June 5 , 2009 Meeting Notes

Homeless Leadership Coalition
www.cohomeless.org
Meeting Notes
June 5, 2009
8:30 – 10:00 am

1. Welcome

2. Introductions
i. Number Attending: 28.
ii. Attendees Were: Sarah Elliott - Deschutes County Mental Health, Heather Voris, Maralyn Frazier, Dave Goodwin, Gwenn Wysling, and Suzy Reininger - Bethlehem Inn, Sharon Hoyer, Matthew Bain and Julie Tapia - Clients - Bethlehem Inn, Kevin Barclay - Deschutes County Public Library, Bruce Barnes - Department of Human Services, Racheal Baker - Legal Aid Services of Oregon, Cindy Pasko and Ellyce Whalen - Partnership to End Poverty, Laurie Bisby - Saving Grace, Lynda Johnson - The Shepherd's House, Bruce Jaqua - Housing Works, Woody Medeiros - Grandma's House, Chuck Geschke - Cascade Youth and Family, Erik Kropp - Deschutes County, Janet Whitney - Citizens for Bend Area Transit, Mark Tomaro - Central Oregon Veterans Outreach, Michele Ping - Mary Kay, Inc., Bob Moore - Deschutes County Sherriff's Office - COPY Program, Corky Senecal, John Livingston, Michael Hensley and Jo Anne Van Antwerp - NeighborImpact.

3. AGENCY UPDATES:
i. Janet Whitney - CBAT
1. Please get your organization to endorse getting BAT out of the City's Budget and into the Transit District.
a. Weekends have been temporarily extended for BAT.
b. Decision will have to be made again next spring.
i. Hoping to get it on a payroll tax.
c. Please go to your board or your director and ask them to endorse when the campaign starts up this time.
i. Thanks to Grandma's House for endorsement and article by Janet Stevens.

ii. Woody Medeiros - Grandma's House
1. Motorcycle Fundraiser coming up on June 21st.
a. Will be raffling off a 2007 Gangster Bike.
i. The bike is at Motorcycles of Bend right now.
ii. Bike was 100% donated.
iii. Ticket outlets are on website: http://www.grandmashouseofbend.com/fundraisers.html.
b. Proceeds will go to Grandma's House and Opportunities Unlimited/ Central Oregon Boxing Club.
i. Had to explain to IRS how the two agencies are alike.
ii. Take kids off the streets and help them to turn their lives around.
2. Success Stories with Chuck and CYAF!
a. Woody and Chuck share many clients and many resources.
b. Chuck had a young lady in his group who went to Grandma's House and has now had a full term healthy baby. She worked very hard and is now out on her own.
i. She went into the jobs program, interned at The Loft, and they have now hired her!
c. Chuck told us about a young lady who is 4 months pregnant and being mentored by Woody and will be moving into Grandma's House on the 8th.

iii. Erik Kropp - Deschutes County - 10 Year Plan
1. 12-14 officials from throughout Central Oregon along with some HLC members came to the kick off meeting about a month ago.
a. Very good and positive meeting.
b. Very dedicated elected officials.
2. Next step is to ask those elected officials to tell us who the partners from their area are that should be at the table.
3. We will also get word out to HLC members.
4. We will then get together a working committee.
5. It will be about a year and a half process.

iv. Chuck Geschke - Cascade Youth and Family
1. Took 8 of the youth to the protest rally in Salem on May 19th.
a. Protest was against a $300,000 cut in funding for homeless youth in Oregon.
b. Over 500 homeless kids showed up.
c. Many youth told their stories and showed those in attendance the real face of homelessness.
i. Senators and Representatives were there.
ii. Judy Stiegler and Chris Telfer have contacted him since the rally.
d. Kids took a tour of the capitol building.

v. Heather Voris - Bethlehem Inn - Personal Update
1. Moving back to Ohio on July 18th.
a. She was accepted into the Masters Program for Non Profit Organizations.
b. Congratulations, Heather!! We will miss you!!
c. Suzy let us know that there will be a party at the Bethlehem Inn on July 17th. Details will be coming through the HLC LISTSERV.

