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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFMCoC Meeting Minutes_10-10-19 wHC editsPage 1 of 7 Fresno Madera Continuum of Care Board Meeting Date: October 10, 2019 Type: General Meeting Time: 8:40 a.m. Chair: Shawn Jenkins Location: WestCare, 1900 N. Gateway Blvd., Suite 100, Fresno, CA 93727 2019 FMCoC Board of Directors Attendance Log: Committee Position Director Organization / Agency Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Treasurer Misty Gattie-Blanco Fresno EOC Sanctuary P P AP P A P AP P P P Andrea Evans Valley Teen Ranch AP P P P AP P AP AP P AP Vice Chair & Imm. Past Chair Jody Ketcheside Turning Point Central California P P P P A P P P P P Pamela Hancock Fresno County Superintendent of Schools AP A P AP AP A A A AP AP Tumani Heights Fresno Unified School District A AP P A AP A AP Jeannemarie Caris- McManus Westside Family Preservation Services Network A A A A A A A Aprille Meza Clovis Unified School District A A P P P AP A P P A Sara Mirhadi Poverello House AP P AP P AP AP P AP P P Cary Catalano Fresno First Steps Home A A A P A A A A A A Virginia Sparks Kings View AP P P AP P P P AP P P Collaborative Applicant Rep. Doreen Eley Fresno Housing Authority P AP P P P P P P P P Member At Large Rich Penksa Mental Health Systems, Inc. AP P AP P P P AP P P P Ka Yang Clinica Sierra Vista AP AP AP P AP P P AP AP P Sara Hedgpeth-Harris Central California Legal Services, Inc. P P P P A P AP A A P Alma Martinez Community Medical Centers P P P A AP P A A A Ivonne Der Torosian Saint Agnes Medical Center A A A P A A A David Bacci Hospital Council of North and Central CA A AP AP AP AP A AP A AP Julie Mendoza HOPE Sanger A P A A A A A A A Susan Holt Fresno County DBH P P AP P P AP P P P Marianne LeCompte Wings Advocacy Fresno P P P P P P P AP P P Marissa Gonzalez My Path Home P P A A P A A Roland Geiger Eco Village Project of Fresno P AP P P A AP P P AP P Halley Crumb Retraining the Village P A A A AP A A A A A Margarita Rocha Centro la Familia AP AP AP A AP A AP AP AP AP Dr. John Dussich Elder Abuse Services, Inc. AP AP AP Delfina Vazquez Selma C.O.M. P P P A P P P AP P P Debra Rush Breaking the Chains Secretary Heidi Crabtree City of Clovis P P A P A P A A P A Regional Rep. Laura Moreno County of Fresno DSS P P P P P AP P P P P Regional Rep. Thomas Morgan City of Fresno P AP A P A P A P P P Regional Rep. Elizabeth Wisener Community Action Partnership Madera P P P P P P P AP P P Thomas Werner Clearview Outreach P P P P AP P P A A A Kiran Sandhu Madera County DSS A A P P P A P AP AP P Chair Shawn Jenkins WestCare AP P P P P P P P P P Member At Large Laura Lopez Marjaree Mason Center P P P P P P P P P P Gregorio Barboza Bishops Advocacy Committee P P P P P P P P P A Member At Large MaryAnn Knoy WestCare P P A P P A P P P P Wayne Rutledge Individual Membership P P A P P Loraine Goodwin Greenhouse Page 2 of 7 Key: Present = P Alternate Present = AP Absent = A Ana Cisneros, Kings View MaryAnn Knoy, WestCare Angela Andeola, CAPMC Melissa Mikel, Fresno Housing Authority Barbara Morozov, Fresno County DSS Misty Gattie-Blanco, Fresno EOC Beverly Vang, Fresno County DSS Neomi Carrisale, Selma COM Chelsey Ramirez, WestCare Patricia Yost, Elder Abuse Services Inc. Cheryl Vieira, Fresno County Superintendent of Schools Preston Yanez, VACCHCS-Fresno Chia Thao, Elder Abuse Services Inc. Rich Penksa, Mental Health Systems Delfina Vazquez, Selma COM Roland Geiger, Eco Village Project Doreen Eley, Fresno Housing Authority Sara Hedgpeth-Harris, CCLS Dylan Mc Cully, Fresno County DSS Sara Mirhadi, Poverello House Edith Rico, Mental Health Systems Shannon Duncan, Fresno County DSS Elizabeth Wisener, CAPMC Shawn Jenkins, WestCare Gabriela Salazar, Fresno Housing Authority Sonia De La Rosa, County of Fresno, CAO Ilse Gallardo, Centro La Familia Susan Holt, Fresno County DBH Jean Rousseau, County of Fresno, CAO Tiffany Chavarria, Fresno Housing Authority Jeannie Ochoa, Selma COM Tom Morgan, City of Fresno Jenny Gonzalez, SJVV/WestCare Valerie Norvell, Hospital Council Jody Ketcheside, TPOCC Virginia Sparks, Kings View Jolie Gordon-Browar, Fresno County DBH Wayne Rutledge, RH Community Builders Joseph Evans, Valley Teen Ranch Ka Yang, Clinica Sierra Vista Karina Aguilar, Project Access Fresno Unified Kiran Sandhu, Madera County DSS Laura Lopez, Marjaree Mason Center Laura Moreno, Fresno County DSS Leah Melidonian, Fresno County DSS Leticia Martinez, Poverello House Lucia Aguilar, Fresno County DBH Marianne LeCompte, Wings Advocacy Fresno * Please note only those who signed in are listed. Agenda/Minutes Agenda: Informational: 1. City of Fresno Update – Tom Morgan 2. Use of HEAP interest earned to fund Agreement with the Fresno Housing Authority to pay for HMIS support for HEAP projects – Doreen Eley 3. Homeless Response System – Doreen Eley 4. County of Fresno Update – Laura Moreno 5. Madera Update – Elizabeth Wisener 6. SSVF Federal Permanent Housing Conference – Laura Moreno 7. 