City of Lawrence, Kansas

COMMUNITY COMMISSION ON HOMELESSNESS

September 13, 2011 Minutes (Lawrence City Commission Room)

Members present: Brad Cook, Wes Dalberg, Karin Feltman, Charlotte Knoche, Shannon Murphy, Samantha Snyder, Cary Strong

Members absent: Hubbard Collinsworth, Mike Monroe

Staff present: Danelle Dresslar, Margene Swarts

Public present: Steve Cowan, Saunny Scott, Loring Henderson,

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 August 9, 2011 Minutes.

ACTION TAKEN

Motion by Dalberg to approve the Agenda and the August 9, 2011 meeting minutes of the CCH. Seconded by Feltman.

Motion passed unanimously.

ITEM NO. 3 Housing Vision Reports.

a. Emergency Shelter – LCS Relocation Update

Loring Henderson, Executive Director of the Lawrence Community Shelter (LCS), reported the agency has an item on the September 13, 2011 City Commission consent agenda that is a request for an extension of the Special Use Permit (SUP) that was granted to the 3701 Franklin Park Circle location. The SUP has a technicality in that a building permit has to be obtained within two years of the date of the SUP approval. This has not been completed because of the issues with acquiring the site. Because this has not been completed, the SUP needs to be extended. Henderson said LCS is in negotiations with the sellers of the Franklin Circle location now that the County has bought the land surrounding the site. Previously, those that controlled the board of trustees were relying on covenants to block the relocation efforts of the shelter. Henderson explained now that the county owns the land and controls the board of trustees they are friendly to the building being used for an emergency shelter. Henderson told the CCH due to the varying levels of previous uncertainty surrounding this location, LCS has explored other sites and other options, so there are several “Plan B” scenarios if any problems arise in negotiations with the seller of the Franklin Park location. The main view of the shelter is that the Franklin Park location is where the shelter would be best suited.

Henderson reported the shelter has been seeing increased needs recently, signing up to 100 people daily on the bed request list. There are overflow shelters at Trinity Lutheran Church as well as at the Salvation Army. The Salvation Army is primarily being utilized since school is now in session, and Henderson said LCS is very grateful for their assistance. They are able to provide beds for 20 people over the 75 person allotment at the shelter. The LCS main site is still serving meals to all those who sign up, and Henderson noted this has affected the budget in that they are feeding more people now then they had been. Henderson also wanted to thank Lawrence Memorial Hospital for running this quarter’s printing of the “Change of Heart” newsletter, as well as thanking the City for their contribution in the first quarter to print the document.

Knoche asked if Henderson was still seeing the same number of families at the shelter.

Henderson said 75 people is the fixed number the building is allowed, and in the previous evening there were 43 family members included in that number. This number was made up of to 12 families. LCS is still seeing the high numbers of family members.

b. Temporary Housing

Steve Cowen, director of the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program (HPRP) told the CCH the Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority (LDCHA) has been reallocated $100,000 from the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC) in additional HPRP money.

Swarts said the City has sent the budget document to KHRC and are awaiting the final approval.

Cowen said LDCHA is still seeing much more need for Homelessness Prevention as opposed to Rapid Re-Housing, and this is still at approximately a 80/20 split of the funding being spent.

Knoche asked if Family Promise was at capacity.

Snyder said currently there is one family at Family Promise.

Feltman reported there are three families interviewing this week with hopes of beginning the program.

Cowen said that there is a new representative with Heartland RADAC and his name is Stephen Osborn. Cowen indicated he was meeting with Osborn this week to discuss collaboration of the two programs for the residents of Lawrence and Douglas County.

Snyder noted that Family Promise had hired a new Executive Director and her name is Dana Ortiz. Ortiz is working this week to familiarize herself with the operations of Family Promise and had previously been the executive director at a pharmaceutical company.

Feltman added Ortiz had also been a Family Promise coordinator at First Christian Church.

c. Transitional Housing

Knoche reported LDCHA has reopened all their wait lists, and are currently issuing vouchers and briefing new tenants. All programs are currently accepting applications, and these applications can be found on the LDCHA website or at the main LDCHA office. Knoche estimated approximately 10 voucher holders were currently looking for housing. Knoche said additionally the Bert Nash CSS program was awarded a HOME grant for transitional housing of those with mental illness, and this money will be available in November.

Murphy asked how many individuals the Bert Nash grant will serve.

Knoche said ten to twelve people for two years.

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

Dalberg said The Salvation Army is preparing to hire staff for the Project Able Permanent Supportive Housing program and it is possible that the first clients can begin the process within the next month.

Knoche asked if they are taking applications at this point.

Dalberg said as soon as the staffing is hired they will begin accepting applications. The program must serve those that are chronically homeless and disabled.

Knoche asked if there were restrictions on the disability requirement.

Dalberg said it was a fairly liberal definition of disability. This can include addictions.

Feltman asked if the tenant needed to be on Disability to qualify.

Dalberg said to his knowledge they did not have to be on Disability to that extent. There needs to be a designated person or entity that certifies that the individual is disabled.

Knoche said if someone in the HOPE program does not receive Disability they need to have a signed certification stating that they are disabled. This is not at the same level that social security is, but there does need to be an authorization. Knoche asked Dalberg if the units will be private rentals.

Dalberg said the units will be privately rented, scattered site units. The case management staff with the program will do regular site visits, as well as requiring meetings in their office. There is a lot of supervision involved with this program.

Knoche asked how many will be served.

