Steering Committee Meeting Minutes: February 4, 2010
Attendance: Father Stan Aksamit, Our Lady’s Parish, Dave Christopolis, Berkshire Community Action Council, Joanne Glier, Franklin County Regional Housing and Redevelopment Authority, Peg Keller, City of Northampton, Jay Levy, Elliot-CHS Homeless Services, Gerry McCafferty, City of Springfield Housing Department, Andrea Miller, Center for Human Development, Suzanne Smith, data analyst, Liz Sullivan, Department of Mental Health, Lynne Wallace, Dietz &Co. Architects, Pamela Schwartz, regional coordinator
Regional Event on April 26, 2010
The Steering Committee reviewed the proposal to One Family for funding for regional event to highlight best practices and host speaker Dennis Culhane. Agreed upon one amendment: shift $500 from contingency line-item to promotional materials. The Committee unanimously approved proposal and unanimously approved proposal from Paul Robbins for consultant contract to provide video production and overall event consultation. The Community Engagement Committee will continue with its planning work.
Bruegger’s Bagels Fundraiser
Jay Levy of Elliot CHS-Homeless Services has generously facilitated an offer from Bruegger’s to devote 15% of its sales on a given day towards the Network’s funding of supportive services for chronically homeless individuals. The Committee unanimously approved participation in this event. Jay will inquire of Elliot CHS-Homeless Services to determine whether they can be the fiscal conduit for these proceeds that will then be distributed via the Network’s individual services committee.
Note: Since the Committee met, Jay confirmed with Bruegger’s that the fundraising day will take place on Sunday, March 7, 10 am – 2pm at both the Amherst and Northampton stores. Jay will coordinate volunteers to advertise outside of the Amherst store. The Individual Services Committee will recruit volunteers for the Northampton store.
Thanks to Jay for making this opportunity possible, and of course thanks to Bruegger’s!
Review of family homelessness data
Suzanne distributed data provided by both ICHH/DHCD and compiled by Gerry McCafferty showing the rise in family homelessness in the Springfield area over recent months. Specifically, the number of families entering shelter continues to exceed the number of families exiting shelter, and this is in sharp contrast to marked declines in other parts of the state, specifically in Worcester. While it was acknowledged that some key data is missing in order to fully analyze the situation (including comparative demographic figures), we also agreed that we need to keep pushing our responses. Towards that end, we are hosting Bob Pulster and others from the state and local DHCD offices at a meeting in Springfield on 2/25 where we will have an opportunity to discuss our ongoing joint efforts to meet the challenge of family homelessness in the western region.
Next meeting: Thursday, March 4, 3-5 pm, DMH Haskell Building, Northampton. Agenda items will include: begin discussion of Network’s future past end of ICHH grant (9/30); review PIT counts for the region; update and review of family homelessness data