2020 Point-In-Time Count Update – Jody Ketcheside 8. SJVV Update – Jenny Gonzalez 9. Unscheduled Public Announcements Page 3 of 7 Minutes: Meeting called to order by Chair Shawn Jenkins at 8:40 a.m. Approve October Agenda, Approve September Meeting Minutes, and Finance Report Motion: Thomas Morgan Second: Elizabeth Wisener Approved Action Item: Verbiage for Action Item was changed slightly from what was stated on the meeting agenda. 1. Recommend approval of the FMCoC to endorse the priorities identified by Fresno County and the Incorporated Cities within the County relative to Street 2 Home (S2H) – Shawn Jenkins: Barbara Poppe did a report that looked at our system to see what was working and what wasn’t. She presented her report to both the City of Fresno, County of Fresno, and the FMCoC. The FMCoC took from her report, the Four Pillars and her 13 recommendations and approved that. In the report was a suggestion to start a collective impact group called Street2Home. The County and the CoC realized later that Barbara’s report only focused on the City of Fresno and lacked input from the County’s rural communities. Sonia De La Rosa from the County Administrative Office (CAO) explained that after the presentation of the Barbara Poppe report, County representatives went out to each of the County’s 15 incorporated cities and had meetings to discuss their needs and the needs that are specific to the rural communities and if they are being addressed or not. Out of these meetings came the list of 14 priorities for the County and those incorporated cities that are for 2019 only, which would not be updated until June 2020 or as changes are occurring. The Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program (HHAP) funding is expected to come from the State and to have coordination between the County and those cities as to how those funds will be allocated in terms of services. Beside seeking an endorsement from the CoC, the CoC is asked to review the list of priorities and look at how to address some of the items since the HHAP funds are not tied to any specific services. Shawn clarified the Street2Home brings the cities, the County, and the CoC together to discuss unification of our plan and how to best use the resources without duplication. The recommendation of endorsement is about the CoC endorsing these priorities and then work with the cities and the County on these issues as best as we can and when our money fits those situations. Floor Discussion: - Jody K.: Asked for clarification on priority #11 and what the County’s vision for that is. Sonia replied it’s more of being aware of the types of funding and sharing those funding opportunities with the CoC without duplication. - Sonia: When they find out about an encampment, they try to find out whose jurisdiction it’s in and ask how they can help in cleaning up the encampment. Outreach workers are sent to assist in the cleanup of encampments with the property owner’s permission to be on site. Outreach workers are making a connection with the homeless individuals at the site and encouraging them to come inside. Sonia is starting to hear from the smaller cities when something is going on in their area regardless of whose jurisdiction it is. Sonia asking the CoC to let them know when they have something going on to allow a coordination of outreach and cleanup. An email to the listserv can be utilized to notify the CoC agencies of what’s going on in their areas, how it’s being addressed, and how to work together for resolution or interruption of ongoing outreach. - Jody K. asked Sonia to have the month of January be off-limits for any encampment cleanups due to the PIT Count. Jody will send Sonia the Save-the-Date flyer about information on the PIT Count for Sonia to disseminate to the local communities so that their people can get counted. The flyer will include volunteer information for those interested. - Roland Geiger asked what is considered an encampment. Sonia said the County of Fresno identifies 5 or more people as an encampment however, each jurisdiction might identify it differently. Shawn talked about possibly getting the CoC to fund the purchase of trash bags for outreach workers to take to the encampments. - Jean Rousseau: S2H was developed after the Barbara Poppe report was prepared; it is a layered approach to what the CoC is doing and how it gets information out to the public. It was suggested to get Public Service Announcements out to the communities on homelessness and possibly having one or two commercials. Motion: Delfina Vasquez Second: Jody Ketcheside Abstentions: Laura Moreno and Susan Holt Approved Page 4 of 7 Informational Items: City of Fresno Update was moved to the first position on the agenda due to Tom’s early departure. 