Dalberg said it is a total of 10, including six families and four individuals.

Knoche indicated the count of Permanent Supportive Housing units in the community will rise to 16 with the addition of this program and the ten units.

Swarts said the Balance of State Continuum of Care NOFA had been released and the turnaround for submitting letters of intent is three weeks earlier this year than last. The letters of intent are due no later than September 19. The forms and instructions are on the Kansas Statewide Homeless Coalition (KSHC) website, and additionally the Coalition has a list serve that agencies can join to receive this type of information. Swarts said the Balance of State has received enough funding to carry all the renewal projects as well as being able to fund a few hundred thousand more for new projects. There is also $300,000+ available for a bonus project if it is applicable when the applications are reviewed. Swarts reminded the commission that she is on the Board of Directors for the KSHC and that term began in July. The board used to meet quarterly, but they have started meeting on a monthly basis. As far as the coalition goes, currently there is currently no paid staff at the KSHC. Diane Etzel-Wise, who was the executive director, left the position this summer to focus work on her Doctorate. LaTonia Wright, who was the Balance of State coordinator, left her position also this summer to explore other employment opportunities. Swarts indicated the Board has released a request for interest in contracting with the Balance of State for the coordinator position for the remainder of the year, which will cover the grant submission for the NOFA. There is a possibility that the person hired or contracted could carry over employment to the next year as well. If this is not the case, the Coalition will look at hiring again next year.

Knoche said on the NOFA the request for the letter of intent listed three things that were required to be submitted with the letter. She asked Swarts if she knew what those were.

Swarts answered the SF-424 was listed as a requirement originally, but that is no longer required. There needs to be a letter of intent to apply and a letter of acknowledgement from the local BoS Regional Coordinator. This is required to ensure that the community knows what the projects that are being submitted consist of, and that they are consistent with the community goals and visions.

Knoche asked if there were any new projects that were being submitted this year.

Swarts said she had not heard of anything new. The turnaround for the letter of intent is short this year. While the letter of intent is not as onerous as the entire grant submission process, if there are new projects this needs to be discussed so the proper channels are followed.

e. Permanent Housing

Knoche said all the LDCHA wait lists are open.

ITEM NO. 4 Discussion of City Commission Study Session.

Swarts said the information has been submitted to the City Manager’s office requesting the scheduling of the Study Session. There is no date set for the Study Session yet. Swarts said the intent of this agenda item was to talk about what the CCH as a body wanted to talk to the City Commission about at this session.

Knoche asked if the resolution had been scheduled on the City Commission agenda.

Swarts said it was not, and this was an example of something that the CCH could discuss in the Study Session. The CCH can explain the changes and why they thought it was important to update the resolution.

Knoche said the resolution update should be the first thing that is discussed in the Study Session. She suggested the Housing Vision should be a topic also to ensure that the City Commissioners did not have any questions about it, as well as being able to demonstrate to them how the Vision is used as a guideline within the continuum of getting people housed and keeping them housed. Also, the Commissioners should be made aware of what is available in the community in terms of services, and where the identified gaps remain.

Swarts said this was a very good start to a discussion. She said if any CCH members had additional thoughts or ideas for the Study Session agenda to email her and she would email the CCH as a body. Swarts said the City Commission is winding down on the budget as well as a few other issues that had arisen in the meantime, but she will work to get a date for the Study Session. If it appears the session will be prior to the next meeting she will email the CCH. Swarts said she thought the Study Session would likely not be until after the CCH has had a chance to meet again in October.

Scott said she wanted to suggest the CCH speak to the Commissioners about the Bert Nash outreach team and the need for additional case workers.

Knoche said this item could be inserted into the discussion of the Housing Vision and how the outreach team fits into the progression of the Vision.

Swarts said staff will draft an outline for the meeting with some bullet points. Historically, the Chair of the CCH is the one with the primary interaction with the City Commissioners, but questions from the entire committee are welcome, and the Commissioners may ask individual committee members questions as the session progresses. The Study Sessions are normally informal with typically very little to no public comment.

Strong asked if it would be possible to meet as a group to go over the outline prior to the Study Session if it is determined that the Study Session would be before the October meeting.

Swarts said yes, and staff would work to establish the exact date for the Study Session. The CCH will be notified as soon as the date is on the schedule. If it is prior to the next meeting the CCH will receive the draft outline by email and will have the option to meet before the Study Session.

ITEM NO. 5 Miscellaneous/Calendar

Knoche said as Chair of the CCH she has been invited to attend a community input session for the Lawrence-Douglas County Fire and Medical division on September 14. If any CCH member has any input for this strategic planning session regarding emergency services please let her know and she will pass it along at the forum.

Murphy gave an update on the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department reentry program. She said the county decided to retain the two case manager positions that had been part of the grant from last year, so these two are now full time county employees. There was also a grant awarded in conjunction with Bert Nash which provides a full time mental health case manager to transition clients with mental illness from incarceration into reentry. Jacob McKee has been hired for this position. Murphy said the Sheriff’s Office has also been working closely with the courts to try to provide more work-release opportunities for inmates. They have been partnering with Northeast Kansas Youth Incorporated to utilize their computer lab at the United Way location in order to assist with the job searches, checking email, and other electronic services.

ITEM NO. 6 Public Comment

There was no additional public comment.

ITEM NO. 7 Adjourn

Motion by Murphy to adjourn the September 13, 2011 meeting of the CCH. Seconded by Cook.

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