Housing and Human Services Advisory Committee (View All)
Housing and Human Services Commission Regular Meeting
Agenda Thursday, January 23, 2020
Ashland Housing and Human Services Commission Minutes January 23, 2020 Audio File
Call to Order
Commission Chair Rohde called the meeting to order at 4:02 pm in the Siskiyou Room at the Community Development and Engineering Offices located at 51 Winburn Way, Ashland, Oregon, 97520.
Commissioners Present:
Council Liaison
Rich Rohde
Dennis Slattery
Linda Reppond
Erin Crowley
SOU Liaison
Tom Gunderson
None appointed at this time
Heidi Parker
Jackie Bachman
Staff Present:
Linda Reid, Housing Program Specialist
Commissioners Not In Attendance:
Liz Hamilton, Permit Technician
Gina Duquenne
Sarah Spansail
Approval of Minutes Commissioners Jackie Bachman/Heidi Parker m/s to approve the minutes of November 21, 2019, with revisions. Voice Vote: All Ayes. Motion passed.
Public Forum -None
H&HSC Calendar Overview Commission discussed and agreed on how to schedule meetings and extra work group time for CDBG, Housing Trust Fund, and Social Service grants.
St. Vincent Utility Bill Assistance Program Discussion John Englehardt presented information and handout (see attachment A) showing a rise in the need for Utility Bill Assistance for Ashland residents between 2018 and 2019. Rich Rhode calls for volunteers to form work group to meet with OHRA and Senior Center to discuss possible solutions to bring forth to City Council. Work Group will be Rich Rhode, Jackie Bachman, Erin Crowley and Dennis Slattery.
City of MedfordHomeless Action Plan Presentation Angela Durant, Principal Planner presented Power Point presentation (see attachment B) on City of Medford’s Homeless Action Plan. She advised that an Implementation Plan has been adopted at this point as Medford is still working out the Action Plan. Commission requested permission to have a copy of the Implementation Plan for future review of this Commission.
Regional Mental Health Resource Overview Darin Dale, LCSW, Jackson Care Connect presented information on current “Care” organizations in the Rogue Valley.
Strategic Priority Review and Discussion 2020 Goals for Housing and Human Services Commission
Goal #1: Shelter: Sustainability of the Ashland Winter Shelter Goal #2: Mental Health/Upstream Services Goal #3: Affordable Housing: Workforce Housing / SRO Development Goal #4: Food Resources/SNAP cutbacks Goal #5: Utility Bill Issues/Education about the Round-up Program Goal #6: Work with Energy Action Plan Goal #7: Rent Caps (Renters with Property Management Companies)
Commissioners Linda Reppond/Tom Gunderson m/s to adopt the 2020 Goals for the Housing and Human Services Commission. Voice Vote: All Ayes. Motion passed.
Liaison Reports discussion
Council(Dennis Slattery) The Ashland City Council is planning a single-issue Study session in March regarding the Circuit Court ruling against Boise ID, for the issue of criminalizing sleeping on public land but not providing housing. Staff (Linda Reid) Unit on Chestnut has been resolved and will be transferred by sale to a Low-Income eligible person. General Announcements Heidi Parker was invited by Jackson County Homeless Task Force to talk about how Ashland encourages volunteering for the Shelters. Rich Rhode submitted an article on an Oregon Legislature proposal (see attachment C) Rich Rhode announces that Echo Fields has been appointed to take position 2 on the Commission
February Agenda Commission decides on Agenda items for February: Boise Court Case, Medford 14-page Implementation Plan, CDBG, March Council Study Session.
Next Housing Commission Regular Meeting February 27, 2020
Adjournment:Rich Rohde adjourned the meeting at 6:10p.m.
Respectfully submitted by Liz Hamilton
Attachments
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