City of Lawrence
Homeless Issues Advisory Committee
January 9, 2018 minutes
|
MEMBERS PRESENT: |
Vivian Baars, Nickie Daneke, Mathew Faulk, Erick Ogwangi, Dana Ortiz, Teri Smith
|
|
MEMBERS ABSENT: |
Michael Brouwer, Cary Strong
|
|
STAFF PRESENT: |
Danelle Dresslar, Brad Karr |
1. Introductions
The committee members introduced themselves.
2. Approve minutes from October 10, 2017 meeting
Smith moved to approve the minutes from October 10, 2017. Baars seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0.
Ortiz arrived at the meeting.
3. Receive 2017 3rd quarter report from Bert Nash Homeless Outreach Team
Smith asked if there were any significant changes from the last quarter. Faulk said the most significant would be the struggle with the downturn in staff and they cannot serve the same number of clients.
Ogwangi asked if demographics on those with mental health issues could be included on the quarterly report. Faulk said he would look at the data to see if the information could be extracted and reported.
Faulk moved to receive the 2017 3rd quarter report from Bert Nash Homeless Outreach Team. Ogwangi seconded the motion. The motion passed 6-0.
4. Housing Vision Reports
a. Non-Housing – BoS CoC
Daneke informed the committee of a Kansas Statewide Homeless Coalition meeting on March 6, 2018. The place and time have not yet been determined.
Dresslar told the committee the coordinated entry was currently being worked on.
Faulk indicated there was a Point-in-Time count training later today.
b. Emergency Shelter/Temporary Housing – LCS Update
Shine Adams, Interim Executive Director of LCS, spoke to the committee about preliminary end of year client numbers. 753 unique individuals were served, of which 57 were children; 128 were assisted in finding employment; 159 were assisted in finding housing. LCS currently has three case managers who average 25 clients each. An additional 35 clients are either waiting in line for case management, or are just passing through. The case managers are averaging 40 hours/month face time with clients.
Smith asked how long the average stay was for an individual. Adams said it was a difficult question due to serving clients at different capacities; some are severely mentally ill and require a longer time to assist. The average transient individual and those receiving case management had an average stay of 110 days. LCS is shooting for 90 days, which is the CoC target.
Ortiz asked about nightly intake during the overflow cold periods. Adams said they now have a digital rolling bed list to determine who is in case management and who is not and the past history of clients. Using the list allows the staff to forecast the number of clients in case management, or about to get into case management, and save a bed for them. 105 spots are reserved for those in case management; the remaining 35 beds in the cold periods are first come first serve nightly, with some exceptions.
c. Transitional Housing/Supportive Services and Permanent Housing – Section 8 Program – LDCHA – Nickie Daneke
Daneke spoke to the committee about the LDCHA voucher programs, TBRA, New Horizons, and HOPE House. Landlords have been pretty receptive to reducing the rent on some units in order to stay under HUD’s 40% of income spent on housing rule. New Horizons is at full capacity, but is awaiting an additional $50,000 in awarded funding from Douglas County; there are four families currently on the wait list. HOPE House has two additional units based on expansion; individuals would need to score at least a 10 on the vulnerability index to qualify. Section 8 in 2017 was at 98% - 100% utilization.
d. Permanent Supportive Housing – Project Able Update – Vivian Baars
Baars told the committee the Project Able program’s 14 units were currently full, including five units for families; four units are case managed by Bert Nash. Ortiz asked if they anticipated any openings. Baars said no, but it could change anytime; they do keep a waiting list.
5. Calendar/Miscellaneous – Next Meeting April 10, 2018
The committee received the email. Smith suggested the individual contact the Lawrence Police Department. Faulk said they could refer to the City ordinances about panhandling to become more informed about the policy. Adams said the LCS policy on panhandling indicated a client could not stay at the shelter and panhandle. Dresslar said she would respond to the email with the direction from the committee.
6. Public Comment
Kate Gramlich with the Lawrence Public Library spoke to the committee about her interest in homeless issues, and also to find out how the library could help. Dresslar indicated staff would add her name to the listserv for this committee.
7. Adjourn
Faulk moved to adjourn the meeting. Smith seconded the motion. The motion passed 6-0.
Attendance Record
|
Members |
1/10/17 |
4/11 |
7/11 |
10/10 |
1/9/18 |
4/10 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vivian Baars |
+ |
+ |
E |
+ |
+ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael Brouwer |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
E |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nickie Daneke |
|
|
|
+* |
+ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mathew Faulk |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Laurie Hooker |
+ |
E |
+^ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trent McKinley |
E |
+ |
+ |
E |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Erick Ogwangi |
+* |
E |
+ |
+ |
+ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dana Ortiz |
E |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Teri Smith |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cary Strong |
U |
U |
U |
U |
U |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
X - Meeting Cancelled Due to Inclement Weather
E - Excused Absence
U - Unexcused Absence
() – Last meeting in term.
* - First meeting in term.
^ - Last Meeting
# - Meeting not official – no quorum