vi. Corky Senecal - NeighborImpact
1. Two weeks ago, Congress reauthorized the McKinney Act.
a. Part of that reauthorization was the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Amendment.
i. Expands the definition of homelessness.
ii. Opens up the ability to use federal funding in rural areas.
1. They now recognized that it is very different to run programs in rural areas than it is to run programs in urban areas.
iii. A couple of years ago, about 10 representatives from different states were invited to attend a conference in Washington, DC to offer their prospective on the problem and solutions to homelessness.
1. Corky was the only person who was invited from the West.
2. The HEARTH Amendment was a result of that conference.
3. Congress passed it one day and the President signed it the next day!
iv. Congratulations, Corky!!!
b. Corky pointed out that Janet Stevens' article in the Bulletin was her husband, Don's doing.
c. Woody said that Janet Stevens called her and said that Corky needs to be thanked publicly.
i. Corky has definitely brought tools and gifts to our area.
ii. Thank you, Corky!
d. Corky replied by saying that nobody does it by them selves and thanking all who are involved with the HLC for giving this community what it needs.

vii. Lynda Johnson - Shepherd's House
1. Just got back from a conference in Denver, Colorado.
a. Shepherd's House will be hosting "Sleepless in America" in September.
i. Economically privileged people dressing down, emptying their wallets and spending time on the streets as homeless people.
ii. Awesome chance to educate our community.
iii. Contact Lynda if you are interested in hosting the event along with Shepherd's House.
iv. For more info, go to www.nationalhomeless.org.
1. http://www.nationalhomeless.org/projects/Homeless_Challenge_Project/index.html

viii. Laurie Bisby - Saving Grace
1. Saving Grace recently became certified to provide services to victims of human trafficking.
2. There has been a rise in human trafficking and teen trafficking.
3. Recommends Mike Jones of the FBI Victims Assistance in Bend to do a presentation for any agency interested.
a. He is trying to get the information out into the community so that people are more aware of the issues of human trafficking.

ix. Mark Tomaro - COVO - Home of the Brave
1. They will offer a free booth for your agency at High Desert Thunder (see poster) on August 1st and 2nd at Stevenson Ranch.
2. Please help to get the word out.
3. More posters available at: http://covo-us.org/

2. Agenda Ideas and Suggestions
i. Sarah has called agencies to see if they could come and present to the HLC.
ii. Please let us know if there is something you are interested in hearing about.
iii. Please call Sarah if you have an agenda item to add.

iv. Mark asked if there is an overhead projector that could be used for agencies to present ideas during HLC meetings and a laptop to use to connect to the internet.
1. Michael mentioned that the library has a projector.
2. Just let us know ahead of time and we can ask Kevin to set it up.

v. Suggestions for guest speakers and people who should be at this table:
1. Heather Voris - local PTA members (during school year).
2. Julie Tapia - FAN Advocates
a. Corky talked to Julie in the past and found that due to reduced hours, FAN advocates do not work on Fridays.
b. Sarah and Suzy will suggest that maybe they could work out some kind of rotation where one could come once a quarter or a similar arrangement.
3. Erik Kropp will invite local elected officials to sit on a panel as guest speakers.
4. Bruce Jaqua - Invited Bend City Councilor, Jodie Barram and although she was unable to make it today, she said she is interested in coming to these meetings on a regular basis.
5. Bob Moore - need to go back to having 10 minute (not 1 hour) presentations from an agency about the inner workings of their organization.
a. This is very helpful for all of us to take away information for referrals.
6. Heather Voris - DHS - specifically would like to hear more about Pre - Social Security.
7. Racheal Baker - would like to hear more about the Stimulus money for Homeless Prevention.
a. Corky - Community Services Block Grant Funds - we will have three years to spend it out.
b. Central Oregon is designated for about $900,000 of New Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program funds (HPRP) that should be coming in September. Actual amounts and rules for spending are not yet available.
c. Funds will be distributed through community action agencies.
i. As soon as we receive the information needed, we will have that conversation with those at this table.
ii. Corky has been waiting until more information was available.
d. COIC funds are a different pot of money.
i. There are many pots of stimulus money, so they are asking that we continue to talk to each other.
8. Thank you, Michael for putting the agenda on the front page of the website!

