Agendas and Minutes

Housing Commission (View All)

Joint Housing and Homelessness Steering Committee Meeting

Agenda
Thursday, September 19, 2013

 
ASHLAND HOUSING COMMISSION
HOMELESS STEERING COMMITTEE
 DRAFT MINUTES
September 19, 2013
 
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Regina Ayars called the joint meeting between the Housing Commission and the Homelessness Steering Committee to order at 4:15 p.m. at Council Chambers located at 1175 East Main St. Ashland, OR  97520.
 
 
Housing Commissioners Present: HSC Members Present: Council Liaison
Regina Ayars, Chair Laura O’Bryon Pam Marsh
Michael Gutman Graham Lewis  
Barbara Barasa Connie Saldana SOU Liaison
Gina DuQuenne Heidi Parker Andrew Ensslin, absent
  Regina Ayars  
    Staff Present:
    Linda Reid, Housing Specialist
    Carolyn Schwendener, Admin Clerk
 
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Housing Commission: Gutman/Barasa m/s to approve the minutes of the August 28, 2013 regular Housing Commission/Homeless Steering Committee meeting. Voice Vote:  All Ayes; minutes were approved as presented. 
 
Homeless Steering Committee: Parker/O’Bryon m/s to approve the minutes of the August 28, 2013 regular Housing Commission/Homeless Steering Committee meeting.  Voice Vote:  All Ayes; minutes were approved as presented.
 
PUBLIC FORUM
No one spoke
 
LIAISON REPORTS DISCUSSION
Council – Marsh mentioned the City Council approved expanding the Business License process to include landlords who have two or more units. 
 
Ayars asked Reid to put a discussion around business licenses on the next agenda. A discussion is necessary to determine funding for the modification of the business license database to accommodate additional information the Housing Commission would like to receive.
 
Staff – Reid said that at the September 30th Council meeting the Housing Needs Analysis passed and was adopted by ordinance. It is now in the thirty day appeal process with the Land Conservation and Development Division at the State level. At the last regular Council meeting the Housing and Human Services ordinance was adopted.   
 
General Announcements – Ayars announced that AAUW is hosting a Community Forum on Wednesday October 9, 2013 between 3 pm and 5 pm. The topic is on Homeless Youth in Ashland and At Risk Homeless Youth. There will be a panel discussion with Maslow, Community Works and Hearts With a Mission.  The forum will take place at the Masonic Lodge located at 570 Clover Lane, Ashland. 
 
WINTER SHELTER AND DOGS
Marsh reported that the Council voted to allow dogs into the third shelter night. The Shelter operates from November through April.  The dogs need to be on a lease and under control by their owners at all times.  Marsh acknowledged this new ordinance raises a question of the safety of our animals on the streets.  The Council suggested that this could be an opportunity to bring veterinary services to the animals of individuals living on the streets.  These individuals value their dogs and offering free inoculations, licensing and basic veterinary services would be a great outreach.
 
 
 
 
Marsh asked the Commission if this is something they would be interested in organizing and bringing forward.
 
The City of Grants Pass is currently providing a similar clinic once a month which includes general exams, flea and tick control, heart worm prevention, basic vaccines along with minor medical conditions.   Julie Travares is the coordinator and it was suggested to get in contact with her to find out more information about their program.
A working group was formed with volunteers Ayars and DuQuenne to contact both Travares and Councilor Voisin who has already begun to work on this project. They will keep the City Council updated. 
 
HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION ORDINANCE
Reid briefly outlined the Housing and Human Services Ordinance.  The draft Ordinance went before the Council at their September 3rd meeting.  At that meeting the Councilors made several amendments to the document. The amendments they made along with amendments from the legal department were brought back to the September 17th Council meeting at which time it passed.  The ordinance will become active on October 17, 2013. Reid will send out the final version of the Ordinance to the Commissioners so they can make the decision whether or not to apply for the new Commission.
 
The new Commission will need to be advertised on the City web-site as well as the local newspaper.  After the Mayor has reviewed the applications and interviewed the applicants the Council must confirm them. 
 
Reid will keep the current Commissioners updated about the appointments.  The Commission thanked Reid for her support to both the Housing Commission and the Homeless Steering Committee. 
 
CAPER REVIEW AND APPROVAL
Reid explained that the Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER) is a requirement by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD). The report summarizes the individual project status of those improvements funded with CDBG funds for the program year 2012. 
 
For the program year 2012 the City of Ashland awarded three projects with CDBG funds.
 
 
  • Maslow Project; A social service grant for $10,000
Served 311 homeless youth
 
 
  • St. Vincent De Paul; A social service grant for $14,000
Benefited 42 individuals
 
 
  • Living Opportunities; A capital improvement grant for $20,000
Benefited 25 individuals
 
The remaining balance of the funds was put in a reserve account for the Ashland Emergency Food Bank to help purchase their building.  The Food Bank met their goal for fund raising and was able to purchase their building by September 30, in which the public is invited.  This will be included in next year’s CAPER.
 
Reid explained in the program Year 2013 the City provided grants from the general fund to three qualified low-income homeowners to complete energy efficiency upgrades.  
 
Also in Program Year 2013 the City of Ashland participated in the planning and implementation of the fifth annual Project Homeless Connect event which provided resources and outreach to the Homeless and at risk populations of Jackson County.  This event served approximately 524 people allowing the City to meet the goal DH1.1;  Availability/Accessibility of Decent Housing.
 
Reid brought to the Homeless Steering Committees attention that she included a section on their work in the CAPER.  Goal #4:  Encourage the development of emergency and transitional housing for homeless families with children and/or individuals. 
 
The Commissioners thanked Reid for her nicely written document. 
 
Ayars/Gutman m/s to approve the CAPER report. Voice vote:  all AYES, motion passed unanimously.     
 
WINTER SHELTER VOLUNTEER TRAINING
Parker announced there will be an orientation on October 21, 2013 at Calvin Hall located at the Presbyterian Church.   Anyone who is interested in spending a night at the shelter or supplying services to the shelter such as breakfast, hot coffee or tea is invited to attend the orientation.  Parker stated they are encouraging groups of people to attend, social service agencies, churches groups etc.  The shelters are located at the Presbyterian Church, the Trinity Episcopal Church and Pioneer Hall on Winburn Way.  The Committee will be putting together promotional flyers.
 
Ayars inquired if the merged effort between ACCESS and ORA (Options for Homeless Residence of Ashland) has made any progress.  Marsh responded that it is in the finalizing moments of that contract.  It is on the look ahead for October 1, 2013. 
 
 
UPCOMING EVENTS AND MEETINGS
This was the last meeting of the Housing Commission and the Homeless Steering Committee
 
ADJOURNMENT - The meeting was adjourned at 5:15 p.m.
 
 
Respectfully submitted by Carolyn Schwendener
 

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