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All are welcome and please spread the word!

Gerry reported that the second session is Sept 5-6 in Chicago. The first session was in Washington, DC in April where the group produced a 4 month timeline to reduce chronic homelessness through increased housing placements and system change to make placement quicker and easier. In June, 8 chronically homeless individuals were housed, one of the highest numbers ever and the numbers are looking very promising for July and August.  We will have a more complete report at our next meeting.

6 people attended DC’s session, representatives from Friends of the Homeless, Mental Health association, Eliot CHS-Homeless Services and Health Care for the Homeless.  There may be space for one or two more people in September but funding is unclear.

mostly people at the last session  possibly a person or two more if a person really wants to come – key issue is whether there is funding

Pamela updated the group on a conversation she and Gerry had several weeks prior regarding checking in with the larger group on how our committee meetings were going.  We thought this would be useful as we start the new fiscal year.  People shared the following feedback about the meetings:

• they are a great way to get a broader view of what’s happening across the region, e.g., what’s happening with the youth initiative.
• they are a great way to share across the two CoC’s; to see what’s working and what’s not and to have an opportunity to share
• they are an important opportunity to hear what’s happening at shelters across the region

Gerry raised the desire to use these meetings to discuss the progress around the Built for Zero initiative but was concerned that it would be too Hampden County focused for the group as a whole.  The group discussed this and decided that it would be valuable to all across the region to learn from this effort.  It was decided to structure to the meetings so that when they occurred in Hampden County, the agenda would have as its primary focus this Hampden County effort; and conversely when the meetings were in the Three County region (Northampton), the agenda would focus on Three County efforts.  However, at both meetings, the agenda would always include shelter and any related updates for the entire region.

Northampton: Katie reported that the cot shelter is closed for the season; the resource center is very busy, roughly 25 people coming in the mornings (afternoons are by appointment only); Grove Street shelter is over-full right now.

Craig’s Doors (Amherst): Rachel reported that they just opened a new Resource Center.  It is open Mon, Tues, Thurs, 8 am – 3 pm, Wed., 10 am – 3 pm, located next to the church in a re-purposed trailer.  Congratulations on this development!

Friends of the Homeless: Janice reported that capacity averaged about 152 people in June.  Last summer too there was not a significant decrease in shelter demand.

All shelter providers noted an up-tick in demand for shelter among women. The group noted that it could be useful to track and discuss this issue and possible responses.

Thursday, Sept. 14, 10:30-noon, Friends of the Homeless (note: usual first Thursday in Sept. is delayed by a week due to Learning Session in Chicago)