4. National Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week - November 15-21
i. It's coming up and it is time to start talking about what we want to do get our name out there and raise awareness for the homeless.
ii. Since Project Connect is in September this year, it will fall right in between PC and the One Night Homeless Count.
iii. Possible Events:
iv. Sleepless in America
v. Run/Walk
1. Bundle Run
a. Could kick off the week with this.
b. Awareness of elements faced by homeless.
c. Would raise money for One Night Homeless Count.
i. $1100-1200 needed to purchase items for count.
ii. Fiscal agent to be discussed.
iii. Costs will be determined.
d. Sarah will talk to FitZone for advice and connections.
e. Healthy Beginnings puts on a walk/run, so they may be able to help.
f. Suzy suggested avoiding using an event coordinator due to cost.
g. Erik will get contact information for permits.
h. Woody suggested red (or other bright colored) scarves and/or hats with logo for those who participate.
i. Committee:
i. Woody Medeiros
ii. Mark Tomaro
iii. Michael Hensley
vi. Kevin Barclay - Library can host programming.
1. Volunteer Fair
2. Could have a series of events that week.
3. "For every one person that comes, 10 people hear about it."
vii. Suzy Reininger - It would be good to have all events for that week listed on the website.
1. Bethlehem Inn will have their annual dinner on Saturday, November 14th.
a. Food by Deschutes Brewery.
b. Money goes to help Bethlehem Inn.
2. NeighborImpact has Empty Bowls on Sunday, November 15th.
a. Corky mentioned that this is a good opportunity to have open dialogue with our counterparts on the food side of the efforts.
i. The Hunger Prevention Coalition is also a big part of serving the homeless.
ii. Sarah invited Tonya from the HPC and she wants to come to our meetings.
viii. Woody suggested that we invite one person from each media to participate in each of the events.
ix. Mark suggested that each agency/organization add a link to the HLC website: www.cohomeless.org.
1. Mark will be happy to help anyone who needs it.
x. Please feel free to email Sarah and Suzy if you have more ideas for events.

