May18, 2011 Meeting Minutes

1.                  Meeting called to order at 2:00 PM by Chair Phedra Elliott.

2.                  Attendance: Phedra Elliott – Chair, Sarah VanCleve – Secretary, Sally Santana – Member at Large, Darlene Cook, Walt LeCouteur, Betsi Kuker, Greg Fontenette, Jim Stowers, Clara Ann Ness, Trudy Stacy, Susan Brown, Diana Gilman, Imari Stone, Linda Kerkes, Danielle Perez, Julie Graves, Raelenea Rodriguez, Tamee Cyphers, Terry Schroeder, Susan Brown, Kirsten Jewell, Dave Frederick, Beverly Kincaid

3.                  Introductions were made around the table.

4.                  Agenda Review:  No changes were made to the agenda.

Minutes: April Meeting minutes – Walt pointed out an error on the section about Georgia’s Place; there are 24 beds in Georgia’s Place.  Sally Santana moved to approve, Betsey Kuker seconded and they were approved as corrected. 

Westsound Treatment – Robin O’Grady:  Westsound Treatment celebrated their 30^th anniversary this year.  They incorporated in 1981as Awareness Express.  They provide several programs to over 1,200 low-income participants annually.  Programs include:

• Chemical Dependency Assessment and Treatment – crises stabilization, treatment, information, life and job readiness skill development and one-on-one counseling.
• O’Hana House – Serves 8 low-income homeless, chemically dependent women and their children with safe and sober housing with case management.
• The Lighthouse – Serves 8 low-income homeless, chemically dependent men with safe and sober housing with case management.
• Forward Bound – Permanent housing, supportive services and case management to 14 homeless families with multiple barriers, utilizing many community partners.  Rent is subsidized through project-based vouchers so that the resident pays 30% of their income for rent.
• Oxford Houses of WA partnership – Provide homeless housing to 8 low-income women and their children.
• Department of Veterans Affairs partnership – Provide full-time case management staff and support at the Building 9 Transitional Housing program.

Strategic plans for 2011-2013 include:

• Expand treatment center using Recovery Oriented Systems of Care (ROSC).
• Seek innovative ways to develop employment opportunities for participants.
• Build WSTC individual, foundation and corporate donor base.

Coordinated Grant Application – Kirsten Jewell:  There is a public hearing on the coordinated grant application on Tuesday 5/24.  The public hearing will be part of the KRCC board meeting and will begin about 8:45 am.  They will also be discussing the two set-asides that have been proposed by the CoCC.  The mandatory technical assistance meeting is on Thursday 5/26 at the Norm Dicks Government Center.  Those who want to apply for public service grants need to attend from 9 am to 11 am.  Those who are interested in applying for capital grants need to attend from 1 pm to 3 pm.   Since there have been significant changes, it is recommended that the person who will be filling out the application attends.  An optional pre-submittal review can be done, by appointment until July 8.  Interviews will be held the first week of September.  The application packet is online and a calendar is at the front of the packet.  They will be using partial electronic submittal, but will still require 3 paper copies and 1 pdf on a cd or jump drive.   The CoCC will need to identify 2 persons to sit on the Grant Review Committee (GRC) for the public service applications and two people for the capital applications.  We will discuss the process for this at a later date.

CoCC Bylaws – Phedra Elliott:  There were not enough member agencies to fulfill of quorum of 2/3 of the membership, so the voting on the bylaws will be done via email.

WSCH Conference – Any Attendees:  Kirsten talked to several persons about coordinated entry.  One interesting concept is that of coordinated exit, which is the concept of what is in place in community support networks to help people when they exit the system.  There was also discussion regarding the legislative session.  Persons were asked to call legislators regarding SHB 2048.  Members were also encouraged to call federal legislators regarding the McKinney-Vento funding.  There was also some good information regarding the comparison of HMIS data with DSHS data and discussion of using HMIS for the PIT count.  There was a question asked regarding information on emergency room services, due to a person being homeless.  Downtown Emergency Services Center (DESC) in King County presented information about Housing First, including a study showing that some emergency room services decreased due to people having a place to live.  There was discussion about a bill that will limit the number of visits to the ER; it is unclear exactly how this will affect uninsured persons and people on Medicaid.  There was discussion about permanent supportive housing the the cost of housing persons versus the cost of medical treatments, as the article “Million Dollar Murray” points out.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Outside Homeless – Sally Santana:  At the last meeting, they had a discussion regarding pursuing the creation of a winter shelter/drop-in center.  Leif Bentsen and Major Baker are drafting a plan.

Community Education and Outreach – Sally Santana:  They are working on the “Ways to Help the Homeless” brochure and will bring an update to the next meeting.  If you have something you would like added, send it to Sally.

Severe Weather – Jim Stowers:  There is discussion about having the existing shelters pick up an additional load during extreme weather by having increased numbers at their shelters. 

AGENCY UPDATES:

Coffee Oasis – Dave Frederick:  They had their first annual graduation ceremony last Friday and graduated 32 youth.  They had nine business partnerships who helped with the ceremony.  It was a wonderful ceremony and youth took great pride in their accomplishments over the past year.  The shelter is moving along. 

Housing Kitsap – Julie Graves:  Coffee Oasis is partnering with Nollwood (one of HK’s public housing developments).  They put on an Easter event for the residents of Nollwood.  HK staff have seen a positive impact on the families; once the kids gets involved, the parents start interacting.  It is a positive partnership.

OneChurch One Family – Susan Brown:  They are partnering with Youth for Christ.  They will be getting a trailer and using YFC caseworkers to work with the families.  This will be used for foster children who are aging out of foster care.

Kitsap Transit – Trudy Stacy:  The Board passed a resolution to keep paper transfers indefinitely.  ORCA cards continue to be provided for no cost to low-income persons.  They are working on a simplified application that agencies will be able to complete for clients.

Kitsap Parent-Child Assistance Program – Clara Ann Ness:  Brochures for the Parent-Child Assistance program were distributed.

Kitsap Community Resources – Darlene Cook:  Energy assistance money is still available.  Call 360-479-1507 to schedule and appointment. 

Kitsap Recovery Center – Linda Kerkes:  They have space for 4 males and 2 females at the  Guest House.  Community service with KRC is required as part of that program.

O’hana House: – Tammee Cyphers:  They currently have one bed available for women. 

The Lighthouse – Imari Stone:  They currently have a great group of men staying there.  Their biggest struggle is finding employment.

Bremerton Housing Authority – Sarah VanCleve:  The Summit is open; they have 8 tax-credit units still available. 

Kitsap Regional Coordinating Council – Kirsten Jewell:  The HMIS Manager Meeting is being rescheduled.

DSHS – Bremerton CSO – Danie Perez:  Information about CSO services was distributed.

Housing Resources Board – Phedra Elliott:  They are breaking ground on Ferncliff Village.  Eighteen have been sold.  To qualify, a family must be below 80% AMI for Kitsap County.

Sound Grants – Bev Kincaid:  Bev is on the search committee for an Executive Director for Habitat for Humanity.  Information is on their website.  They are still accepting applications.

Georgia’s House – Walt LeCouteur:  Walt reported that they are currently housing 11 women and 5 children. 

Bremerton Rescue Mission – Walt LeCouteur:  Their Tuesday/Thursday mealsite is a little shaky, but still running.  They are at the DSHS/Bremerton CSO office on Auto Center Way at noon.

The meeting adjourned at 3:45 pm.

Respectfully Submitted,

Sarah VanCleve, Secretary