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

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