September 21, 2011 Meeting Minutes

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

2.                  Attendance: Phedra Elliott – Chair, Darlene Cook – Vice-Chair, Sarah VanCleve – Secretary, Sally Santana – Member at Large, Walt LeCouteur, Jim Stowers, Diana Gilman, Laura Kahle, Danielle Perez, Laura Schaeffer, Terry Schroeder, Rochelle Doan, Tamra Ingwaldson, Dave Frederick,  Susan Brown, Darin Gemmer, Clara Ann Ness, Betsi Kuker, Jim Baker, Ruth Gibbs, Sheila Gilliam, Kirsten Jewell

3.                  Introductions were made around the table.

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

Minutes: June  meeting minutes – Sally Santana moved to approve, Darlene Cook seconded and they were approved as presented. 

Nominating Committee – Sheila Gilliam: The slate of nominees for the Officers was emailed out to the members in mid-August.  The slate consists of the following:  Rochelle Doan – Chairperson effective 1/1/2012, Darlene Cook – Vice Chair (and will be Interim Chair through 12/31/2011), Sarah VanCleve – Secretary and Sally Santana – Member at Large.  Sheila asked if there were any nominations from the florr.  There were none.  Tamra Ingwaldson moved and Walt LeCouteur seconded to approve the slate of Officers as presented.  The motion was passed.

Veterans and Human Services Levy – Kitsap County Proposition 1 – Sally Santana: Sally sent around a Question/Answer brochure, a Donation/Endorsement form and a sheet for people to sign up if they would like to be included on the KitsapCares endorsement list.  The committee has moved forward to get signs printed and hope to be able to get an endorsement list in the newspaper.  Leif brought some Voter Registration packets so that the meal programs and other organizations who see homeless persons can get them signed up to vote if they aren’t already registered.  Next Tuesday 9/28, is the Kitsap Regional Coordinating Council meeting.  We have a small amount of time to talk about the levy and why it is needed to the board and those in the audience.  The meetings are also aired on BKAT.  The Eggs & Issues Forum sponsored a debate of the levy; Leif represented the pro side and Jack Hamilton the con.  Leif and Major Jim Baker also spoke with the Editorial Board of The Kitsap Sun, as did Jack Hamilton.  We need to get Letters to the Editor written so that we can show support of the levy and get the information out there.  The committee has put together a Media Background document.  Everyone has a personal Christmas card/email list; send everyone in Kitsap County information about the levy and ask them to endorse it and to send on to their friends.  Let’s get the word out.  The Democrats have endorsed the levy and given a contribution.  They will be doing a news release regarding the  endorsement. 

Washington State Coalition for the Homeless (WSCH) – Terry Schroeder:  The WSCH and Washington Low Income Housing Alliance (WLIHA) have agreed to merge.  The merger is effective October 1.  They will be releasing a statement to that effect soon.  At the Board meeting for the WSCH, there was discussion of their Legislative agenda, which will be presented with the WLIHA.  In December, the WLIHA will have a celebration of the merger of the two organizations in conjunction with their annual meeting.  More information to come on both the Legislative Agenda and the WLIHA Annual Meeting/Celebration.  Terry will also send out the news release about the merger once it becomes available.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Severe Weather – Sally Santana:  The Homeless in Kitsap newsletter had correct information on the severe weather shelter for this upcoming winter.  The only change from last year is that the opening of the shelter will be determined by the weather in Bremerton.

Outside Homeless – Sally Santana:  They spent some time going over the levy and where we are in that process.  There was discussion regarding the issue of the Disability Lifeline – Unemployable (DL-U) recipients who will be terminated on October 31, with assistance for some available through the Housing and Essential Needs (HEN) Program.  It is not known for sure what organization will be handling will be handling HEN, but should be determined soon.  All of the DL- U will continue to receive medical assistance.  The OH Committee decided to send a request to the SK Soroptimists to request 100 hygiene kits for female recipients of DL-U.

Quarterly Indicators – Terry Schroeder:  Siri and Terry met regarding the report.  They would like to see if there is a way to gather some information from HMIS for some of the categories.  There were some categories that were very difficult to gather the information and they discussed whether they should/could not include those categories.  Kirsten said she was willing to meet with them and go over some of the items.

Community Education and Outreach – Terry Schroeder: The CEO Committee does not currently have a chair.  There is not anyone who is currently willing to take this on and the committee would like clarification on what their goals are and what the CoCC wants them to work on.  The Executive Committee agreed to look at this in January and come up with goals.

Project Connect – Phedra Elliott:  United Way has a few board members who are willing to assist with a Project Connect event.  A meeting has been set up with the board members, Dave Foote (ED) and Phedra and Terry.  Other CoCC members who are interested in assisting with this effort are invited to attend this meeting and to let Phedra know of your interest.

Coordinated Entry – Kirsten Jewell:   The Coordinated Entry Committee has not been active since the RFP was approved by the KRCC.  There was only one response to the RFP, so the KRCC has decided to do a Sole Source Contract with that agency, KCR.

Veterans and Human Services Levy – Sally Santana:  The committee has decided to have signs printed (and have enough money to do so).  They will get them printed as soon as possible and out on the streets. 

AGENCY UPDATES:

KCR – Darlene Cook:  They will begin scheduling for energy assistance appointments on September 26 and begin seeing clients for energy assistance on 10/10.

Coffee Oasis – Dave Frederick:  They have purchased the building that they are in.  The architectural plans are expected to be done in October and then sent to permitting.  In December, they hope to start the remodel of the building.  They will have beds for 8 youth in three bedrooms, which will provide them a little flexibility.

