Below are summaries of two Housing Court collaboration meetings, one in Pittsfield for Berkshire County on 3/17/10 and the other in Greenfield for both Franklin and Hampshire Counties on 3/19/10.
Berkshire Housing Court Collaboration Meeting Minutes – 3/17/10
Attendance: Judge Robert Fields, Chief Housing Specialist Michael Doherty, Sarah Slautterback, Dept. of Education, Eryn Tobin, Catholic Charities, Dave Christopolis, Berkshire Community Action Council, Brad Gordon, Berkshire County Regional Housing Authority (BCRHA), Kristen Curtin, BCRHA, Nicole Martinez, BCRHA, Lauren Bolus, BCRHA TPP, Martha McFarlin, BCRHA, Lauren Moore, BCRHA TPP, Kim Louis, BCRHA, Christine Green, BCRHA, Suzanne Smith, network data analyst, Pamela Schwartz, network coordinator
Discussion: We reviewed current status of program funding, including: ICHH funds in Berkshire County are almost entirely allocated; Catholic Charities has new HPRP funds for individuals at risk of homelessness that are available via Berkshire Community Action Council. We discussed and reaffirmed the importance of housing inspections to assess conditions prior to providing back rent or other cash assistance (ensuring landlords are fulfilling their legal obligations to meet minimum health and safety standards).
Suzanne Smith, network data analyst, reviewed the record of service form that all providers across all 4 counties are completing upon providing assistance to a tenant to prevent homelessness. This data collection will allow the Network to assess the impact of providers being present and offering their services at the Court. BCRHA’s Tenancy Preservation Project staff is at the Housing Court when it convenes and is aware of all the possible resources available and refers as needed. We affirmed the excellent communication and collaboration that exists across the county.
We will continue to check in every few months to assess the impact of provider interventions, the changing resources and ways to continue to maximize collaboration in the service of preventing homelessness.
Franklin/Hampshire Housing Court Collaboration Meeting Minutes – 3/19/10
Attendance: Judge Robert Fields, Donna Zundell, housing court specialist, Eryn Tobin, Catholic Charities, Ellie Harris, ServiceNet, Cris Carl, Service Net., Karon Belunas, ServicetNet, Amy Nason, Western Mass. Training Consortium, Lynn Norwood, Western Mass. Training Consortium, Joanne Glier, Franklin County Regional Housing and Redevelopment Authority, Toni Hochstadt, Community Action, Suzanne Smith, network data analyst, Pamela Schwartz, network coordinator
Discussion: We reviewed current status of program funding, including: ICHH funds in Franklin and Hampshire Counties are almost entirely allocated; Catholic Charities has new HPRP funds for individuals at risk of homelessness that are available via Community Action; FCRHRA has RAFT dollars available; Western Mass. Training Consortium has additional $10,000 in flexible funds available as well (through DCF funding) which must be spent by June 30.
Toni Hochstadt of Community Action is providing provider staff support on Monday mornings when the Housing Court convenes in Northampton. Now that CA’s ICHH funds are depleted and HAP is the only remaining ICHH funding source serving Hampshire County, we agreed it is important to ensure a quick and direct referral process to HAP. Pamela will be in touch with HAP to help facilitate this process.
Suzanne Smith, network data analyst, reviewed the record of service form that all providers across all 4 counties are completing upon providing assistance to a tenant to prevent homelessness. This data collection will allow the Network to assess the impact of providers being present and offering their services at the Court. The form was distributed and discussed in detail to ensure the best data collection possible.
We affirmed and applauded the excellent communication and collaboration that exists across the county.
We will continue to check in every few months to assess the impact of provider interventions, the changing resources and ways to continue to maximize collaboration in the service of preventing homelessness.
