City of Lawrence, Kansas

HOUSING PRACTITIONERS PANEL

August 3, 2006

MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
ECKAN- Jeanette Collier	Ballard Community Center -
First Step House- Bridget Dixon	Bert Nash CMHC- Lynn Amyx
HCCI- Tammy Kahle	Bert Nash PATH- Kent Hayes
Independence, Inc. - Kelly Nightengale	Brookcreek Learning Center- Jessica Tuttle
Independence, Inc.- Kendall Simmons	Children’s Learning Center- Holly Turner
Landlords of Lawrence- Bob Ebey	Coalition on Homeless Concerns -
Lawrence Board of Realtors- Marilyn Lynch	DG CO AIDS Project- Mari McCleerey-Janssen
Lawrence SRS- Penny Schau	Habitat for Humanity- Jean Lilley
LDCHA- Charlotte Knoche	LDCHA- Milton Scott
Lenders- Joe Oberzan	Law. Comm. Shelter - Loring Henderson
Salvation Army –Vivian Baars	Pelathe Center - Teresa Staskal
Tenants to Homeowners- Rebecca Buford	Project LIVELY- Sandra Kelly-Allen
	Trinity Respite Care- WTCS – Sarah Terwelp
STAFF PRESENT:
Neighborhood Resources Department- Lesley Rigney and Margene Swarts

Knoche called the meeting to order at 12:00 p.m.

APPROVAL OF May 4, 2006 MINUTES

Buford moved to approve the May 4, 2006 minutes. Schau seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

INTRODUCTIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Schau announced the Medicaid changes – if a person is applying for Medicaid they have to have proof of citizenship and a valid ID. If someone gets SSI or Medicare, that requirement can be waived but it will be a barrier for those needing immediate coverage.

SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

Homeless Issues – Baars said the subcommittee discussed the potential of joining the balance of state Continuum of Care.

Housing Development – Buford said the subcommittee met July 6 and discussed some issues that have come up with the H2H program. They are addressing some of the glitches in order to help it run more smoothly. Two participants have maintained housing.

Housing Support Services – Nightengale said the last meeting she attended was in April and Kelly-Allen talked about the tendency of hoarding belongings and how to address those issues.

Schau asked if it would be helpful to develop a homeless services brochure and to regularly update it.

Nightengale said she would provide a housing services brochure.

City of Lawrence Committee Representatives’ Reports

NRAC – Collier said the NRAC is meeting tonight to discuss goals and to revise the CDBG/HOME grant application.

CCH – Dahlberg said the shelter subcommittee had been meeting. They discussed how the two shelters could work together. Someone on the committee has it all worked out – they’ve said here is what we are currently doing and here is what we are expecting to do in the future. Salvation Army (SA) said they were doing more of intervention and rehab and would receive referrals from Lawrence Community Shelter (LCS) of people who would be ready for that program. LCS would handle feeding, emergency shelter and other general services for homeless.

Schau said she has attended employment subcommittee meetings with Shirley Martin-Smith.

Collier said one thing about the transitional housing meeting is to assess the need for having a big meeting for all advisory groups.

HNTF – Buford stated that the last meetings looked at the new development code and how it would allow for more affordable housing development. For instance Tenants to Homeowners (TTH) got 10 lots from a recently acquired property what would have been 8 under the old code. She also talked about accessory buildings. At the last meeting the group discussed modular housing, inclusionary zoning and establishing a housing trust fund.

Kahle announced that the H2H program that Steve Ozark sent information out about is not the H2H program of this community. She talked about James Glenn and the Panel discussed concerns with the Heartland Mental Health Association and funding. Regarding employment, it is a problem with H2H clients. They are requiring two pay stubs at this time – there are still folks falling through the cracks.

Knoche said H2H administrators need to continue conversations with LDCHA about how to dovetail the two programs.

Kahle said if anyone knows who will rent to convicted sex offenders to let her know. She is here to provide service to Lawrence – landlords, tenants, agencies, etc. Can we make tenant-landlord education mandatory?

Knoche said LDCHA does a program with C-TRAN, but so many times by the time they get to LDCHA they’ve already ruined their ability to get rented to.

Buford said KU should be involved.

Kahle said HCCI does credit card counseling for KU, but they may be resistant to the renter education classes.

Buford said we should demand from KU that they participate in the housing solution.

Knoche said it would be helpful to also do it with the youth aging out of foster care.

