PRACTITIONERS PANEL

January 15, 2004 minutes

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

 

Ballard Community Center- Andy Brown

 

LDCHA- Charlotte Knoche

Bert Nash CMHC- Lynn Amyx

 

Lawrence SRS- Penny Schau

Bert Nash PATH- Gary Miller

 

Lawrence Board of Realtors- Marilyn Lynch

Brookcreek Learning Center- Amy Cast

 

Lenders- Joe Oberzan

Coalition on Homeless Concerns & CDIC- Tami Clark

 

Project Lively- Sandra Kelly-Allen

First Step House- Jean Skuban

 

Neighborhood Resources- Cindy Nau

Habitat For Humanity- Jean Lilley

 

Neighborhood Resources- Monica Cardin

HCCI- Cornell Mayfield

 

Neighborhood Resources- Margene Swarts

Independence, Inc.- Kelly Nightengale

 

Pelathe Comm. Resource Ctr.- Bruce Martin

Independence, Inc.- Kendall Simmons

 

Tenants to Homeowners- Rebecca Buford

Landlords of Lawrence- Bob Ebey

 

The Salvation Army- Rich Forney

Lawrence Open Shelter- Saunny Scott

 

Trinity Respite Care- Teresa Martell

 

 

WTCS- Jehan Faisal

 

 

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

 

 

DG CO AIDS Project: Mari McCleerey-Janssen (E)

 

Boys & Girls Club- Janet Murphy (U)

 

 

 

GUESTS PRESENT:

 

 

Pam Casagrande, Lawrence Open Shelter Board Member

 

Sarah Davies, WTCS volunteer

 

Knoche called the meeting to order at 3:32 p.m.

 

Approve Minutes

Forney moved to approve the October 2, 2003, minutes.  Mayfield seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

Introductions and Announcements

Schau announced that general assistance is now limited to 24 months due to budget cuts.  The first round of cases that reached the time limit closed on December 31, 2003, but a lawsuit was filed in Wichita.  The judge ordered the State of Kansas to reinstate the cases until the court case was settled.  In Douglas County, all cases were reopened, except for those that were approved for Social Security or SSI.  Twenty-three cases were reopened in the Douglas County/Lawrence area.

 

Knoche asked if that was indefinite.  Schau stated that cases were opened for one month, but assumed it would be indefinite until the court case was closed.

 

Knoche asked if people would receive a notice.  Schau stated that they would.

 

Mayfield stated Housing and Credit Counseling, Inc. finished the revisions on its handbook.

 

Scott noted the Lawrence Open Shelter opened on December 8, 2003.

 

Agency Presentations

Knoche requested the Lawrence Douglas-County Housing Authority present last.  The group concurred.

 

Nau stated Lawrence SRS would be presenting at the April 2004 meeting and asked for a volunteer to move from the April presentation schedule to the July schedule.  Women’s Transitional Care Services, Inc. volunteered.

 

Project LIVELY

Kelly-Allen distributed brochures for Project Lively.  She stated that it is a case management program for the elderly based out of the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department.  It is for persons over 60 years of age that need assistance coordinating services.  Project Lively has three people on staff: a full-time case manager, a part-time case manager, and a part-time nurse.  They accept referrals for anyone in the community.  Project Lively does not provide direct services, but provides a linkage to other services.  Project LIVELY has no funds to pay for services.  The nurse goes onsite and does a comprehensive health history.  Kelly-Allen stated that Project LIVLEY works with the individual to determine which services he/she wants and which services Project LIVELY thinks are needed.  Staff monitors the services and tries to take a proactive approach to keep the individual safe and independent.

 

Amyx asked about income guidelines.  Kelly-Allen stated that there are no guidelines.  Amyx asked if there is a cost to the client.  Kelly-Allen said there was no cost.  She noted that they would help a client access a food pantry, but would not provide transportation to the food pantry; and they would go to the physician’s office with the client.

 

Pelathe Community Resource Center

Bruce Martin stated he was the director of the Pelathe Community Resource Center.  The center has many youth-oriented programs.  They have a youth entrepreneurial project which incorporates formal business lessons with actual experience in the development and operation of businesses.  Teens have developed a silk screening t-shirt business and a small gift shop--located in the center.

 

Martin noted Pelathe has a food pantry, but due to budget cuts it is only open for eight hours a week.  They have one part-time person to staff the pantry and are currently trying to develop a volunteer program to keep the food pantry open.  Pelathe also works with low-income housing.  It has three transitional apartments available for homeless, disabled, or low-income.  Pelathe works with residents to get them back on their feet.  Pelathe tries to help as many people as possible.  They do not limit themselves to Native Americans and refer to other services as necessary.