1. City of Fresno Update – Tom Morgan: The City’s Citizen Engagement Service Provider will be launched as part of their 5-year Consolidated Plan that is required by HUD. Through this they can provide some CBDG funding for facility improvements and provide some hotel and motel vouchers. It’s a strategic plan for the City through Federal years 2020-2024 or the City’s years 2021-2025 and is the framework of the Annual Action Plan through which come specific funding awards. They were able to make a significant annual award to the Housing Authority for tenant-based rental assistance under the Home Program is for persons at risk of homelessness and meeting the Federal definition of homelessness. A Resident and Stakeholder meeting will be coming between November 2-7, 2019. The City has hired a firm that can run three meetings simultaneously. Starting this past week, about 130K bill payers have been getting flyers in their utility bills. Most of the school districts and the schools within the City are sending out flyers through Peachjar to convey information to approximately 30K households. New to the housing division is at least one of the community meetings will be on a Saturday morning. Information on the Consolidated Plan can be accessed either through the consultant’s website direct link at www.FresnoConPlanAI.com or the City’s site at www.fresno.gov. for community meeting times and locations. There is a link to a survey on issues of community development and housing needs will be up for 60 days and non-residents can participate in the survey. The Mosaic Community Planning will be conducting one- on-one interviews with members of the community who are involved in the initiatives. They are required by HUD to consider the input of local government outside the city and there will be some engagement with County of Madera as they are part of the CoC. Shawn asked Tom to send Heidi an email providing the link to the survey for her to distribute to the listserv. 2. Use of HEAP interest earned to fund Agreement with the Fresno Housing Authority to pay for HMIS support for HEAP projects – Shannon Duncan: Fresno Housing Authority is the CoC’s administrative for the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) which is funded through HUD grants to support HUD grants. When the State projects were brought online, they required HMIS, but they did not provide a way to pay for it. The Housing Authority has provided HMIS support and now the CoC needs to find a way to pay for that support. Although the interest income is not spelled out on the standard agreement, it must be spent on eligible homeless services activities. The CoC is being requested to consider using a portion of the HEAP interest income earned from the $9.5M HEAP funds to pay for the HMIS support instead of it coming out of existing service provider’s budget. As the Administrative Entity, the County of Fresno DSS can work directly with the Housing Authority through an agreement to fund those services. This will not be voted on today, it is only a presentation of information for the CoC to think about and voted on later this month via email. The $125K has already been committed for the HEAP programs. The check for the HEAP funds was deposited March 11, 2019 and through June 30 the interest income in the account is $63,610. Total anticipated interest income through 05/31/2021 is $229, 471, less 5% min. ($11,473.55) is designated for youth services, and less HMIS Costs ($125K) leaves remaining balance of $104,471.01 of income interest. Floor Comments: - Shannon was asked why this item was not being voted on today and she explained the CoC’s bylaws prevents information on being voted on the same day it was presented. The voting will be conducted electronically before the next meeting which will allow them to get the agreement in place before October 30th. If anyone has any