City of Lawrence

TASK FORCE ON HOMELESS SERVICES

April 20, 2004 minutes

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

Randy Beeman, Tami Clark, Katherine Dinsdale, Rich Forney, Helen Hartnett, Loring Henderson, Barbara Huppee, David Johnson, Shirley Martin-Smith, Steve Ozark, Mike Rundle, Jim Schneider, Sara Taliaferro, and Sarah Terwelp

 

 

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

 

Bruce Beale, Candy Davis, Bruce Martin, and Barbara Tucker

 

 

 

STAFF PRESENT:

 

Monica Cardin, Cindy Nau, and Margene Swarts

 

 

 

PUBLIC PRESENT:

 

Janeine Cardin, Phil Dwyer, Ernie Eck, Philip Hemphill, Daniel Peters, and Delores Tolar

 

Rundle called the meeting to order at 4:15 p.m.

 

Approval of Agenda

Martin-Smith moved to approve the agenda.  Clark seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

Approval of March 30, 2004 minutes

Clark moved to approve the March 30, 2004 minutes.  Taliaferro seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

Committee Reports

Update from Current Lawrence Area Resources Committee

Taliaferro stated the Committee prepared a draft report for the Task Force to review.  She noted that the first two pages are a list of all the responders that returned the survey.  Following that is a list of those that received a survey, but did not respond.  The final pages of the report are the results containing a fair amount of information with lots of charts.  Taliaferro said she was open to suggestions about formatting and changing the presentation of information. She commented that it might be more beneficial to breakdown the providers into traditional and non-traditional providers citing the Lawrence Public Library as an example.  They invested money into security, but are non-traditional providers. The Committee has not yet met to discuss the results.

 

Nau asked about the results they were hoping to get with the survey inquiring as to whether it was suppose to identify the gaps; and if so, could it be linked with the other gaps report.

 

Taliaferro stated that the Committee could do that. 

 

Huppee asked if anything surprised Taliaferro or popped out at her.  Taliaferro replied the small percent of those that coordinate services was surprising (only 38%).

 

Nau suggested breaking the results into service and non-service providers and then finding what percentage of agencies coordinate services.

 

Schneider stated that he really liked the summary and asked about getting the names, addresses, and phone numbers of those did not respond so they could be contacted.

 

Taliaferro stated that information is provided in the report as the second list of providers.  She stated that for historical accuracy, she left everyone in the survey.

 

Hartnett added that it makes her nervous including the agency names of those that did not respond.  She stated that if she put all the recipients in one table, people could identify who responded and who did not.  She cautioned everybody to not focus on those that did not respond.  There was a very high response rate and the Committee did try to be very broad based.  She noted it was her thought that the Committee was to look more broadly on who spent staff time, dollars, and organizational resources on serving the homeless rather than who the primary providers are and what they are not doing.  One of the interesting things to her was those that do not get served; why are they asked to leave and why are they permanently never allowed back. She stated that is a gap and something the Task Force should think about.

 

Hartnett acknowledged Monica Cardin’s work in entering the data.  Had she not entered the data the report would still not be done.

 

Schneider stated that this survey is a repeat of the 1996 Douglas County Needs Assessment.  He noted that one of the two biggest problems is the lack of service provider coordination.

 

Huppee wondered if part of the local data gathering process should be to hold public hearings, which would bring the stakeholders forward.  The Task Force could ask them for their opinions.  This would round out the data gathering effort.

 

Nau commented that same idea was mentioned at the last meeting.

 

Schneider asked for the Task Force to define stakeholder.  He stated that it could mean churches, service providers, and the homeless.  He would like to mention the Police Department and business.

 

A brief discussion regarding who the stakeholders are and what the Task Force would like to know from them ensued. 

 

Huppee stated that they could ask how homelessness affects them, what are the problems and gaps in services, and how would they suggest the Task Force correct the problem.  She suggested two hearings--one for those experiencing homelessness or have experienced it and the other for business persons, neighbors, and other residents.

 

Rundle agreed that two hearings would be best since it gives the public more opportunity to share their views.

 

Nau stated the Task Force would get better input from homeless individuals if they had a separate hearing for them.

 

Rundle asked Huppee to reiterate the questions.

 

Huppee replied that the questions should be: How has homelessness effected you? What gaps in service do you see? What is the expectation of the community? What is working? and What is not working?

 

Rundle asked if the hearings should be held at another location.

 

Clark asked if there was a way to submit a comment anonymously.

 

Ozark asked what the Task Force would do with anonymous complaints.  Schneider stated that the complaint should include a solution and state whether the person would be willing to be involved.

 

Clark stated that they would miss many productive comments.

 

Schneider said that the individual could sign it or not.

