Lincoln Homeless Coalition
Meeting Minutes

April 22, 2016

Attendance: Genette Albertsen, League of Human Dignity; Robin Ambroz, NIFA; Susie Blue, MTKO; Beatty Brasch, Center for People in Need; Jeff Chambers, UNL-CCFL; Heather De Groot, House of Hope/ TASC; Tom Dierks, Lutheran Family Services; Lindsay Drake, The Hub; Leah Droge, Friendship Home; Sarah Fentress, MTKO; Jenni Hagen, VA; Lee Heflebower, Community Action; Dennis Hoffman, CenterPointe; Alison Kortefay, St. Monica’s; Jen McCullough, Cedar; Clarice Mackey, Salvation Army; Matt Martinosky, CenterPointe; Cathy Mohnike, NE Dept. of Education; Denise Packard, CenterPointe; Diana Schlif, Realtor’s Association of Lincoln; Bryan Seck, Prosper Lincoln; Claudia Severin, DHHS- Medicaid; Susan Tatum, LHA; Terry Uland, Downtown Lincoln Association; Sarah Virchow, Community Correction;Lester Wagner, Released and Restored; Abby White, People’s City Mission; Kris Whisenhut, NE Children and Families Foundation; Monica Zinke, Fresh Start; Raegan Brown, Adult Parole; Machaela Anchondo, Lancaster County Corrections; Sherri Cotter, Lancaster County Corrections; Sandi Parelka, Blue Valley Behavioral Health; Nick Guenzel at UNMC College of Nursing; Gregory Ernst, MTKO; Scout Richters, Legal Aid of NE; Dean Rehner, Probation Admin; Roy Rivera, El Centro de las Americas; Robert Matson, Julie Aksamit, SSVF; Leiron Gaylor Baird, City Council.

Vice Chair Bryan Seck opened the meeting.

Minutes from the March 2016 meeting were approved.

Treasurer’s Report was distributed.

Presentation: Matt Talbot Kitchen and OutreachSpeakers: Susie Blue and Sara Sunderman

Matt Talbot Kitchen and Outreach (MTKO) staff provided an overview of their history and their services, as well as a new initiative. MTKO was founded in 1992 and began their outreach services in 2002. They were able to expand services again building the new facility. They provide approximately 10,000 meals per year and 25,000 outreach services. In addition to meals and street outreach, they offer showers, laundry, pantry, gas vouchers, personal care items, seasonal supplies, homeless ID, life skills, substance abuse counseling, advocacy, and nutrition classes. They also have a substance free transitional housing for men that houses 4 (since 2004) and for women that houses 5 (since 2013). Services are also provided at MTKO by collaborative partners and include health services and haircuts.

Matt Talbot has two new programs beginning in 2016. One is First HOPE (Housing Opportunities, and Prevention Efforts) and is based on the Housing First model. It will be funded through HUD bonus funds (decision to be announced by HUD in the next few weeks) and will be scattered site housing units for 15 chronically homeless and disabled individuals, and 3 families. The second is the Landlord Liaison Project, which is a housing locator and contingency fund. This will include a new full time position at MTKO who will build relationships with landlords and those who rent to the chronically homeless. This staff member also would provide some case management and would work with others who are already providing case management to these individuals. This is a privately funded 1 year pilot project.

Matt Talbot is also launching a public awareness campaign with Kid Glov, to highlight both their services and homelessness in Lincoln. As part of this effort they have developed a separate task force to end homelessness.

Committee Reports
Executive, Denise Packard
Please contact Denise by April 29 if you have any questions about the PIT. The executives will approve the data for submission by UNL on behalf of the CoC shortly after that date. Jeff will send information to Denise in the next few days, and she will forward it to membership. Executive committee also requests speaker or topic ideas for meetings later in the year.

Planning and Data, Jeff Chambers
Preliminary data from the 2016 PIT Count was provided. There were 694 sheltered, which is a decrease from 715 in 2015 and only 32 unsheltered down from 55.There were 1,035 in TH, PSH, RRH and sheltered combined. Jeff described the count as robust and methologically sound. Committee also is working on request to be recognized as a community that has ended veteran’s homelessness (based on the functional zero description).

Consumer Engagement, Sara for Lea Wroblewski
Please submit any remaining surveys to Lea at Legal Aid. This committee meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 9am at MTKO and the next meeting will focus on survey results and planning activities. The next activity is financial goals workshop.

Youth, Nikki Siegel (absent)
No report.

Street Outreach and Coordinated Entry/ Most Vulnerable Review Team (MVRT), Denise Packard
Recent success example a man who has been chronically homeless/living on the street for most of the last 15 years and who recently accepted housing assistance. This committee also is working with Public Awareness Committee to increase awareness of homelessness and the challenges in moving out of it, along with Homeless Coalition and MVRT efforts.

Public Awareness, Bryan Seck and Lee Heflebower
Committee continues to work to increase awareness and Denise has been speaking on behalf of the Homeless Coalition in the community. There was also a booth about the Coalition and Project Homeless Connect at the 10,000 Acts of Peace event recently. The committee will seek press about ending veteran’s homelessness also.

Discharge Planning/ ReEntry
No report.

Project Homeless Connect Lincoln, Monica Zinke
Date pending from Pinnacle Bank Arena. Event will be held in conjunction with the VA Stand Down again.

SOAR, Denise Packard
No report.

Rent and Utility Network, Michelle Martinez
Next meeting is 5/15/16 at 1pm at Community Action.

Agency Updates were given.

Next meeting will beMay 27, 2016.

Respectfully submitted by Monica Zinke, Homeless Coalition Secretary