5. Project Connect - Cindy Pasko
i. Formerly Project Homeless Connect - the word Homeless was taken out to be more inclusive of those who are on the fringe of homelessness.
ii. Cindy passed out flyers and a map of the Buildings and layout of sections.
iii. There will be a list of vendors/services by section available soon.
iv. Event will be held on September 19, 2009 from 9:30AM to 3:30PM.
1. Later start time allows for more time to set up in the morning.
v. Will be held in the Middle and South Sisters buildings this year instead of the Event Center.
vi. Still working on showers.
vii. We expect around 3000 people this year.
1. We want to make sure that all we advertise is available to them.
viii. Medical and Dental will have the entire the South Sister
1. Medical team is a coalition from St. Charles and Deschutes County Health department and has been meeting and has grown immensely.
2. 3 Dental Vans this year.
3. Medical will be expanded
a. Lyons club van will be there.
b. There will be free eyeglasses.
c. Full healthcare services
4. Upgraded foot care.
5. Please ask any doctors that are interested in helping to contact Colette at SCMC.
6. First Aid kits -
a. Last year, PTEP donated one half and Norco paid the other half.
b. Norco has supplied many other things, not sure if first aid kits would be a possibility.
7. Bob has a contact at Bend Memorial Clinic that he will talk to.
ix. Hope to have names of team leads on the website soon.
1. Still need a team lead for Survival Area.
x. Housing area will be three times larger than last year.
xi. Children's area will be a play area only.
1. Sarah Elliott is team lead.
2. No child care for health and safety reasons.
a. Children can be left there and will be supervised.
b. Parents must feed and change children.
3. 3 -12 years old.
4. Kevin will to bring the Book Buggy to the children's outside area.
5. There will be an outdoor play area with a bouncy house, hula hoops, etc.
xii. The teen area will be separate and easy for them to slip into to encourage teens to participate.
xiii. Michele Ping will do hand care sessions and will hand out samples.
xiv. Military Recruitment Concerns
1. Will be simply and option and not predatory.
2. Cindy will speak with recruiters to make sure they give all options.
3. Clients will not be signing up or making any final commitments at Project Connect.
4. Recruiters will be there for information only and clients must go to the office if they wish to enlist.
xv. The College Place will be there.
xvi. Food will now be served in the same area that it is prepared in.
xvii. Food Boxes will be available
xviii. IRS tax assistance will be available
xix. Goal is to make sure we offer what we say we will offer.
1. Being very careful to plug holes that were there last year.
xx. We are waiting to hear back regarding outdoor survival
1. Fire Safety, etc.
xxi. Seminars available:
1. Women's Resources
2. Ready to Rent
3. Landlord/Tenant Law
4. Financial Fitness
5. Those who attend a seminar will get a nice gift.
xxii. Vendor packets will go out next week.
xxiii. Suzy asked about transportation.
1. Transportation team has not been started up yet.
2. Cindy did talk with Mike Schmidt with Bend Chambers and he is supportive.
3. We will not have a problem finding those willing to help us.
4. Transportation within Redmond, Prineville, and Bend worked well.
5. Transportation from Warm Springs to Redmond worked well.
6. Madras needs some improvement.
7. We will be focusing on transportation in June.
8. Corky suggested that Erik and other city officials may be able to help to get their jurisdictions moving.
xxiv. Marketing:
1. The website is now up: www.projectconnectco.org
2. There is a link to the site on the HLC website.
3. Project Connect is now on Twitter and Facebook.
4. PayPal is available for online donations.
5. Michelle asked how the Latino community is being engaged.
a. There will be specific marketing toward the Latino community in August.
6. Project Connect will have a booth at the Bend Summer Festival on July 11th and 12th.
a. Need volunteers to man the booth and represent Project Connect (not representing individual agencies)
b. There will be a crock pot drive on Sunday and diaper drive "Rap your Bootie"
xxv. Project is still a tri-county effort and falls in line with the 10 year plan.
xxvi. 80-90 organizations have been invited as vendors.
1. Cindy will send out a list of those organizations that have been contacted.
2. Cindy asked permission to email HLC to ask for help when they run into roadblocks.
3. IF YOU HAVE A SERVICE TO PROVIDE AND HAVE NOT YET BEEN CONTACTED, PLEASE LET US KNOW!
xxvii. Please contact Cindy or Ellyce with any questions.
xxviii. THANK YOU, CINDY AND ELLYCE!!

6. OTHER UPDATES and DISCUSSION:
i. No Meeting in July.
ii. Julie Tapia - thank you all for what you do and your caring, unstoppable attitudes. Let her know if there is any volunteer work that any of your agencies needs.

7. Closing

8. ** Next HLC Meeting -8:30AM-10:00A.M. - Friday, August 7, 2009 - Bend Public Library -in the Brooks Room.
i. **REMEMBER: MEETINGS ARE NOW THE 1st FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH (EXCEPT JULY)!
ii. ALL ARE WELCOME!

Have a Great Day!!!