 

Miller asked about the age group for the youth programs.  Martin stated that it is 14 to 21 year of age with the exception of their state-funded program, which is 13 to 18 years of age.

 

Nau asked where gift shop revenue is used.  Martin stated it goes to the center for supplies.

 

Clark asked if the items in the gift shop were created by the youth.  Martin stated they were not.  Gift shop items were purchased from a woman in Oklahoma who purchased the items from Native Americans in Arizona.

 

 

 

 

 

Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority

Knoche stated that Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority (LDCHA) is an independent agency of the City of Lawrence and Douglas County.  They operate under an agreement with the City and the County to carry out public housing programs in this jurisdiction.  LDCHA operates low-income, permanent housing units in the City of Lawrence that were developed through grants and bonds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  They also administer the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program for the City and County.  The Housing Choice Voucher Program provides rent subsidy for 591 families.

 

LDCHA has a HOME tenant-based rental assistance (TBRA) program funded with federal HOME funds granted to the City of Lawrence.  They also administer State of Kansas HOME funds for Bert Nash.  The majority of funding administered by the housing authority is used for transitional housing for homeless persons.  Five support service agencies have agreements with LDCHA to refer homeless persons for housing and provide services while they are in the transitional housing program.  A person enters into a service agreement with one of the five agencies, is referred to the housing authority, and after approximately 30 to 60 days they receive a voucher for up to 24 months of rent subsidy.  The agreement includes support service participation requirements, e.g. substance abuse counseling or case management services.  It is a mirror program to Section 8.  The housing authority typically assists 45 to 65 individuals with HOME TBRA, but it varies based on the size of the family.

 

Knoche stated the housing authority also offers resident services and in 2003 began a renter’s education program with Housing and Consumer Credit Counseling, Inc.  All LDCHA programs are income-based.  To qualify, participants must be at or below 80 percent of the area median income.  The vast majority of families the housing authority sees are well under 50 percent of the area median income.  All the programs have a waiting list and there is an extensive application process that takes about 30 days.

 

Knoche stated that in addition to federal eligibility criteria for housing programs, the LDCHA screens for tenant suitability.  They collect five years of residential history.  The principle factor they look at is residential history.  If the housing authority cannot verify the information about a person’s residential history, if their history reflects deliberate damages, or if it reflects other indications that the person cannot comply with a lease, the housing authority will deny the application. 

 

Knoche mentioned that the housing authority has expanded its resident services program over the past five years.  They have a complete department which provides employment services and referrals to help residents with a whole spectrum of services. 

 

Committee Reports

Neighborhood Resources Advisory Committee

Collier stated that the Committee met on January 8, 2004.  Deliberations will begin on January 22, 2004 and the Committee will begin with the five target neighborhoods.

 

Task Force on Homeless Services

Nau stated that the Task Force met in December 2003 and they decided to have a meeting on January 6th to truly identify gaps in homeless services and brainstorm ideas.  A report is being developed outlining the results of the January 6th meeting.  The report will be shared at the next meeting on January 20th at 4:00 p.m. in the City Commission Room.  Additionally, the Task Force has completed the survey of homeless individuals and families.  Preliminary results were distributed to the Task Force.  Results of the service provider survey are still being tabulated.

Collier asked if the Task Force sponsored the town meeting held on January 13, 2004.  Nau stated that they did not.  It was sponsored by the Coalition for Homeless Concerns.

 

Subcommittee Reports

Affordability/Available Subcommittee

Ebey stated that they were in the process of switching from the original website to another website.  The subcommittee feels the current site (www.ku.edu/~oclrc) is being poorly managed.  Logistics of using another site are being ironed out.  The proposed site is www.rentlawrence.com.  Details should be complete in a month or so.

 

Simmons asked if it was going to include rental houses.  Ebey stated that it would.

 

Clark asked about how the website would be maintained.  Ebey stated the people who own the site are willing to make proposed changes at no cost.

 

Collier inquired about the type of information available on the web site.  Ebey stated that they planned to have the cut-off be 90 days and have it updated twice a week.  A landlord can either establish his own account or use the City’s free number.  The site will list the contact name, the number of bedrooms, location, rent, and contact numbers.  There will probably be no photos.

 

Simmons asked if a person could link to another site that shows photos.  Nau thought that was possible.

 

Miller asked if this was available for only members of the landlord association.  Ebey stated that it was open to any landlord.

