IMPORTANT additional information for today’s MCOC meeting!!!

Portland and Presque Isle Teleconferencing sites are not available today.  Folks who would use those sites, or are otherwise not able to travel to sites in Augusta, Bangor or Farmington are encourage to call in. The conference line number is 1-866-316-1519 and the code is 9284295#

Below are links to additional documents we will be reviewing at the meeting today. Please print, or have access to these electronically during the meeting.

MCOC-Agenda- 1-16-14

Maine COC Ranking Chart 1-14-14

MCOC Governance with approved revisions 6 2013

Joint CoC Governance Charter Final Jan 2014

CoC Recusal Statement

MCoC – Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Policy 12 2013

And, as previously posted, MCOC-DRAFT-Minutes 12-19-13

 

FY 2013 – FY 2014 Continuum of Care Program Competition Resource Update

• Today, HUD posted the resource, Additional Guidance for Questions 3A, Objectives 1 through 4 to respond to specific questions on Section 3A. CoC Performance and Strategic Planning Objectives. The information posted provides additional detail on the source, date range and filters to apply for each of the data elements required in Section 3A. There is no additional guidance for Objective 5 at this point since we have not received any questions or requests to further clarify the objective.

• To assist CoCs to provide HUD the final approved Housing Inventory Count (HIC) and Point-in-Time (PIT) count data from HUD’s Homeless Data Exchange (HDX), HUD will post PDFs with this data for each CoC. The data in the spreadsheet reflects what was officially submitted to HUD via the HDX, and is what HUD will use in the assessment process. This data should be available no later than Thursday, January 16, 2013 and will be located on the CoC Program Competition Resources page.

• Over the past several weeks, HUD has posted FAQs on several topics, including:
  • What to do with planning grants that are on the CoCs GIW, but have not been executed by December 31, 2013
  • How to calculate the average length of time project participants remain in housing for ES, TH, SH, PSH and RRH programs
  • What data should a CoC be comparing to determine the change in the current CoC’s sheltered and unsheltered PIT count

1.5.2014 CHOM vacancies Here is the most current listing of vacancies at CHOM.   Please forward this on to members within your organization who may find it useful.

If you have any questions about the data in the report, please do not hesitate to call.  Thank you!

THIS LISTING IS FOR SERVICE PROVIDER REFERENCE ONLY. PLEASE DO NOT PROVIDE TO INDIVIDUAL CLIENTS.

If have not yet completed your renewal application for the Maine CoC NOFA application, this is a reminder that it is due by 5:00 pm today.   Here is a listing of the 22 projects that have been submitted as of 12:00 pm today:

City of Bangor: PRA Northside, TRA Consolidated 8714, 8715, 8715

OHI Chalila Apartments

Maine HMIS

Maine Planning Grant

YCS Smith Transitional, Within, and Brand New Day

KBH Mid Maine Supported Housing

Millbridge Harbor

Tedford 19 Pleasant St.

Maine 1-13, 2-13, SB SH 13, Penobscot 1-13, SB YCS 13

CHOM Permanent Housing for Homeless Veterans

Shaw House: Tenant Education, Waterworks, Outreach

Region 3 Homeless Council Monthly Meeting – AGENDA

103 Texas Ave, Bangor Health and Community Services

January 8, 2014 – 2:00 to 4:00 pm Note time change this meeting only

Conference call  #1.877.455.0244; passcode: 2073564836#

 

2:00-2:10 Welcome/Introductions (sign-in sheet), adjustments to the agenda

2:10-2:30 Statewide Homeless Council update

2:30 -3:15 Discussion Topics:

1.  Pressing issues in Region III

2.  Efforts at ending long term homelessness – Long term stayers

3.  Recommendations to Statewide Homeless Council

3:15-3:30 Regional Council take on MaineCare expansion with local representatives.

3:30-3:40 State and Federal Updates

2:40-2:45 Nomination process for Chair

3:45-4:00 Agency updates – Including a review of numbers of people who are homeless at each facility/program

Set Agenda for the Next Meeting:  (2/12/14, 1-3pm) same location

 

Region 3 Homeless Council Monthly Meeting – Minutes

103 Texas Ave, Bangor Health and Community Services

December 11, 2013 – 1:00 to 3:00 pm

 

1:00-1:10 Welcome/Introductions (sign-in sheet), adjustments to the agenda

• Rindy Fogler, City of Bangor
• Kat Perkins , Spruce Run/Womancare Alliance
• Cullen Ryan, CHOM
• Catherine Sullivan, PCHC Hope House,
• Phil Allen, Preble Street Veteran Housing Services
• Keri Dunton Preble Street Veteran Housing Services
• Dennis Marble, BAHS
• Karen Martin,  Bangor VA Clinic
• Joe Locke, MSHA (phone) 
• Steve Eyler (phone)
• Candy Eaton, DHHS/SAMHS (phone) note-taker
• Kerry Polyot-Stefani, Stepping Stones (phone)
•  
• Regrets:  Rebecca Hobbs, The Next Step; Mary Ellen Quinn, CHCS

 

1:10-1:30 Statewide Homeless Council update

            Steve will start attending the SHC meetings in the future.

