to-own units. TTH is estimating that there will be three to five new units created from this re-allocation. Buford said construction has begun on 2123 Rhode Island, and it will be a lease-to-own unit. Buford said the NSP units have had several success stories, including one of the units that was leased to a formerly homeless women using the HPRP rapid re-housing funds. That woman is still successfully housed. Additionally, three tenants at the Brook Creek rentals have gone from homeless to housed as well. On the side of home ownership, Buford said TTH can occasionally subsidize first time owners for their down payment. She indicated several of their successful homeowners are under 30% MFI, but the majority of their owners are within the 60-80% MFI range. Most tenants need to figure on at least from $600-$800 a month for their house payment. If they can only afford a payment under $600 a month, then renting seems to be a more viable option for most. Buford said that aspect was the biggest issue for those on the edge of being able to own their own home. Currently, there are 50 homes in the Lawrence Community Housing Land Trust that will remain permanently affordable. TTH is also currently building 18 single family homes at 25^th and Haskell which will all be Energy-Star rated and will be affordable. Buford indicated the last 20 homes built by TTH average under $100 per month for utilities.

Knoche asked if the units at 12^th and Delaware were all sold.

Buford said those units were sold, and it is operating under a Homeowner’s Association. The TTH units are located next to the co-operative housing units.

Knoche said the townhome units blend in very well with that existing neighborhood.

Buford agreed and said building townhomes is much cheaper for TTH, and the way the energy improvements are made the noise concerns of sharing a wall are minimized.

Feltman agreed and said she lived in the 12^th and Delaware area and although the neighbors were upset when the original single family structures were torn down, the way TTH styled the units and the way they fit in with the neighborhood made the neighbors very happy with the project. It is very appreciated in the neighborhood.

Buford said that aspect is a challenge in every neighborhood. She said TTH put $200,000 into the rehabilitation of the historic house in the 1100 Block of Rhode Island. They were able to put matching units in with the Rhode Island Roost. New development tends to cause some strong feelings in neighborhoods, but TTH works with the neighborhood associations to ease some of this tension.

ITEM NO. 5 Miscellaneous/Calendar

Swarts said that the study session with the City Commission is not set yet, but the budget talks are wrapping up so staff plans on setting the study session up for late September or early October. Last meeting the CCH talked about if there were any particular things they wanted to discuss with the Commissioners in this study session.

Feltman said in terms of the study session, one of the gaps she sees is larger families and their ability to obtain housing.

Knoche agreed and said it was very difficult to house a larger family. Most occupancy standards look at two person per bedroom in subsidized units, but there are other pieces to that guideline that can make it hard to house a larger family. Larger families with older children are sometimes a struggle.

Buford said TTH is building three and four bedroom single family homes at the 25^th and Haskell location, and these can be lease to purchase for some of those larger families that qualify.

Knoche said LDCHA has one five bedroom unit in all of their housing stock. The majority of what they have is two bedroom.

Buford said the issue is most of the six or seven person families do not have the income that will allow them to become homeowners or rent at the market rate. If costs thousands more to build those units.

Feltman said townhomes built for larger families can be done in a more affordable manner than single family homes.

Swarts said the study session topics will be placed on September’s agenda. Staff will request that the study session be later in the month. Staff can work with the normal reporting agencies, and if they have something to report staff will pass it along. If they do not then there will be nothing to report on for them in September.

Knoche indicated she will be unable to attend any meeting or study session on September 20.

Knoche also asked that the Douglas County Continuum of Care Issues group be placed on the agenda for October.

ITEM NO. 6 Public Comment

There was no additional public comment.

ITEM NO. 7 Adjourn

Motion by Feltman to adjourn the August 9, 2011 meeting of the CCH. Seconded by Murphy.

Motion passed unanimously.

Attendance Record

Members

01/11

02/11

03/11

04/11

05/11

06/11

07/11

08/11

09/11

10/11

11/11

12/ 11

Hubbard Collinsworth

Brad Cook

Wes

Dalberg

Karin Feltman

Charlotte Knoche

Mike

Monroe

Shannon Murphy

Samantha Snyder

Cary Strong

X Meeting Cancelled Due to Inclement Weather