 

Forney asked Ebey if the landlords would have the option to include whether they are willing to take low-income or Section 8 tenants.  Ebey stated there would be a text box to enter such information.  Clark suggested a check box.  There followed a brief discussion regarding the inclusion of accepting Section 8 housing and other items on the web site.  Consensus was not reached.  Some felt it important to have a quick reference and save phone calls and others felt it to be a bad idea.  Knoche suggested a person contact a landlord and get the landlord to rent to them, as a person, and then inquire as to whether they accept Section 8 vouchers instead of first asking if they accept Section 8 vouchers.

 

Advocacy Subcommittee

Faisal stated that they narrowed their focus to looking at the rights of all tenants to call for police protection without the landlord taking action against them.  On a larger issue, they are trying to network for a state advocacy for those involved in violent crime(s).

 

The next advocacy meeting is February 19, 2004 at 3:30 p.m. in the Health Department’s first floor conference room.

 

Schau inquired as to whether they were trying to pass an ordinance or just educate the community.  Faisal stated that they were looking at an ordinance for the City of Lawrence or at having the statewide advocacy group act on it.

 

 

 

 

 

HMIS Subcommittee

Amyx announced that Nau e-mailed information regarding pricing for joining the Kansas City area database, which uses MAACLink.  She stated the HMIS grant did not get funded, but there was a possibility of joining the Kansas City MAACLink system.  It would diminish the costs greatly.  The licensing cost would be $295 per computer and the annual hosting fee would be $1000, which Nau needed to clarify with Mid-America Assistance Coalition (MAAC).  The total cost to the agency would be about $1200 to participate in the Kansas City MAACLink.  Joining the Kansas City MAACLink system would provide regional information and should eliminate the need for a lead agency.

 

Amyx announced that Bert Nash withdrew as the lead agency.

 

Brown noted that it might be a good thing to connect with Kansas City because they could share information.  Amyx agreed saying it would provide better information on the transient population.

 

Scott asked if Topeka had a MAACLink system.  Nau stated that she did not know, but it could be something they could talk to them about.

 

Forney announced that The Lawrence Salvation Army would be joining the Kansas City area MAACLink by partnering with the Kansas City area Salvation Army.  He noted that if anyone was interested in seeing the MAACLink up and running to stop by The Salvation Army.

 

Other Business

Nau stated that the City Commission Room is no longer available on the third Thursday of each month, but it is available on the first Thursday.  She asked the Panel if they would mind switching their meetings to the first Thursday of each quarter. 

 

Miller moved to change the meeting of the full Practitioners Panel to the first Thursday of the month each quarter.  Forney seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

Knoche noted the new meeting dates were listed on the agenda.

 

Nau stated that she brought information from the HOPE Conference in Phoenix, Arizona for everyone to view and borrow, if desired.

 

Amyx commented on the HOPE Conference saying she was pleased with the progress Lawrence is making in addressing homelessness and felt the community is not as far behind as has been portrayed.

 

Amyx discuss the Continuum of Care Grant.  Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority was awarded money for a new, permanent, supportive housing project.  The project will target chronically homeless with mental and/or substance abuse issues.  Eight to ten persons will be housed.  LDCHA, Bert Nash, and DCCCA will collaborate on the project.

 

Knoche commented that this project is a new venture for the housing authority. 

 

Scott asked if LDCHA would build a new facility.  Knoche replied that they will lease an existing building.  It will be called “Hope Building.”

 

Schau inquired about the number of units.  Knoche stated that it will house eight to ten single occupancy units.  Single occupancy is the housing of choice based upon information gathered from group forums.

Amyx stated that Bridges to Independence, 911 Ohio, and Project Able were not funded.  She stated they will continue to provide housing for those at Bridges and will continue to serve that population, but in a different manner.  Bert Nash will use more innovative ideas for housing.  The greatest loss with Bridges closing will be losing the luxury of bringing people off the street or out of the hospital and immediately placing them in housing.

 

Schau asked about input and feedback from HUD regarding the grant application.  Amyx stated that there will be a national briefing.  All the programs were approved, but there was not enough money to fund them.  Knoche reiterated that support services (Project Able) were not funded.

 

There followed a brief discussion regarding the debriefing.  The national debriefing will be held February 3rd from Noon to 3:00 p.m.  Click on the www.hud.gov, scroll to the bottom, and click on the link to the webcast.  For details on how to view it at your own computer, contact Cindy Nau. 

 

Lawrence will likely request an individual debriefing after the national debriefing.

 

Public Comment

Pam Casagrande, Lawrence Open Shelter board member, noted LOS opened December 8th.  They served 72 people in December.  One person stayed every night while 25 stayed one night and 17 stayed 10 or more nights.  Of the 72 people, 37 were men and 15 were women.

 

Adjourn

Miller moved to adjourn the meeting.  Forney seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.  The meeting adjourned at 4:55 p.m.