questions or ideas, they are to either email Shannon directly or they can call her. - Jean Rousseau would like more on information on HMIS for both the Dept. of Behavioral Health (DBH) and Dept. of Social Services (DSS) as they are working together on how to integrate their data systems. He would like to know if there a group that has discussed what data the CoC wants in it and how can HMIS be augmented for service delivery. Laura Moreno explained there is a work group for HMIS that people can participate in and join that meets regularly. DSS has things the State is requiring that is not currently in HMIS and the Housing Authority has been open to what those things are, but they need to be paid for. The State has been informed they are requiring things for HEAP and HHAP that are not in HMIS and a new pathway would have to be built to accommodate, which adds additional costs. Agencies can join the HMIS work group or meet individually with the Housing Authority. The Housing Authority has given DSS a cost sheet that helps determine what the costs will be and how to get there. Doreen Eley has consulted with HUD, asking them can HMIS HUD funded time and resources be used on State’s programs and is waiting for their reply. Page 5 of 7 3. Homeless Response System – Doreen Eley: Coordinated Entry (CE) is used by the CoC’s agencies for every single grant. It is an effective homeless response system that coordinates the resources and houses people quickly as possible diverting them from imminent homelessness whenever possible. The four measures that ensure your performance is going well are: 1) Reduce in- flow into homelessness, 2) Increase exits to permanent housing, 3) Decrease average length of homelessness, and 4) Decrease returns to homelessness. Every system program needs to have these four things in mind. Every month Doreen will provide a new idea or information for consideration and thought. Floor Comments: - Elizabeth Wisener said her Outreach workers would benefit from a chart showing availability of their resources in her community. - Roland Geiger suggested the CoC’s concept of their interactions with the homeless be to treat them as haves instead of have nots, helping them to develop as people. - MaryAnn Knoy: The CoC as a community needs to know what the available resources are. - Sara Hedgpeth-Harris: There needs to be an increase of inventory of low-income housing for people to prevent them from being homeless. The CCLS provides eviction defense which buys people time to find another place to go. - Shawn Jenkins: PIT Count will help define how many units are needed, what the inflow is and predict the true need in the community in ending homelessness. 4. County of Fresno Update – Laura Moreno: County is working on a five-year consolidated plan; the County’s part is the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG). Laura and Shannon Duncan have done presentations at some of the smaller cities, they provide opportunities to connect with them. Shannon will be bringing the ESG information to the CoC and the links to the larger plan for the Continuum’s input. The Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program (HHAP) is a $650M block grant that provides jurisdictions with a one-time grant funds requiring regional coordination for addressing immediate homelessness challenges that includes the 58 counties within the State. The State’s CoCs will receive funding along with the 13 most populous cities, and the 58 counties will receive an allocation. The allocations will be based on each CoCs proportionate share of the state’s total homeless population based on the 2019 Point-in Time Count (PIT). The state anticipates releasing information in October, but the allocations may not be released until HUD releases the PIT Count numbers. The HHAP applications are due February 15, 2020. The program’s key elements require regional coordination, and part of the Street2Home meets that requirement. The County of Madera will also get their own allocation. There is a mandate that at least 8% of the allocation must be used to focus on youth, however, it does not require a crisis shelter and eligible uses will be defined. At the November meeting, the CoC will be asked if they want the County and the DSS to be the administrative entity as an administrative entity is required for the State to contract with and provide the funds. A question from the floor was asked if there have been prior discussions on the CoC becoming a legal entity. Shawn Jenkins said the CoC’s Executive Committee