July 28th, 2011 Meeting Minutes

July 10, 2011 Home Team Meetings 0 Comments

minutes

Notes from Home Team Meeting – July, 28 2011

For an electronic version, click here.

First Presbyterian Church – 9th & Washington, Michigan City
Convened by Unity Foundation and Duneland Health Council

 

In Attendance:  Bobbi  Petru, American Red Cross; Tom Isakson, Citizen’s Concerned for the Homeless; Mary Ann Richards, City of LaPorte - CDBG Program; Judy Pinkston, City of Michigan City – CDBG Program; Ionie Fly, Corner to Cornerstone; Norm Steider; Duneland Health Council; Mike Kilbourne, First Presbyterian Church of Michigan City; Amanda Gano & Caroline Shook, Housing Opportunities; Micki Webb, LaPorte County Drug Free Partnership; Rev. Everett Shattuck, LaPorte Ministerial Association; Lenda J. Wilson, Michigan City Housing Authority; Joyce Dalton, Open Door Health Center; Gerry Jones, Stepping Stone Shelter; and, Gabby Dziadkowiec, Sue Korte Regetz & Maggi Spartz; Unity Foundation

Facilitating:  Maggi Spartz, Unity Foundation

Opening:  Maggi Spartz opened the meeting at 8:35 AM and welcomed those in attendance.

 

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PROGRESS REPORTS & ISSUES
Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) Project:

** Highlights of Amanda Gano’s report and responses to questions:

  • 6 families and individuals are currently residing in PSH.  Another intake is scheduled for next week
  • Housing Opportunities is taking bids for rehab on the 10th Street property.  Currently, a couple of tenants occupy apartments in the back building.
  • Application Information:
    • They generally can’t do anything for the applicant if a lease is in place.  The applicant must have an eviction notice in place if there is a lease.
    • Amanda distributed guidelines on application requirements to all attendees.
    • Note:  Applicants must be homeless
    • The current HPRP is closed to new applicants.  The program will end June 30.
    • Once all units are complete, they will have 31 total units.
Prevention, Services and Income (PSI) Committee:

Sue Korte Regetz reported on behalf of Judy Hanish.  She distributed an updated matrix and recommendation list to all attendees. Following significant discussion, all four recommendations will be added to the Action Plan.

The following items will be added to the Housing Committee’s goals:

** [Re-]Inventory all available houding from all organizations.

** Propose an individual input form for human services that can be accessed by all Home Team organizations, which would expedite services for low income clients.

The following items will be added to the PSI Committee’s goals:

** Continue to pull together the churches of LaPorte County, designating one or two churches for handing out funding for individuals in need of help.

** Partner with Grace Learning Center for life skill training, such as budgeting and drug prevention.

In LaPorte, churches are beginning to talk about item #2 (see above).  Rev. Shattuck is willing to talk to the ministerial association in LaPorte about the issue.

  • A question was raised about whether HPRP would be extended.  According to Caroline Shook:  The state set aside ESG money for HPRP funding, and it’s scheduled to be released soon.  Only certain agencies can apply for funding.  The program will probably focus on Rapid Re-Housing only because it is much cheaper the prevention.  For example, during this round, they spent up to $20,000 per family on prevention because of back utility payments, etc.
  • A question was raised about the transportation item in the Action Plan.  Following discussion, it was determined that a great need still exists and it should be in the Action Plan.  Judy Pinkston mentioned that this is a major issue for Michigan City (e.g., sidewalks are needed for the ability to walk or bike to stores, people still need to get to work, people need to access the Trustees’ offices, etc.).
  • Ed Merrion commented that Catholic Charities’ budgeting class is held every Tuesday from 1-3 pm at the former St. Mary’s School in Michigan City.  Anyone is welcome to attend and learn more about it.
  • Gerry Jones noted that since we didn’t receive any FEMA EFSP funds this year, we should have come together as a community to respond to the need for utilities and housing assistance, etc.
Homeward Bound Walk:  Highlights of Gerry Jones’ report and responses to questions:
  • Gerry passed out marketing posters.
  • Pledge forms are due by next week – looking for more teams!
  • Will have entertainment & raffles to try to get more donations.
  • No parking fee this year!
  • Saturday September 24th – at Washington Park at 8 am
  • Habitat for Humanity will invite all attendees to a 3-house dedication ceremony immediately afterward on the west side
  • The Walk will once again be held in memory of the 4 people who died from exposure.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS, NEEDS & RESOURCES
Tom Isakson, Citizens Concerned for the Homeless:

