LAWRENCE DOUGLAS COUNTY ADVOCACY COUNCIL ON AGING

Independence Inc., 2001 Haskell Avenue, Lawrence, KS 6044

Minutes of December 19, 2017

 

 

Attending:   Mary Johnson, Ellen Paulsen, Brenda Nunez, Lisa Barnes, Administrator (Medicalodges) Kathy Bockrath, RN (Medicalodges), Tamara Cash, Marvel Williamson (Senior Resource Center), Karen Keintzen, Judy Bellome

 

Judy welcomed all attendees to the meeting and introduced our speaker Shannon Oury, Exec Director for the Lawrence Douglas County Housing Authority. 

 

Following is a summary of the program highlights.

The LDCHA serves 3 populations in the county:

·         Seniors – in Babcock Place, Peterson Acres, and Clinton Place.

·         Disabled community

·         Families – Edgewood community and 95 scattered sites.

 

Hope House – partnering with Bert Nash and DCCA.  There are 6 residents in transition who can move out into the community.

 

Upcoming project includes Supportive Housing Tier 3 apartments – across from Bert Nash.  This will have a case manager on site.  This project has a big council of players – Bert Nash, Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Healthcare Access, DCCA and Douglas County.  The project is moving to work through HUD as there are federal funds available.  Time Frame for Tier 3 – break ground in 2018.

 

Moving to Work program – helps increase self-sufficiency, reduce administration. The program pays for a lot of education for participants.  Since 2002, 80 people have transitioned and become first time home buyers.  The Moving to Work program contract has been renewed to 2028.

 

Re-entry Program –5 Vouchers lasting 24 months – partnering with re-entry team, and Sheriff’s dept.  If there are no problems during the 24 months, then people get into the regular Section 8 program.

 

Safe housing vouchers- program started in 2016 teaming Family Promise and the Willow. 

Next Step – for kids aging out of foster care, partnering with VanGo.

 

New Horizons – transitional housing for families in the shelter.  Currently 12 families are in the program.

 

VASH – a program for homeless veterans – partnering with the VA.

 

Announcements –

·         AARP and the CARE Act -AARP is gearing up for education programs in Douglas and Shawnee counties.  Our group will be helping in the local effort.

·         Transportation – please go online to the city website and vote for the bus hub site.

 

The next meeting will be January 16th at 11:30 for eat and greet so bring your lunch and visit.

·         January speaker will be representatives for AARP to provide details of the CARE Act training.

               

 

 

Breakout groups: Transportation – Brenda, MaryJ, Ellen, Dawn Caregiving – Michele D, Tamara, Judy Accessibility – Saunny, _____? Affordable Housing – Tamara, Brenda, Dawn Respectfully submitted,

 

Mary Johnson, Secretary