will explore what the pros and cons are of becoming a legal entity and will bring it back to the CoC for discussion and a vote. Sara with CCLS mentioned they have a three-year grant and their focus is on students and their families (K through City Community College), they are partnering with Fresno Unified and Fresno City College. They are looking at it as a whole person approach, what legal services are needed and what benefits are needed. Shannon Duncan reported on Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP): The first reporting period to the State closes September 30, 2019 and the first report is due January 1, 2021. Youth Bridge housing opened October 1st and there are five youth that are being housed through that program. Two Navigators were brought online on September 25th, one is for youth and the other is specifically for adults. The Diversion program is online now. California Emergency Solutions and Housing (CESH) – Round 2nd, the County received their award funding letter (additional $879K for round 2) but have not received the agreement. The CESH money was awarded to the CoC, the County is administering it for the CoC. A funding diagram of the services is being created showing what we have and what is needed, and it will be brought to the CoC when completed. Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) – Have received the standard agreement and those funds (another $285K) must be expended 02/2021; County will be working with Madera and on what that will look like. 5. Madera Update – Elizabeth Wisener: September 2019 Homeless Outreach update was reviewed, July-September YTD contact total was 347. A highlight of the YTD Outcomes, 17 entered drug programs, 6 were gainfully employed, and 22 were referred to Behavioral Health. Other accomplishments, an outreach worker successfully performed CPR on an individual who over dosed on Page 6 of 7 heroin. A healthy baby was born, and the parents were allowed to keep the child. Both parents have entered treatment programs. 6. SSVF Federal Permanent Housing Conference – Laura Moreno: There will be three conferences held throughout the U.S., one of the locations is in Hollywood, CA and the CoC has been allotted two spots. This is HUD approved so agencies can use some of the HUD funds and ESG funds for this. Those interested in attending need to email Laura by the end of today, stating you’re interested and a brief description what your program does. Laura will notify who were selected to attend. An agency’s program that works directly with veterans and the Effective Homeless Response System is a plus. Whoever is selected to go must be willing to share the information given with the CoC. Those going are responsible for their travel expenses but there is no cost to attend. 7. 2020 Point-In-Time (PIT) Count Update – Jody Ketcheside: The first PIT committee meeting is next Wednesday, October 16 at 10:00 a.m., those interested in participating are to let Jody know. Currently Jody is looking for a bigger venue, preferably one that can hold up to 250 people plus have storage room. Anyone with location suggestions need to email Jody. There are monies left over from last year’s PIT donation account, those final numbers will be given at the meeting. One of the items to be discussed at the meeting is the need for a new application. The intern who did a presentation at one of the previous FMCoC’s meeting expressed an interest in developing one. The committee will also look at developing an online survey themselves. The 2020 PIT Count will have a theme, those coming to the meeting are to bring their theme ideas. Shawn offered the usage of WestCare’s Blue Jeans and their video conference system to connect the committee members in the rural areas. Participation in PIT Committee’s initial monthly meetings and then the bi-weekly meetings closer to the PIT Count will count towards the required hours for CoC members in addition to the hours dedicated to the actual PIT Count will be attributed to an agency. 8. SJVV Update – Jenny Gonzalez: Currently there are 80 veterans being served, 77 are under Rapid Rehousing and 3 under Homeless Prevention. The SJVV is working on their Rapid Resolution which is a form of Diversion and they have two cases that are working well. SJVV staff will go to a training in November on Rapid Resolution. The Women’s Stand Up is on October 14th from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Pardini’s Restaurant. Veterans and that includes the National Guard and Reservists can attend and child care will be available. 