Affordable Housing Action Network (AHAN)

Housing Working Group: Meeting Minutes

Time: 2:00p.m. Tuesday, March 14, 2006

Location: Community Advocacy & Legal Services

ATTENDANCE

Reta Sheppard, Carmela Ruberto, Diane Poirier, Vanessa Rollins, Patty Park, David Miskiw

ACTION

Vanessa:

  1. Once completed, send out electronically the revised sustainability plan for the HWG to review.
  2. Once completed, send out electronically the structure chart for the HWG to review.
  3. Contact Bob Cottrell and suggest he request Ernie Parsons speak at the May 31st meeting instead of the originally planned March 21 meeting.
  4. Contact John Vance about the possibility of speaking at the next AHAN meeting.
  5. Follow up with Xynapse about AHAN web system if no further advancements or correspondence is evident over the next few weeks.

Carmela:

  1. Speak with Scott before he leaves for an update about the 40/60 split – upcoming housing initiatives.
  2. Obtain copy of draft follow up/inquiry letter prepared by Scott Robertson addressing provincial government and send Patty and electronic copy for Advocacy use.

HWG:

  1. Review communications plan provided by Allison Berridge and come prepared to provide feedback at next HWG meeting.
MINUTES
  • No concerns or corrections brought forth by members present. Minutes approved.

AHAN COMMUNICATIONS PLAN

  • Allison provided a communications handout requesting guidance around how announcements should be structured, how media should be addressed (invite media to big events and/or prepare media releases previously?). Currently a work in progress, to be completed further after feedback from the HWG.
  • Carmela has offered to provide support/act as advisory around submissions to media sources.
RHI UPDATES
  • A reporter from the Intelligencer interviewed Carmela yesterday to discuss the RHI plans. An article should be printed in the paper this week.
  • There was a meeting recently between Carmela, the RHI staff and Service Canada. No problems/concerns were presented and everything is proceeding according to the plan and time lines.
  • Dave Miskiw is creating a template for the reports, as one does not currently exist.
  • There will be a focus session for service providers to discuss their concerns and the RHI reports at the Quinte West Health Unit on March 29th at 9:00 a.m.
  • The RHI staff are awaiting approval to access project funding for the preparation of food bags that will be distributed to anyone who completes a consumer survey for their plans.
  • Joan Gauthier will begin March 27th in a seven week contract as an RHI administrative assistant to develop the surveys, food bags etc.
  • The completed RHI plans will be presented to the Social Services Committee on May 10th. Drafts of these plans will be available to the community previously. Dates for release will be advertised in the Intelligencer.
PROJECT ADMINISTRATION
  1. AHAN accountability/sustainability:
  • Only needs to be one page/three paragraphs generally outlining what the AHAN project manager has accomplished and what the network will continue to do after the contract period is up ex. increase membership, monthly and bimonthly meetings – reflect on main concepts from the original plan such as funding, media, advocacy etc.

2. Ward Weaire correspondence:

  • Carmela has been in contact with “Ward Weaire from Toronto” who claims he has funding available to develop a shelter/emergency housing of some sort in the Hastings area. A “Claude Matthews” has been making similar claims to Diane but neither of these individuals have presented any supporting research and are often unclear and contradictory in their claims/requests.
  • Bob Fraser from the Hastings County Housing Programs Branch will follow up with Mr. Weaire for clarification around this correspondence, suggesting he submit a formal letter on official letterhead clearly outlining his intentions and other projects/related successes he is involved with/responsible for.

3. AHAN letterhead:

  • Members in attendance agreed that endorsing organizations to include them on official AHAN letterhead would complicate things. It would be difficult to control (no way to decide who is included/can’t include everyone/self advocates are not recognized this way, no way to police someone acting independently and everyone being held responsible etc.).
  • Alternative suggestion is to create a footer on the existing letterhead with a non-specific “catch phrase” that generally includes everyone ex. “Over thirty agencies and forty individuals concerned with affordable housing”.
  1. Housing repair & upcoming AHAN events:
  • Suggestion that the focus of the next AHAN meeting (May 31) be housing repair to encourage decent and safe housing. Invite John Vance – Property standards and bylaw enforcement.
  • Suggestion to invite Ernie Parsons to speak at next AHAN meeting (May 31) about political initiatives/funding/decisions.

PROJECT ORGANIZATION

  1. AHAN web development:
  • There have been no further advancements with the site to date. Vanessa has been in contact with Xynapse outlining the funding arrangements for this project. Xynapse will invoice CMHA/AHAN for $3500, roughly $300 of which will be paid up front for Xynapse project management fees and the rest will be paid upon completion of the system. Roughly $700 from the HSJCC should filter in half way through the project given that their funding must be spent before the end of March.
  1. AHAN meeting March 21:
  • All speakers are confirmed: Gleaners Food Bank, Quinte Destinations For Youth and Volunteer Information Quinte.
FUNDING OPTIONS
  1. Trillium collaborative agreement:
  • Suggestion to dedicate the next HWG meeting to discussing who is willing to accept what responsibility around the Trillium funding application, the proposal writing process, who will act as the lead agency and decide what the application will be for exactly (AHAN staff member, Q.W. warm room, other?)
  • Some concerns that a Three year Trillium application is too unrealistic, time consuming and difficult. A one-year application or warm room application would be less complicated and have a better chance for success.
  • Some concerns that the suggestions/solutions stemming from the RHI plans will not mesh well with the AHAN application to combine all projects and goals. We need to establish how all fit together, guide internal discussions, governance, communication strategies, sustainability plans, responsibilities/accountability, the geographic area to be covered in the application etc.
  1. AHAN project funds and spending:
  • All AHAN project funding must be spent before April 28th. There is more flexibility with the categories outlining how the money is to be spent now as long as it is related to the original AHAN plans/proposal.
  1. AHAN proposal writing:
  • The AHAN project manager could complete an application for an AHAN summer student as the second proposal (in addition to the Trillium). Who could be the lead agency (Legal Centre)?, cover the MERC (all HWG donate to in kind)?, supervise (Carmela)?, house the student office (Social Services through Brown Street)?. Deadline for submission is March 31.
TASK FORCE SUPPORT
  1. Advocacy update:
  • Key audience for Advocacy has been decided. Will include significant community members/decision makers/stake holders, county council, community council, and MP ‘S/MPP’ S/political figures. The general public will be addressed broadly through media communications.
  • Different approaches will be taken with rural vs. local council and different advocacy members will take the lead for different areas.
  1. Updates and project plans:
  • Final editions of Task force/Subcommittee plans are being prepared for presentation. The first will be presented to the Networking subcommittee tomorrow. Plans will be revamped in April after all presentations have been made to reflect final feedback/concerns from the groups.
  1. Restructuring requests:
  • Not discussed.
COMMUNICATIONS
  1. Three Oaks guest speaker:
  • Not discussed.
  1. Talking points:
  • Talking points will be an Advocacy focus based on AHAN key messages/ mission combined with the concerns the AHAN group members/task forces/subcommittees have reflecting local needs.
  1. AHAN forum media coverage/response:
  • Not discussed.

OTHER AHAN/HWG ISSUES

  1. HHRC open house:
  • Kathy McGrath of HHRC will be facilitating an introductory session for service providers on April 10th at 1:30 p.m. to familiarize them with what services are available through HHRC and how to navigate the agency website. There is the possibility for AHAN exposure if the AHAN websystem is complete by then.
  1. AHAN anniversary:
  • Not discussed.

NEXT HWG MEETING:


12:00 P.M. Tuesday, April 4th

At Hastings Housing Resource Centre

Chair: Reta Sheppard