11. AGENCY INFO and LINKS:
i. BEND AREA HABITAT FOR HUMANITY - Sheila Pyott
1. Website: http://www.bendhabitat.org/
ii. BEND/LA PINE SCHOOLS – Brooke Frandsen
1. Website:
http://www.bend.k12.or.us/education/district/district.php?sectionid=1
iii. BEND’S COMMUNITY CENTER – Taffy Gleason
1. Website: http://www.bendscommunitycenter.org
iv. BETHLEHEM INN –Heather, Allan, Suzy
1. Website: http://www.bethleheminn.org/
v. CASCADE YOUTH AND FAMILY CENTER – Chuck
1. http://www.jbarj.org/CYFC/cyfc.html
vi. CITIZENS FOR BEND AREA TRANSIT (C-BAT) - Janet
1. Website: www.citizensforbendareatransit.org
vii. CITY OF BEND – Jim
1. Website: http://www.ci.bend.or.us/
viii. COLINK – Rick Negus
1. Website: None found. (Please let me know if there is a website for your organization.)
ix. COVO – Craig
1. Website: http://www.covo-us.org/
x. DHS – Melanie, Karren, Bruce
1. http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/index.shtml
xi. DESCHUTES COUNTY - Erik
1. Website: www.co.deschutes.or.us/
xii. DESCHUTES COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT – Tuesday, Collette, Heather
1. Website: www.co.deschutes.or.us/health/
xiii. DESCHUTES COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT – Sarah
1. Website: www.co.deschutes.or.us/humsvcs/
xiv. DESCHUTES COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM - Kevin
1. Website: http://www.dpls.lib.or.us/.
xv. DESCHUTES COUNTY SHERRIF’S OFFICE, COPY PROGRAM - Bob
1. Website:
http://www.co.deschutes.or.us/go/government/departments/sheriff's-office/volunteers/central-oregon-partnerships-for-youth
xvi. FAN – REDMOND – Melinda
1. Website: None found. (Please let me know if there is a website for your organization.)
xvii. FULL CIRCLE OUTREACH – Rebecca
1. Website:www.fullcircleoutreach.net
xviii. GRANDMA’S HOUSE – Woody, Cindy
1. Website: http://www.grandmashouseofbend.com/
xix. HEALTHY BEGINNINGS – Dulce
1. Website: www.healthybeginnings.info
xx. HOUSING WORKS –Diane, Kelly, Bruce
1. Website: www.housing-works.org.
xxi. INTERFAITH ACTION FOR JUSTICE - Janet
1. Website: http://www.paydayloanfairness.org/about_us/ (please let me know if there is a better website for your organization.)
xxii. JERICHO ROAD and JERICHO TABLE – Craig
1. Website: None found. (Please let me know if there is a website for your organization.)
xxiii. LAKE PLACE - Joyce Cranston and Dani Thornton
1. Website: None found. (Please let me know if there is a website for your organization.)
xxiv. LAPINE COMMUNITY KITCHEN - Christine
1. Website: None found. (Please let me know if there is a website for your organization.)
xxv. LEGAL AID SERVICES OF OREGON - Racheal
1. Website: http://www.lawhelp.org/program/1173/
xxvi. MT. VIEW HOSPITAL FOUNDATION – Liz
1. Website: http://www.mvhd.org/html/mvhd-foundation.html
xxvii. NEIGHBORIMPACT – Corky, Mary, Steve, John
1. Website: http://www.neighborimpact.org/
xxviii. OASIS CHURCH - Jennie
1. Website: http://www.oasisbend.com/
xxix. OREGON COALITION ON HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS - Linda
1. Website: http://www.ochh.org/
xxx. OREGON HOUSING AND COMMUNITY SERVICES – Deb
1. Website: http://www.ohcs.oregon.gov/
xxxi. PARTNERSHIP TO END POVERTY – Cindy
1. http://www.partnershiptoendpoverty.org/
xxxii. PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTER – Deborah, Leslie, Angie
1. Website: http://www.prcco.org/
xxxiii. PRUDENTIAL NW PROPERTIES – Desiree Streeter
1. http://www.transitionalyouth.org/
xxxiv. RURAL ORGANIZING PROJECT – Connie Stringer
1. Website: None found. (Please let me know if there is a website for your organization.)
xxxv. SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL, BEND - Cindy
1. Website: http://www.centraloregonsvdp.org/bend.htm
xxxvi. SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL, PRINEVILLE - Marcella
1. Website: http://www.centraloregonsvdp.org/prineville.htm
2. Email: svdp@crestviewcable.com
xxxvii. SAVING GRACE – Trish, Laurie
1. Website: http://www.saving-grace.org/
xxxviii. THE SHEPHERD’S HOUSE - Lynda, Donna, and Gary
1. Website: www.myshepherdshouse.org
xxxix. VOLUNTEERS IN MEDICINE – Kat and Ron
1. Website: http://www.vim-cascades.org

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