Western Massachusetts Network to End Homelessness

Leadership Council MeetingSeptember 30, 2009Join our blog now:

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Contact: Regional Coordinator Pamela Schwartz, pschwartz77@gmail.com413-219-5658

The Leadership Council mission (as restated at 9/9/09 meeting): to provide oversight and coordination of the Network’s efforts; to hold the Network and its members, grantees, and supporters accountable for accomplishing its stated goals and to further on a policy and programmatic level the goal of ending homelessness.

Leadership Council Fiscal Sponsor - PVRVC

Service Coordinatio

n

Data & Performance Measuremen

t

Community Engageme

nt

FamiliesIndividual

sWestern Mass.

Interagency CouncilWMIC

Western Region ICHH Funding

18 month pilot project

310 Families

38 Individuals

Innovations for serving families• Assistance at multiple front door entry points

(DTA/DHCD offices, Housing Court)

• Virtual and site-specific intake

• Integrated assessment process to ensure that the right resources are targeted to homeless and at-risk families as quickly and efficiently as possible

• Collaborative agency review of homeless families, maximizing use and distribution of available resources

• Working with housing authorities to support at-risk families

Innovations for serving individuals

•Expanded REACH (Regional Engagement and Assessment for Chronically Homeless) program

•HUD Shelter Plus Care subsidies for permanent affordable housing to assist hard-to-serve homeless persons with disabilities

•Project based program offering greater control and flexibility for lower threshold housing

• Increased case management offering greater coverage and flexibility including after hours coverage

Action needed: approve current constitution

Leadership Council Chair: Dr. Evan Dobelle, President, Westfield State CollegeVice-Chair: Lynne Wallace, Principal, Dietz & Co. Architects

Fr. Stan Aksamit, Our Lady of PeacePaul Bailey, Springfield Partners for Comm.

ActionJane Banks, Center for Human DevelopmentAndrew Baker, Hilltown CDCTim Brennan, Pioneer Valley Planning

CommissionRebecca Caplice, Greenfield Savings BankMartin Chaisson, INOE TechnologiesDave Christopolis, Berkshire Comm. ActionSteve Como, Soldier OnKathy Damon, The Carson Center for Human

ServicesSenator Ben DowningLinda Dunlavy, Franklin CR Council of GovtsJudge Robert Fields, W. Div. Housing CourtBob Fleischner, Center for Public RepresentationDavod Gadaire, CareerPointPeter Gagliardi, HAPHousingJoanne Glier, Franklin County Regional Housing

and Redevelopment AuthorityBrad Gordon, Berkshire County Regional Housing

AuthorityChris Haley, The Brien Center

Steve Huntley, Valley Opportunity CouncilLori Ingraham, Easthampton Savings BankPeg Keller, City of NorthamptonJohn Klenakis, UMASS Donohue InstituteCharlie KnightGerry McCafferty, City of SpringfieldBetty Medina Lichtenstein, Enlace de FamiliasAndrea Miller, ServiceNetAndrew Morehouse, Food Bank of W MassRebecca Muller, GrantsWorkYasmin Otero, Dept. of Transitional AssistanceJoe Peters, Universal PlasticsJerry Ray, Mental Health AssociationTom Salter, New England Farm Workers’ CouncilJane Sanders, Community ActionLinda Stacy, United Way of Franklin CountyLiz Sullivan, Dept. of Mental HealthMayor Mike Sullivan, City of Holyoke

9/30/09

Steering Committee: to provide overall guidance to the Leadership Council,

Coordinator and Network as a whole

Representation to include (per recommendation from 9/9 meeting):

• Leadership Council Chair (Dr. Evan Dobelle)• Leadership Council Vice Chair (Lynne Wallace)• 4 Committee Chairs (Family Services, Individual Services,

Data and Community Engagement) (to be determined)• 3 Continue of Care Coordinators (Springfield, Gerry

McCafferty, Hampden/Hampshire/Franklin County, Peg Keller, Berkshire County, Dave Christopolis

• State agency representation (to be determined by our own LC, currently DTA, Yasmin Otero and DMH, Liz Sullivan)Hampden/Hampshire/Franklin County, Berkshire County)

Service Coordination: to maximize the effective and efficient delivery of

services to homeless families and individuals

Family Services Individual Services

Meets 2nd Tuesday of the month,1-3 pmDTA Office, Holyoke

Currently devising ICHH uniform eligibility criteria, assessment and release forms and coordination of assistance at DTA/DHCD offices.

All providers serving families are welcome.

Monthly meetings on a county basis, coordinated by David Modzelewski of DMH.

Contact: David.Modzelewski@state.ma.us

All providers serving individuals are welcome.

Coordination of all ICHH funded providers is underway (met 9/21 and will again on 10/5).

Data and Performance Measurement:

to oversee data collection and evaluation systemsMeetings ongoing to hire data analyst and develop evaluation plan.

Current members (based on 9/9/09 meeting):• Tim Brennan, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission• Dave Christopolis, Berkshire Community Action• Charlie Knight• Ron Krakowiak, HapHousing, Inc• Andrea Miller, ServiceNet• Rebecca Muller, GrantsWork

Community Engagement: to market and expand Network’s reach and impact

Proposal: to schedule meeting asap to discuss outreach to ex officio members per Dr. Dobelle’s suggestion of the 8 mayors, 4 sheriffs, Senatorial district representation, 4 Chambers of Commerce, 4 Labor organizations, Council of Churches, appropriate foundations

Current members (based on June LC meeting):• Paul Bailey, Springfield Partners for Community Action• Andrew Baker, Hilltown CDC• Bob Fleishner, Center for Public Representation• David Gadaire, CareerPoint• Charlie Knight• Mayor Mike Sullivan, City of Holyoke• Lynne Wallace, Dietz &Co. Architects

Leadership Council Membership Workgroup:

to review and decide upon LC composition“Convened” once by email to determine addition of ICHH

funded providers to Council. Recommendation: subsume into Steering or

Community Engagement Committees

Current members (based on June LC meeting):• Martin Chaisson, INOE Technologies• Steve Como, Soldier On• Dr. Evan Dobelle, Westfield State College• Peg Keller, City of Northampton• Michael Konig, Westfield State College• Jane Sanders, Community Action• Lynne Wallace, Dietz & Co. Architects

Western Mass. Interagency CouncilFrom 9/9/09 Network Building Meeting, the group agreed:

• WMIC has been an extremely important vehicle for bringing together state agencies and providers across the region and has a history and reputation we want to protect and maintain.

• The importance of growing interagency participation towards accomplishing the Network’s goals is vital and WMIC, in conjunction with the Leadership Council, is an important vehicle for communicating this priority.

• At this point in the Network’s development, WMIC should continue to exist as is, both separate and connected to the Network.  As the Network evolves in the coming months, we will take stock of the relationship and reassess if/how WMIC’s role would change.

• 9/30 action: discuss above; if agreement must revisit draft by-laws Section 3.08 on Committees: “There shall be at least two standing committees: the WMIC and the Consumer Involvement Committee.” Do we want to revise to make standing committees 4 listed above (family services, individual services, data and performance and community engagement)?

Consumer Advisory Group

At 9/9 meeting, all agreed consumer input to the Network is an important priority.

Action: Jeff Naylor and Diane Sullivan of Homes for Families will present and facilitate discussion on this topic.

Next Steps: to be determined today!