1. Please join us in congratulating Norm Maze of Shalom House who was elected as the newest MCOC Tri-Chair at our April 19th meeting!
2. Please remember to email brief Committee Updates, new Agenda items, or any other materials or information to all 3 Chairs & Scott prior to our next full meeting on May 16th.
3. At our April meeting MCOC voted to approve sending Letters of Support to all applicants for RHYA Street Outreach and for HVRP Grants. If your agency is seeking funding from one of these sources, please contact the Chairs and request a Letter of Support.

Conference Registration has closed but people can still be placed on a waitlist for the National Alliance to End Homelessness Conference this July, and there is still some funding available through MCOC and MaineHousing to assist those who are interested in attending. Please see our previous post on this topic for Scholarship Application Forms and Instructions.

If your Organization has shelter/housing programs or facilities that submit Housing Inventory information to MaineHousing, please review this DRAFT 2019 MCOC Housing Inventory Chart to ensure that the information listed is accurate in regard to the night of the Point-in-Time Survey, Jan. 22, 2019.

If you see something that needs to be changed, please send any edits or corrections to stibbitts @ mainehousing. org (you will need to remove the spaces in that address) in a brief email (do not make edits on the spreadsheet) NO LATER THAN NOON ON WEDNESDAY APRIL 24, 2019 so that we have time to enter and process the information before submitting the final reports to HUD by April 30, 2019. If we do not hear from you, we will assume the information is correct. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks!

Here are a few last minute items for the meeting today. Some of the PIT and HIC documents are rather large – best to view them on screen rather than try to print them, especially the HIC Spreadsheet.

The Maine Continuum of Care will be meeting this Thursday, April 18, 2019 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. We are trying something new this month!!! We will be using GoToMeeting for our remote connectivity.
Since this is our first time using GoTo Meeting, please try to attend at one of the group sites listed below (NOT the usual library locations):

–  MaineHousing, 353 Water St, Augusta

–  New Beginnings, 134 College Street, Lewiston

–  Shalom House, 106 Gilman Street, Portland

–  PCHC Admin Building, 103 Maine Ave, Bangor

For those unable to attend at a designated group site, you can join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone via this link : https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/352415877

To join by phone, call-in only, dial:  +1 (646) 749-3122  and when prompted enter Access Code: 352-415-877 (Please use either your phone or your computer audio to connect – do not use both, and do not put us on hold!)

The intent of this Conference Scholarship is to ensure that Maine is well represented at such events by a broad and diverse group of people who can bring a combination of personal and professional experience to the discussion. This Scholarship is open to people with lived experience of homelessness in Maine, as well as to employees of agencies working to address issues of homelessness in Maine, who may not otherwise be able to attend the Conference.  Please see the following Form and Instructions. Conference Registrations and hotel rooms are filing up fast so do not delay! Please contact Scott for more information: stibbitts @ mainehousing.org 

Attached are the approved minutes from the March 7, 2019 Resource Committee meeting.

Norm Maze

The next Statewide Homeless Council meeting will be held at the Maine State Prison, 807 Cushing Road, Warren, Maine on Tuesday, April 9, 2019 from 9:30 to 2:30. Please note that if you have not already submitted your personal information for clearance you will not be able to attend this meeting.

The PDF file below contains the agenda and other information that members should review prior this meeting. Minutes from the February meeting are also attached below. Minutes from our March meeting will be emailed to members for review and posted with the materials for our next regular meeting. 

The Maine State Prison has strict guidelines regarding visitors, including restrictions on what can be worn and what can be brought into the facility. For example, electronic devices are prohibited without prior approval. Lockers are available for rent in the lobby to store personal items while visiting. Please read additional details which can be found here: https://www.maine.gov/corrections/facilities/msp/MSPVisiting.htm

This information is also available on the “Meetings” tab of the new Statewide Homeless Council website: www.MaineSHC.org

The Maine Continuum of Care is accepting nominations to fill a recently vacated Tri-Chair position. The MCOC will do their best to maintain equal representation of the three regions (Southern, Central, and Northern) for the tri-chair positions. Currently we are accepting nominations to fill the remainder of the term for the Region 1 Chair.

Standard terms are for 3 years, and Chairs may be re-elected. Nominees must be MCOC members in good standing, meaning they are eligible to vote at MCOC meetings. If you are not sure the person you wish to nominate is eligible, please contact Vickey Rand or Awa Conteh to confirm their status. Also, please confirm with the person you wish to nominate that they are willing and able to commit to the time and energy required of this role (Full MCOC meetings, Board meetings, NOFA Committee, etc.).

Please email the nominee’s name, agency, and contact information to Vickey or Awa no later than April 16th. Nominees will be announced at the MCOC meeting on April 18. Voting will take place either at that meeting, or electronically between the April and May meetings.

The Data Sharing Workgroup will be meeting tomorrow (Tuesday, March 26) from 1:30 – 3:00 pm.

GoToMeeting Information:  Data Sharing Workgroup Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone. https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/602017933 You can also dial in using your phone. United States: +1 (571) 317-3112 Access Code: 602-017-933