Judy Hanish is retiring so they are looking for a part time administrator for Grace Learning Center.  The preferred candidate will have experience in grant writing, adult education, coordination, etc. Their open house will be held September 12th from 4-6pm – everyone will receive invitations

Micki Webb, LaPorte County Drug Free Partnership:
  • The Partnership is submitting its plan to the state. The state is limiting the number of priorities they can list.  The report is data driven, and primarily by law enforcement data.  Maximum funding available is probably $30,000.
  • LaPorte Hospital & St. Anthony’s behavioral health units are focused on mental health and stress issues  – not detox. Porter-Starke has a detox unit.
  • The Partnership is also looking at newer drug problems in the community – bath salts and “Lazy Cakes” (looks like a Little Debbie Cake but with a pothead on wrapper). People have also been found snorting plant/flower life extenders.  Micki will provide an educational session for the Home Team on these new drugs.
  • The Drug Free Partnership meets the first Wednesday of each month at noon, alternating between Michigan City (Marquette Mall Community Room) and LaPorte (1st Methodist Church).
  • Michigan City Area Schools’ McKinney Vento Grant Update:   They were supposed to know July 15, but have yet to hear.  There was a major shakeup in the Department of Education, and the homeless advocate is gone.  They hope to know more in a couple of weeks
Lenda Wilson, Michigan City Housing:  

1) NSP Home – An open house was held yesterday (7/27).  They will be closing on 2 homes soon.  3 homes are done with 2 more to go.  2) The  GED program is going well.  They have seen 170 graduates from LaPorte County.  3) Wexford is expanding and will have 8 more units for the elderly.  They are breaking ground now, so they should be available in the spring or summer.

Joyce Dalton, Open Door Health Center:

They have seen an increase in female ex-offenders from the Bradley Center seeking all kinds of help – 9 just this week!

Bobbi Petru, Red Cross:

They are seeing an increase in requests for transportation out of the area. People come here seeking work and then want to go home – seeing 3 or 4 a week

Rev. Everett Shattuck, LaPorte Ministerial Association:

He recommends everyone read the book Bridges out of Poverty.

Note:  The United Way of Porter County is hosting a Bridges Out of Poverty all-day workshop on October 6 in Valpo.  The cost is $35 per person, and the presenter is Jodi Pfarr, who taught the all-day sessions in Michigan City.  Register online at www.INRNWEST.blogspot.com.

 Judy Pinkston, City of Michigan CDBG Program

Several homes are under construction.  She has heard positive comments from the neighborhood.  A developer has been secured for the Neighborhood Plan, which is being developed because they need more neighborhood input.  A lot of money has been pumped into the project, but there needs to be more growth to the progress that has already been made. Many people from Home Team will be contacted for names of neighborhood folks whose involvement would be helpful.

Amanda Gano, Housing Opportunities:

If anyone has questions on permanent supportive housing guidelines (e.g. definition of disability/homelessness) call the Michigan City office at (219) 814-4687.  If calling between 8am-4pm, the phone will be answered.  If no one is in the Michigan City, it will roll over to the Valpo office.  Right now they are taking appointments only, no walk ins. Currently the low income rentals in Michigan City are full and they are not doing a waiting list since it could take around a year to fill them.  3 units are houses they received from North Central Community Action Agencies.

Note:  Dwight Graham is retiring from Habitat for Humanity.

Maggi Spartz, Unity Foundation:

MCAS set up a new fund (“Dress for Success”) at Unity which provides uniforms for low income students.  Unity is currently seeking donations to grow the fund. This fund is not endowed and will just be paid out. Schools get to decide who gets the uniforms/money and products will be purchased through St. Andrew’s Products. Also, a donor established a new fund for housing & homelessness, which will be endowed, and the proceeds will be available in about 18 months.  And, we received some cookware from a donor that will be available to anyone who needs it after it’s been inventoried.

Sue Korte Regetz, Unity Foundation:

Unity’s annual luncheon is Tuesday October 18 from 11:30am-1:00pm at the Best Western in LaPorte.  Grant applicants will be notified one way or another mid September, and recipients will receive their grants at the luncheon.

 

REMINDERS AND NEXT MEETING:
  • August 25 – 8:30 am – Home Team Meeting
  • September 20 & 21 – Statewide Housing Conference – Indy – www.instatewideconference.net
  • September 22 – NO HOME TEAM MEETING
  • September 24 – 8 am – Homeward Bound Walk – Washington Park
  • October 27 – 8:30 am – Home Team Meeting