Kahle said one H2H class went to a TTH unit with Treni Westcott, Zoning Inspector. She said that Westcott performed an inspection and talked about city codes - there was a great response from students. It was a good experience.

Nightengale said the school refers a lot of kids to her – there is a narrow margin where they don’t have foster services anymore and sometimes they cannot be educated until they get in trouble.

Knoche said there are four classes in their renter education program and applicants/residents have to complete them in a month. No showing is a real problem and LDCHA has had to terminate housing because people don’t want to complete the program.

Schau said if classes are regularly scheduled and service providers know when they are, they might get a better turnout.

Kahle talked about H2H classes and the difference between LDCHA classes and high school level classes. She would like to be able to provide bonuses to successful participants who go through the process entirely. She is counseling, making contacts and holding classes.

STRATEGIC PLANNING

Big Meeting – Knoche said it refers to six committees that deal with housing.

Swarts said staff had talked about this meeting. Before a meeting is set staff is going to put together a meeting of the chairs to come up with a roadmap for the meeting. Staff will be meeting with chairs during the next few weeks.

Knoche said it is more than just the time pinch of members who serve on multiple committees – it is the confusion of all of these groups who are breaking up into all of these other groups that are starting to duplicate.

Collier said we are running in circles and getting nowhere.

Knoche said that despite all of these groups, there is no better strategy or plan coming out of it.

Swarts said it may result in a change of the citizen participation plan – the city has only had one since the mid-1970’s and it has been tweaked and changed throughout the years.

Knoche said the Step Up to Better Housing Strategy needs to be reviewed.

Swarts said the strategy had to do with Emergency Housing, Transitional Housing, Permanent Housing and is underscored by Neighborhoods. There is a lot of conversation with regard to homelessness and emergency shelter and how it fits with transitional housing and so on. The strategy needs to be looked at and updated. It may be time to take a step back and look at the big picture to see what changes should be in order. The group was also going to discuss the future of the Panel today. She recommends waiting until the Big Meeting to have this discussion.

Kahle said regarding joining the balance-of-state CoC – what happened with that?

Ebey said at the big meeting we can set priorities. We should do nothing until after that meeting.

Swarts said the CCH has a narrow scope but even homelessness is a housing issue because of the lack of it. There should be some discussion of how to look at it globally. At some point, others will need to be brought in such as faith-based groups, the coalition and round-table.

Ebey said there will need to be a very strong person in charge of this type of meeting.

Swarts said with the small group they will figure out the specifics. It will be planned and organized.

Nightengale said there are so many needs identified that to address all of them would require the formation of a new agency. LCS got a Board together and started raising funds and getting space, etc. Emergency housing is a huge project – we need a new grassroots group to get started on this since it isn’t within the mission of any current groups.

Ebey suggested not meeting until after the Big Meeting. He moved that the HPP not meet again until after the Big Meeting. Collier seconded the motion, which passed.

Joining Balance of State CoC

Knoche explained the local CoC and the current structure and programs. Next year HOPE Building will be renewing and Project ABLE will be renewing. Pelathe’s request is for two years and won’t be up for renewal for two years. With CoC money, you identify a continuum and we have always said we are the city of Lawrence CoC and each continuum is assigned a pro-rata share which is the amount you can apply for. There are also bonuses. If we join with the balance of state (which is the rest of KS except metro areas) we could stand to gain money in the form of bonuses but would lose local control.

There was some discussion about the benefits and risks of joining balance of state.

Swarts said if we wanted to realistically pursue this someone should talk about this with Lisa Davis, KSHC.

Knoche said it is of very vital interest to those running programs.

Ebey asked who should make decision – should it just be applicants?

Knoche said she doesn’t want to give up the authority of prioritizing our own local needs and projects.

Buford asked about the Kansas Housing Conference.

Nightengale said it is October 12-13 in Salina. KHRC is sponsoring the conference and someone from HUD is helping to organize it.

Knoche suggested getting a group together and setting up a meeting with Lisa Davis to discuss the pros and cons of joining balance of state.

Baars, Staskal, Knoche, Collier and Kahle all wish to be included in such a meeting. Knoche will set up a meeting with Lisa Davis – probably around the beginning of September.

Collier said at the state homeless summit they usually have a balance of state meeting – in Wichita.

Knoche requested that staff prepare an attendance summary for the next meeting and contact absent members to determine if they wish to remain on the Panel.

ADJOURN

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 1:40 p.m.