Homeless Alliance Meeting Notes: May 21, 2014
Introductions
· Connie Sanderson is leaving HAWNY for Pathstones on May 30th. We will miss her!
o Come celebrate Connie at Cafe59 on May 30.
o It’s a surprise! We told her so!
· Kexin Ma was promoted to oversee both Continuum of Care and HMIS
· Christine Slocum was hired as support staff for CoC
We are about to release the Annual Report for 2013
· Since 2010 this report has been compiled
· Kexin Ma presented the findings
o She thanked all of the HMIS participants for providing good data
· Niagara County will not be included in the 2013 report, because we only have HMIS data from July 2013-September 2013. It is not enough months. Niagara County’s data will be presented in the 2014 annual report.
You may consult the Annual Report upon its release here: http://wnyhomeless.org/homeless-facts-statistics/
· The report includes statistics on:
o Regional Poverty as determined using the American Community Survey
o Overall homelessness as determined by HMIS
o Recidivism rates
o “Newly homeless” versus “first-time” homeless
o Chronically homeless (246 people in Erie County fit this definition and need housing)
o Information about selected homeless subpopulations
· The report includes recommendations
o More rapid rehousing
o Focus funding on those who are at most risk of homelessness (different than a blanket application to the destitute)
o Coordinated Entry Assessment
o Focus on ways to reduce recidivism
Please tell us what your thoughts are regarding the data
· We at HAWNY understand what is going on, but front-line service providers have more insight into why we might be seeing certain trends
· Does the data seem contrary to something you experience? How so? Share that with us too!
Coordinated Entry Assessment
· Two more focus groups: May 30 and June 6
· This is a requirement for all organizations receiving HUD funds
· The city, county, HAWNY will be there; we need service providers there too!
· If you would like a say in how this required procedure is carried out, you should come to the focus groups!
Continuum of Care
· Still waiting for the new Tier 2 to be announced
· We find out when it is announced through OneCPD
o Would you like to receive the announcement at the same time as HAWNY? Sign up for the mailing list here: https://onecpd.info/mailinglist/
· Those who claim to have sources at HUD claim that we can expect the new application process to be released late June/July
o This seems really ambitious
o They claimed the same thing last year; it was much later
· We are taking applications for new projects!
o Using the same NOFA as last year
o New projects must be for:
§ Permanent Supportive Housing for the Chronically Homeless
§ Rapid Rehousing for Families
Question: If you accept Rapid Rehousing Funds from Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), can you also apply for HUD Rapid Rehousing grants?
· Yes!
· In fact, in an ideal world, the cities of Buffalo and Niagara Falls would be collaborating with the counties and service providers
Hands Across Buffalo
· Fantastic event
· “It was a highlight of my professional career,” Dale Zuchlewski
· Theresa [Last Name needed] could work for the Pentagon – even had a drone to take pictures of the linked hands
· 4500-5000 people linked hands on West/East Ferry Streets to take a stand against poverty
· It was a very diverse gathering of people, and everyone left feeling very energized
· There is a video on the website: http://www.handsacrossbuffalo.org/
o Permanent link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9z1Jjhqj_e8
o We are going to post more media on the website, including the Unheard Voices stories
· Dale feels it raised the profile and reputation of HAWNY
· Unfortunately, the local media were relatively quiet. We’ll just have to be the keepers of our own story!
o Here is a photo gallery from The Buffalo News: http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=BN&Date=20140517&Category=PHOTOGALLERIES&ArtNo=517009997&Ref=PH
o WIVB coverage: http://wivb.com/2014/05/17/hands-stretch-across-buffalo-saturday/
HAWNY will have 1 board vacancy, potentially 2
· It is open to everyone
· Contact Dale if you would like to apply or know someone who would
Community Announcements
Local Application Process for CoC programs
· Need to go over the local applications, though there is no federal competition this year
· The RFP will be released the first week of June
· You will get 3-4 weeks to write your applications
· Selection committee will then review them
· No NOFA was released this year, so legally the previous year’s NOFA still stands
o New Projects permitted:
§ Permanent supportive housing for the chronically homeless
§ Rapid Rehousing for families
HMIS
· We are creating a set year for HMIS data
o CLEAN YOUR DATA BY JUNE 6: We are running APR reports then.
· New HMIS data standards were released April 30; will be implemented 10/1/14
o … It’s a big document. You can find it here: https://www.onecpd.info/resource/3826/hmis-data-standards-manual/
§ There is a link on the HAWNY website too
o We will have trainings for every HMIS user
o These are big picture changes
§ Every federal agency who does work with homeless people (including Veteran’s Affairs) will have the same data standards
§ It’s not clear if they are going to be required to use HMIS or another database
o Actual data changes are small.
§ This will change the APRs
§ We anticipate that ad-hoc changes to the APRs will be required to ensure everything complies
§ We will provide training on this as well!
Harbor House has moved!
· 241 Genesee Street
· As of 5/21/2014, the phone line was not yet up. Please use email!
Project Homeless Connect
· Meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month
o This upcoming meeting is canceled on account of the Memorial Day Holiday
· The following meeting is at The Hope Center on June 9th at 8:30AM lasting until 9:30AM
· PHC is raffling a one week stay at Sherkston Resort in Ontario, Cananda
Opportunity Corps
· Americorps program to increase financial literacy in the community
· The RFP for the 2014-2015 grant year has been released (could not find link on site)
· Contact Katherine Heim () if you are interested in hosting an Opportunity Corps member
Jim Foland is retiring!
· Celebration at Casa di Pizza on June 10th
· Tickets are $25, proceeds benefit Project Homeless Connect
Follow-up on Symposium from Wilson Foundation
· June 11 from 2:30-3:30 at the Salvation Army
· Focus on Family Homelessness
Grace Point Church is doing homelessness outreach
· Saturday May 24 12:00-4:00PM
· Distributing a supply of clothes and other necessities
· Meet at Grace Point Church at 10:00AM
· Are you struggling to find a particular client? Let them know, maybe they will find them in the course of their outreach
Come Fly a Kite for Homeless Veterans
· Free family event to benefit the WNY Veteran’s Housing Coalition, Inc, VetsHerd, VA Healthcare for Homeless Veterans Program
· Saturday May 31, 2014 from 12:00 to 4:00PM
· Gratwick Waterfront Park in North Tonawanda
· Please pre-register at www.kitesforvets.com