 

Martin-Smith suggested having one contact for an organization and the individual solicit comments from members within the organization.  She also noted that the neighborhood associations could do that as well.  The contact can bring those comments with him/her.

 

Ozark stated that in the cities he researched this process has helped unify those cities.  He noted this could be a bridge.

 

Rundle asked Swarts how much time is needed for notification of the pubic hearing.  Swarts stated that three weeks would be enough time.  She suggested the Lawrence Public Library as a place for the hearings.

 

Rundle stated that there should be a small panel of Task Force members facilitating and the remainder of the members in the audience.

 

There followed a brief discussion about the date, time, and location for the public hearings.  Swarts suggested a hearing on May 18, 2004 at 4:30 p.m. in the Library.  Beeman stated that he could open the doors to L.I.N.K. at 11:30 a.m. on May 18, 2004.  It would not infringe on those services, but it would get a majority of the homeless population. 

 

Huppee asked if both hearings were scheduled for May 18, 2004. 

 

Swarts commented the City Commission Chambers is the fall back location if the Library cannot be reserved. 

 

There followed a brief discussion about the panel.  Rundle stated those sitting on the panel will meet April 23, 2004.  Clark suggested meeting at 10:00 a.m. at the Community Drop-In Center.

 

Funding Committee

There is no report from this Committee as it has not yet met.

 

 

 

 

Standardize Intake Form Committee

Clark stated CDIC uses the intake form that was passed around at the last meeting.  She stated that other agencies are using parts of the intake form and will report to her on how it works.

 

There followed a brief discussion regarding which form the Salvation Army uses and how to incorporate it into Lawrence.

 

Schneider noted that the first age category includes adolescents and young adults.  Clark stated that she would fix that.

 

Nau clarified MAACLINK vs. HMIS.  Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) is a generic term, which encompasses many different systems/softwares.  MAACLink is an HMIS software package available from Mid America Assistance Coalition.

 

Caseworker Communication Committee

Terwelp called the Center for Community Networking and is waiting to hear back from them.  She passed out an information brochure.

 

Resources and Programs in Other Communities (Model Cities)

Taliaferro stated the Committee met three times.  She put together a brief list of model cities that the Committee will be contacting. The Committee will put together a final report of all the answers they receive from their questions.  She stated the draft provides a brief overview of the things the Committee is considering. The Committee is finding that most cities have one or more of the components Lawrence desires. Taliaferro noted that Clearwater, Florida bases their homeless program on community policing. They have won awards for this model and its implementation in the community. She also noted Kansas City, Missouri has Mid America Assistance Coalition as their central agency and they have a close network of case management that is overseen in regional clusters.  KCMO additionally used MAACLink.

 

Schneider stated that the CHIP director and the Chief of Police of Clearwater, Florida agreed to a phone conference.  He noted the community was not united.  The Chief of Police received grants and arranged it so that homeless individuals have to register to receive services or shelter.  Also, a police substation is placed within the shelter.  The most vocal opponent to homeless programs was appointed as the committee chair of the CHIP advisory council. 

 

Martin-Smith asked if they could tape the interviews.

 

Rundle stated that there should be a Task Force member that is a contact for the Lawrence Police Department.  Taliaferro nominated herself as the contact.

 

Rundle noted that he will speak with the City Manager and the Police Department to ask and encourage them to attend.

 

Schneider stated that he checked with the Dole Institute and they can have a conference call with up to four additional lines for $25 total.  They might also pay for the long distance charges.

 

There followed a brief discussion regarding accountability and success rates.  Rundle stated that everyone should just elevate their awareness about the issue.

 

Huppee and Martin-Smith left the meeting.

 

Other Business

Hartnett noted the School of Social Welfare is having a fundraiser for L.I.N.K. at Abe & Jakes Landing on April 22, 2004.

 

Public Comment

Delores Tolar commented that the City of Lawrence spends too much money on the golf course and art commenting that hundreds of thousands of dollars are wasted to beautify the city and on a failing golf course.  She suggested the City review how it spends money.

 

Ernie Eck stated that he is a business owner and he believes there is a problem with homelessness.  He hopes this process will work toward a solution and help the community at-large.  He asked that the Task Force believe that business concerns are legitimate.

 

Phil Dwyer stated that as the weather gets warmer, the problem becomes more visible saying that as he was coming to this meeting he saw a crowd of individuals standing around and panhandling at the corner of 10th and Massachusetts.

 

Phil Hemphill stated that his primary concern was the appearance.  He stated that police cars are always down by the Community Drop-In Center.  He asked why the homeless individuals cannot be required to leave or go inside.  He stated that something has to be done to help the appearance of the neighborhood.

 

Adjournment

There being no further public comment, Clark moved to adjourn the meeting.  Forney seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.  The meeting adjourned at 5:35 p.m.