Yesterday:   Lewiston/Auburn – roundtable – review SHC 12-13, 3 each region, director Maine Housing, DHHS/SAMHS, DOC, Regional participation,  reviewed plan, Bob Rowe, New Beginnings welcome –

Dialogue about all the new changes in Lewiston/Auburn.  Issues with political environment, teens / adults unable to access services, adult homeless shelter access – gospel mission seen as challenging high barrier, receive MSH $, don’t proselytize, underground homelessness in area; political climate – mayor & city council not supporting low income housing or shelters; solutions – using point in time data more effectively, count numbers well, get more people involved, military, CDBG planning, jobs & housing ideas, data collection.  Action steps:  data collection, trading volunteers, personal stories, relationships, urban development plan – drive around (parts of Lewiston are looking like New Orleans after the hurricane) condemned buildings, entire areas, driving people out of affordable housing; huge problem – fire depts. won’t go into area.  Not a clear plan – group continue to meet, access resources.  Keep funds in Region 2.  Good turnout–60 attended meeting. 

 

Lewiston facing extreme economic challenges.  Reasonable discussion with city manager re: workforce housing, homeless housing.  Quite a bit behind the rest of the state.  Recommend formal discussion at next SHC re: fed/state funding for homeless shelters (elephant in the room).  Advise MSHA to hold shelters accountable.  Prior advisory report to legislation, MSHA, DHHS, etc. re: this issue.

 

Barriers to general assistance.  1.800.442.6003 – call if denied services. 

 

Maine Military Community Network – point in time count in area, creative ideas, distribute info

Open 800 # at Preble St to get better idea of true homeless count in Lewiston.  Grassroots efforts.  PATH program is assisting.  Sanford had success with weeklong data gathering – 1 day too short.  Coaching of survey takers – sensitive to community (trained) – what does homelessness look like.

Difficult to count those who want to be off the grid.

 

Phil Allen, homless vets Preble St., expand services statewide – support services from VA

Bangor area, L/A area, case managers – 15 Main St, Bangor – as far south / north as needed.

Short term intensive case management, connect vets to services to stabilize housing, BRAP, Shelter+ care – any alternative housing options.

Partner with Pine Tree Legal, direct client representation at eviction court, successful in negotiating accommodations for families in the Portland area – reasonable.  Legal, temp financial assistance, rent, utilities, pay arrears, security deposits for vets, transportation costs, public transportation (unlimited), child care (contract with any day care provider); moving expenses, emergency fund (comes with restrictions)

 

Keri — on the job –working 1-1/2 weeks – welcome; graduate from UMaine; 1-800 referral line;

Dennis – welcome and stop by BAHS – contact Rowena Griffin

Intensive case management – primarily 90 days, can be extended if needed.  Average time in program = 75 days, but some vulnerable folks on case load over 1 year.  Flexibility important.

Contrast in numbers –dual diagnosis, rural nature of challenge – not on radar until “crash & burn”; lots of networking.   HUD-VASH has some restrictions.  Update 211. WHCA new program – coordinate with Preble Street & VA.  Collaborate and reach out.  Open to having hours at shelters, GA office, wherever needed.  VFW & Veterans for Peace.  Roving outreach may be more effective.  Can work with anyone with military service as long as not “dishonorable” discharge.

 

1:30 -2:15 Discussion Topics:

