GOW Meeting Minutes

In attendance:Andrew Dearing (HAWNY), Michelle Figueroa (CAOGINC Albion), Lisa Wittmeyer (CAOINC Batavia), Richard Bennett (Genesee DSS), Michelle McCoy (Living Opportunities of DePaul), Debra McKnight (ILGR), Robin Arnold-Scott (ILGR), Connie Sanderson (Pathstone), Ariana Cianciulli (Cazenovia Recovery Systems- Liberty Hall),

  1. Welcome & Introductions
  2. Welcoming a few new faces to the Continuum of Care meeting in the GOW, including Michelle and Lisa from Community Action of Orleans and Genesee, as well as Ariana from Liberty Hall.
  3. New attendees were given a brief explanation of the Continuum of Care process and purpose of meetings.
  4. Legislative Brief (Recap)
  5. Representatives of local elected Officials in attendance: Sen. Patrick Galvan and NYS Assembly Steven Hawley
  6. Gov.Cuomo’s State of the State Address
  7. Review plan to allocate $20 Billion for massive expansion of housing and homelessness plan. $10.4 billion is a commitment to combat homelessness with 20,000 new supportive housing units.
  8. Gov. Cuomo’s Executive Order on “code blue” emergency shelter preparedness during winter weather conditions (32 degree and below)
  9. HAWNY is experienced in establishing a “code blue” system in Buffalo and would like to offer our experience as a resource.
  10. Homeless Bill: Chapter 482 of the Laws of 2015 [A.3181-A (Titus)/S.4343-A (Carlucci)]
  11. Requiring OTADA to report on local DSS efforts to serve the homeless
  12. HMIS would be a good resource for this.
  13. Review of Rapid Rehousing for new attendees.
  14. Rapid Rehousing is a HUD best-practice model of alleviating homelessness. Rapid rehousing is designed to assist homeless individuals and families who are currently staying at shelters. It entails providing apartments with a short/medium term rental subsidy to homeless individuals and families who present only moderate barriers to achieving housing stability.
    The rental subsidy is gradually reduced overtime, requiring the participant to produce the difference in rent independently. Its intent is to secure permanent, stable housing as the foundation for addressing other needs faced by the homeless. It can serve families, individuals, or be used as a bridge for the chronically homeless while they are waiting for Permanent Supportive Housing.
  15. “The Ask” of the Continuum to elected official is $250,000 that would support homeless programs, like rapid rehousing in the GOW. Government support has potential of being matched in the future.
  16. General reflections of the legislative brief were positive with an interest in having another one on a local scale (mayors, city council, local elected officials). Future legislative briefs will take the place of the regular monthly CoC meeting in the GOW. Rae and ILGR will be consulted for the possibility of having another Legislative Brief in February for local government.
  17. Point-in-Time (January 26th)
  18. The HUD required annual PIT occurred on the night of January 26th. This is an effort organized among the 5-county WNY region to represent the sheltered and unsheltered homeless population, using the HUD definition, on “Any given night”. The data collected will help in assessing client need and support applications for funding in the future.
  19. Unsheltered:this count was conducted in two ways:
  20. Service Agency Count:For agencies that may encounter homeless residents, we are asking to keep the attached questionnaire available on site to any homeless client between 1/27-1/29.
  21. Street Outreach: Volunteers throughour the GOW visited known/potential locations of homeless in the community living on the street. Teams: Genesee (ILGR, Matt Urban of Buffalo) Orleans (Ministry of Concern) Wyoming (HAWNY, ILGR).
  22. All volunteers were greatly appreciated.
  23. Sheltered Count: Any organization that provides shelter services to individualsor families that fit the HUD definition of homeless were asked to provide HAWNY with an inventory and basic information of clients served on that night using the developed questionnaire. If the questionnaire cannot be used that agencies were asked to provide a basic inventory and non-identifying information about clients utilizing shelter service on the night of January 26th.
  24. Michelle Mcoy offered to give surveys to those utilizing Respite Beds through the DePaul program.
  25. All completed questionnaires and inventories are ask to be returned to HAWNY by February 15 at the latest:
  26. scanned and emailed:
  27. Faxed: 716-853-1750
  28. Mailed: 960 Main Street, Buffalo NY, 14202
  29. Pocket Guide Final Draft
  30. A final review of the pocket guide was conducted with additional suggestions.
  31. Printed guides will be available at the next GOW meeting
  32. CoC/ Community Announcements
  33. There will be opportunities for partners in the GOW to be more involved with the entire Continuum
  34. The update to HAWNY’s 10-year Plan to end homelessness is almost ready and a draft will be shared to comments with CoC partners.
  35. HAWNY is currently collecting data for our annual report and will be asking for data from 10/01/2014 and 9/30/2015 from organizations providing shelter.
  36. Next HAWNY Meeting at 960 Main St. in Buffalo is on February 17th from 3PM-4PM. There is a call in feature for anyone who wants to participate remotely.
  37. HAWNY Meeting
    Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.

    You can also dial in using your phone.
    United States : +1 (312) 757-3121
    Access Code: 862-272-365
  38. Next CoC GOW meeting will be on February 24 from 10AM-11PM. Partners and interested parties will be notified if there are any changes.There is a call in feature for anyone who wants to participate remotely.
  39. GOW Meeting
    Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.

    You can also dial in using your phone.
    United States : +1 (571) 317-3122
    Access Code: 387-197-837