Kitsap Interfaith Network – Sally Santana:  Hunger and Homelessness Week is November 13-19.  There will be a conference on Wednesday November 16 addressing poverty in Kitsap.  It does conflict with the CoCC meeting.  There was discussion regarding changing the CoCC meeting, i.e. moving it up a week.  On Saturday, there will be a lunch at The Salvation Army with elected officials serving the food.  Churches are doing a hoody drive for youth, but it hasn’t been determined how they would best be distributed. 

YWCA – Jackie Brown:  October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.  On October 14, the Kitsap County Domestic Violence Task Force is having a summit, regarding Human Trafficking and Youth.  There will be a “Week Without Violence” and a Survivor Celebration.  They currently have one opening in the shelter and one unit in North Kitsap in their transitional housing for a family who is homeless due to domestic violence.

Bremerton Rescue Mission – Walt LeCouteur:  They have received their shower unit and it should be ready to be out to the streets in October.  They will have the shower unit and food truck at the Norm Dicks Government Center on the Friday night of the Homelessness and Hunger Week.

West Sound Youth For Christ – Darin Gemmer:  They are moving to Silverdale on October 1.  Their address will be: 10125 Frontier Place NW, Silverdale (across from CK Junior High).  They serve at risk youth and provide Idenpendent Living Skills for youth ages 15-21 who are foster care related.  They have combined their West Bremerton and North Kitsap offices to Silverdale.

Parent Child Assistance Program – Clara Ann Ness:  The have room for a couple of women in their program, which serves pregnant women who have used drugs/alcohol during their pregnancy.

StandUp for Kids – Susan Brown:  They continue to support requests for food and clothing for homeless youth from the alternative schools in the county.

North Kitsap Fishline – Rae Rodriguez:  The Gateway Fellowship is holding their 2^nd Annual Day of Hope on October 8 from 10 am to 2 pm.  It is similar to Project Connect, where they try to connect those in need with services.

Bremerton Housing Authority – Sarah VanCleve:  The Summit is 65% leased and Bay Vista South is almost completed.  Nothing is open right now.  They are experiencing some staff reductions, due to a loss of funding from the federal government.  The biggest cut is in the Contract Management through the State of Washington as well as some other states.  They have had to eliminate over 25 positions; it has been difficult for all of the staff.

Crime Victims Awareness – Tamra Ingwaldson:  Brochures about the program were distributed.  She has more in the car, if someone would like a bunch to put out in their organization.  October is Anti-Bullying month and they are focusing especially on cyber bullying.  It is not really a school-related issue, but often it involves the school.  Tamra can assist with legal issues related.  Peer pressure is the most important way to get cyber buyllying stopped.

KCR – Jim Stowers:  Their shelters are full.  They have not been using the Safe Park as much, due to Sally’s Camp and Georgia’s Place, but it is still available.  The families in the Safe Park are case managed, just like any other family in one of their programs.   North Kitsap also has a Safe Park for homeless single women.

Westsound Treatment – Betsi Kuker:  Forward Bound is full.  They have a waiting list and will refer out to other programs.

Kitsap Recovery Center – Laura Kahle:  The Guest Program is full.  The persons housed there are also case managed.  Many of them are getting housed in an Oxford House and other sobriety housing.

Kitsap Mental Health Services – Rochelle Doan: KCR helped weatherize some of their facilities.  There will be another Mental Health First Aid class in November.

Housing Resources Board – Phedra Elliott:  They are accepting applications for the home ownership project, Ferncliff Village.  There are 24 homes being built.  Phedra will send an electronic application to Terry to be included in the TJ.  They also had 8 apartments weatherized through KCR.

The Salvation Army – Major Jim Baker: They will take applications for the holiday two weeks earlier than normal.  In mid-October, persons who are interested in being a Bell Ringer will need to apply through Labor Ready.  Nothing new on the Hygiene Center.  Their meal count is slightly higher than last month, with an average of 158 meals/day (1/3 at breakfast and 2/3 at lunch).

Kitsap Regional Coordinating Council – Kirsten Jewell:  The Grant Review Committee had an incredibly difficult job making recommendations for the Coordinated Grant Program.  It was a difficult cycle with more than two times as many requests as there was money available.  The recommendations will be released this Friday morning (September 23).  They will go to the KRCC Board on Tuesday September 27 and they will open the public comment period for 30 days.  There will be a public hearing on November 1, at a special KRCC Board meeting and the Board will take action at that special meeting.  On October 6, there will be an HMIS Users Meeting at 9 am at KCR, 845 – 8^th Street, with HMIS Basic Training at 10:30.  RSVP to Kirsten if you plan to attend.

DSHS – Danielle Perez:  WorkFirst Case Managers are meeting with those customers who are on a “Child Only” case  to determine if they will continue to be eligible.  Those who are receiving a “Non-Needy Relative” assistance because they are taking care of a relative’s child (such as a grandchild, niece/nephew, etc.), are also being assessed as there are now income eligibility guidelines.  All are encouraged to apply to determine if they are eligible instead of assuming they will not be eligible.  They have not been able to fill any positions recently and now have only two supervisors in the office.

Veterans Assistance Program – Leif Bentsen:  There is a Veterans Loan Program for home repairs through Habitat for Humanity.  The Veterans Assistance Program will be down about $100,000 next year.  Leif distributed voter registration packets to anyone who could get them out.  Persons can give a street address, but must have a mailing address, which can be an agency address.  There were 138 veterans at the StandDown.  The numbers were down a bit, primarily due to having the event on a weekday instead of a weekend.

The meeting adjourned at 3:50 pm.

Respectfully Submitted,

Sarah VanCleve, Secretary