1. 1.                  Pressing issues in Region III — same old, same old – increasing length of stay at BAHS, 6 nights increase to 6 weeks, increasing health issues.  Federal Budget deal yesterday re: cut sequester in half.  New director at BHA – more open, helpful.  Continue to place folks at locales that reinforce homelessness.  4 open beds last night.  Structurally not encouraged.  Where is the voice of leadership?  Oldest housing stock in USA.  Watching resources get cut.  Ad-hoc committee (shelter directors) – placeholder bill in – increase resources for homeless shelters.  State share is less than 25 years ago.  1 year ago:  Folks sleeping outside, BPD picking up, current status:  5 over capacity last week, guesstimate 10 still outside.  Discussion about PATH, Home to Stay PCHC, stepping stones, Emmaus, TNS / Washington County, Homeless services in Aroostook; GA seeing a lot of young families coming in with no place to stay.  – happens on Friday afternoon.  Hotels less inclined to take families while waiting for Section 8 vouchers.  Ann’s House (3-4 slots) – back up & running? BHA – Park woods development. Seeing high medical need in shelter?  Don’t know how to quantify.  Need medical step-down facility.  HOPE House has terrific psychiatrist.  DV:  Communal living – fearful, different, working to nail-down intake process, helping support children & mom.  Has there been an increase in DV incidents over the past 2 months?  Yes.  Seeing extreme violence, increase in attempted / successful murders.  Substance abuse treatment – definitely city council initiative – Suboxone / Methodone clinics – higher numbers than anywhere else in state.  Impending drop-off MaineCare recipients – 1000 in Bangor area currently receiving addiction services will lose MC services 1/1/14.  General Assistance, law enforcement, shelters will begin picking up cost.   Loss of MC coverage will have concrete consequences.   Rally at State House 1/8/14 from 8-1 for Cover ME Now – bringing the Affordable Care Act funding into Maine.  Recent legislative presentation Bangor City Health (Jamie Comstock). 

 

2.  Efforts at ending long term homelessness – Long term stayers:  subcommittee to work with Joe Flynn, Massachusetts Housing Alliance – waiver, chronic homeless.  DRAFT white paper – for Maine DHHS Commissioner & Guy Cousins.  Small population, higher morbidity rates, numerous communities cost of homelessness vs. housing, effective models, behavioral health partnerships, C-SPECH, other successful pilot projects.  Go out in the next couple weeks – challenge DHHS.  Would enhance services so that housing can occur.  Shelter + Care, copy Bangor, target resources to long-term stayers.  Penquis has many properties that may be eligible for priority populations.  20-30 of 100 vouchers may be coming to Bangor. 

 

3.  Recommendations to Statewide Homeless Council:  see above.  Existing statute – reauthorize?  Needs to be bi-partisan support or withdraw request.  Other recommendations – email to representatives (Shawn, Steve & Sister Lucille)

 

2:15-2:30 Regional Council take on MaineCare expansion with local representatives.

(11/13/13)  All to contact local State Representatives and Senators re: need for healthcare for people who are homeless; review of draft talking points;

Bangor City Health presentation to local legislators; Maine Public Health system – district (advisory) – regional effort to all area legislators.  Ed Youngblood has long history of serving legislature.  Cover ME Now has Ed on short-list; he attended event, but did not make any statements or ask questions.  Forward info to Candy for distribution through list-serve

 

2:30-2:40 State and Federal Updates.  Nuclear option (federal) – many appointments confirmed yesterday.  New head of Federal Finance authority may finally fund the National Housing Trust Fund, which was authorized in 2008 and is designed to set-aside $$ to target affordable housing with 75% for extremely low-income.  Tax credits have helped but it has been since the Ford administration that we have developed major Section 8 housing; sequestration softened a bit; 2 year plan – no January shut-down; State: redo LD598 did not get approved for reconsideration by the legislature to go forward.  Rally – 1/8/14.

 

2:40-2:45 Nomination process for Chair:  Dedicated agenda time next month – need someone for 2014. 

2:45-3:00 Agency updates – Including a review of numbers of people who are homeless at each facility/program

• Develop count each month – see BDN snapshot (weekly); # people served at each shelter
• HOPE House – in transition, negotiated with City, trying to hold to agreed-upon #(69 or 79) beds; running 3-7 over nightly;
• BAHS – using cots some nights, 35-36/38 beds full, not a big line at 6:30pm – turn-aways over phone; long-time stayers 180 days cumulating – fewer than 8 people; (43 units in winter); Bangor vigil info distributed – allows for more families to bring kids; exploring pilot project with hospital chronically ill – arrangement for direct linkage to med support – tiny house, general outreach, direct monitored re: med piece.
• VA:  Upsurge in Hancock County – VA partnership with new WHCA program; big number of vets need housing support, relying upon partnerships with Region 3 coalition.
• Bangor City:  Waterfront corridor — 6 buildings demolished; balancing act, rates set above what GA will pay (still reasonable); Cedar Street – curb, paving sidewalks; support workforce housing; where is cheap housing?  Working poor; struggling to find affordable housing
• Spruce Run:  Working things out with WomenCare merger, sharing resources; language (yours/ours); 6WC / 18SR staff; hotline; so many levels; any merger takes a lot of work 
• Joe:  Home to stay trained all round 2 folks; applications trickling in from new providers;
• Discussion re: posting minutes on website without email contact info.

 NOTE NEW TIME:  Next Meeting: 1/08/14 2-4pm