MEMORANDUM

City of Lawrence

Planning and Development Services Department

TO:              David L. Corliss, City Manager

FROM:         Margene K. Swarts, Assistant Director, Development Services

CC:              Scott McCullough, Director, Planning and Development Services

DATE:           October 19, 2011

RE:              Community Commission on Homelessness (CCH) Update

The Community Commission on Homelessness (CCH) held a two-part retreat in November and December of 2010 to review their history and discuss current community needs as well as their vision for the future.  Out of these retreat sessions, the CCH formulated a monthly reporting plan to cover all five aspects of the Housing Vision, established goals for moving forward, and agreed on an updated Resolution to take the place of Resolution #6608, which originally established the CCH.

In evaluating the work of the body, the CCH determined changes that would be beneficial to implement their process and procedure.  Some of these changes included items such as formulation of an annual review summarizing the work of the body that will be submitted to the City Commission and made available for public viewing; analysis and updating of the Housing Vision based on community needs and the Point-In-Time count results; implementing the Homeless Information Management System (HMIS) reporting standards that are beneficial to the body and the community; and receiving monthly reports on issues that are not part of the Housing Vision, such as Mental Health Services, Case Management, Jobs, and/or Funding. 

The updated Resolution resulted from an in-depth discussion of the original Task Force on Homelessness Report recommendations regarding the establishment of the CCH, and how the report applied to the current mission of the CCH.  It was determined that Resolution #6608 contained items that the CCH felt did not apply to their mission or purpose and included duties outside their scope.  The updated Resolution has addressed these items, and has included goals and purposes established in conjunction with the original Task Force Final Plan that fall under the scope of the work of the CCH. 

Further, it was determined that the CCH shall be renamed the “Homeless Issues Advisory Committee” in order to best demonstrate what their capacity as an advisory board to the City of Lawrence entails.  The new Resolution states that “The Homeless Issues Advisory Committee shall function as an advisory body to the Governing Body and shall make recommendations to it regarding the advancement of appropriate programs and services for the homeless. The Homeless Issues Advisory Committee may also make similar reports, findings, and recommendations available to other governmental bodies in Douglas County, as appropriate, to advance the purpose of the Homeless Issues Advisory Committee.”  The current CCH feels that this updated Resolution is appropriately aligned with their goals and mission, and voted unanimously at their July 12, 2011 meeting to recommend adoption of the updated document by the City Commission.

Recommendation:  Staff recommends adoption of Resolution No. 6951, which renews the purpose, restates the duties, and renames the CCH to the “Homeless Issues Advisory Committee”, as well as repeals Resolution No. 6608.