9. Unscheduled Public Announcements: - Shawn Jenkins: On connecting the cities with the providers, WestCare’s video conferencing is available for providers who want to participate initially from their location. MaryAnn Knoy and Shawn had a meeting with Blake from Workforce Connection discussing how the FMCoC can coordinate something and make it more formal. Workforce Connection agreed to work with the CoC on a pilot starting the first of the year, taking 10 cases and putting them through their system and see how it works with further expansion. It was agreed for the pilot to have one contact person from the CoC and one from Workforce Connection. The CoC can do some screening as providers for eligibility of a service Workforce Connection provides. - MaryAnn Knoy: The FMCoC CES Committee is hosting the CES Partners Agreement Workshops being held at WestCare and there are four remaining spaces available. They have 17 organizations who have attended or are signed up to attend. There are signup sheets at today’s meeting and there is a registration link within the email that was sent to the listserv. They are limiting to no more than four or five organizations per each workshop. Wednesday, Oct. 16th workshop is full but the remaining three are open for enrollment. - Sara Hedgpeth-Harris: The Fresno County Public Library, Fresno State, Fresno Housing Authority, and the Central California Legal Services are sponsoring an event on November 7th. Matt Desmond, the author of Evicted will be speaking at Fresno State the evening of the 7th. There is also a traveling exhibit about eviction that is going to 10 communities around the U.S. and Fresno is one of the communities. It will be set up in the Main Library downtown, it is opening on Nov. 7 and is going till January. - Misty Gattie-Blanco: Fresno EOC Sanctuary had their grand opening for the new LGBTQ Resource Center last Thursday, they are open Monday and Friday from 10:00-5:00 and Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday till 7:00 p.m. Misty has provided brochures for anyone wanting one, if more are needed, contact Misty and she’ll get them out to whoever needs them. - Rowland Geiger: Common Space is closing in a month and they had in conjunction with UCSF offered free medical clinics to the LGBT+ community. With them closing, he wants to know if anyone picking up their work load. Misty said the Fresno EOC Page 7 of 7 Sanctuary will be handling most of everything that Common Space handled. Eco Village Project wants to do an 8 ½ x 11” two- sided handout to give to homeless people that lists the shelter, food, and their triage along with accessibility requirements. They have an undergrad student team from Fresno State working on it. Eco Village is looking for help on available resources to make sure they have everything they need. They will be contacting the agencies within the CoC to get detailed information. Also, regarding the Dakota Eco Garden, they are transitioning it to a demo site for Eco Village Project, converting it to actual shelters instead of tents. They will need a business plan for this, and Cory from Fresno State’s MBA team will be putting his business plan together. If any of the CoC’s agencies have a need to use good student teams, see Roland and he can provide a business card to the Director of the Craig School of Business who coordinates it. The Dakota Eco Garden is having an open house and potluck on Sunday, October 27th from 2:00-5:00 p.m. - Shawn Jenkins: Wings needs volunteers to help them with Wednesday’s furniture deliveries in addition to helping them organize their work space and when they receive donations. Give Marianne LeCompte a call if you have people looking for volunteer opportunities. Roland Geiger said he collects gently used furniture donations for Wings. Wings always needs furniture, especially lamps. - Gabby Salazar: Update from the HMIS team, they conducted their 2nd HMIS conference and annual training last month. They had 69 people registered for the full day and nine additional people attend the afternoon session where they talked about the year-end data. They also did some recognitions and they had three people recognized as HMIS Rock Stars and one of them was Gina Phan from Kings View Path, the second one was Sabrina DeLeon from Turning Point and Angie Edwards with WestCare. Also reviewed were the Fiscal Year 2020 HUD data standards that were effective as of October 1st. Meeting Adjourned at 11:00 a.m. Next meeting will be November 14, 2019 Location: Madera - TBD