HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-05-25 Housing & Human Services MIN
HHSA Committee Minutes
May 25, 2023
4:00-6:00PM
I. CALL TO ORDER: 4:00 p.m.
Commissioners Present: Council Liaison:
Echo Fields Bob Kaplan
Kathy Kali Staff Present:
Heidi Parker Linda Reid; Housing Program Specialist
Rich Rohde Kendall Escuin; Admin Support
Jason Mendoza
Brittney Bass SOU Liaison:
Deborah Price Reese Rosenburg
Commissioner’s Absent:
Alan Ackroyd
II. ANNOUNCEMENTS
III. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Approval of April 27, 2023, Minutes
Rohde/Parker m/s Voice vote: ALL AYES. Motion moves.
IV. PUBLIC FORUM (4:05-4:10 p.m.)
A. Public Forum
None
V. NEW BUSINESS
A. Presentation by SOU Student Liaison, Reese Rosenburg, “Housing Insecurity Amongst
Ashland Youth: A Qualitative Study” (4:15-4:35 p.m.). Rosenburg presented a portion of her
capstone project which focused on discrimination in the renting system in Ashland.
Rosenburg touched on 4 main goals.
1. Bridge younger people with city involvement.
2. Learn more about housing discrimination for people under 25.
3. Learn more about coping strategies when people under 25 are denied housing.
4. Explore possible solutions and make constructive criticism of rental housing
application fees in the area.
Page 1 of 3
HHSA Committee Minutes
Parker would like to create a sub-committee on this issue. The goal would be to publicly
advertise homes that have open bedrooms for rent. And to educate our community on this
pressing issue. Parker also suggests that Rosenburg present this power point to local
Realtors.
B. New Committee Member Introductions (4:35-4:45 p.m.).
Members gave brief introductions of themselves to the Committee.
C. New Committee Chair and Vice Chair Elections (4:45-5:05 p.m.)
Munoz nominates Fields as chair. Voice Vote: ALL AYES. Fields is now our Chair.
Rohde/Parker m/s Kali and Munoz as Co-Vice Chair. Voice Vote: ALL AYES. Kali and
Munoz share the position of Co-Vice Chair.
D. Winter Shelter Debrief and Summer Shelter planning Update (5:05-5:25 p.m.)
Severe Weather Shelter 2023 Re-Cap.pdf
Fields, Rohde, and Reid were at the debrief meeting.
Rohde reported that it was a great meeting. All the stakeholders and people involved
were open to listening and learning. The one point that stuck out for Rohde was the
need for public education. And for the people needing shelter, to know where it is
located on a consistent basis. The next challenge will be what to do with the summer
shelter.
Fields reported that Kelly Burns will be getting the Nixle notifications out. Fields spoke
to Burns about street outreach.
E. Meeting Time Change Discussion (5:25-5:45)
Tabling this discussion for June 22, 2023, meeting.
VI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A. None
VII. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
A. Liaison Reports
Kaplan reported that the Budget Committee just approved the budget.
Reid reported the Multi Agency Coordination Group met about the emergency order to
address homelessness. The City of Ashland did submit an application for funding to
acquire a permanent location for a weather shelter. We were awarded 1.4 million to be
used to buy a building. All funding must be spent before January 10, 2024.
Page 2 of 3
HHSA Committee Minutes
B. General Announcements
Rohde announced that Ashland passed the housing production strategy. There was an
article written by Channel 12 News in Medford that reported that we were the first city in
Oregon to adopt our own HPS.
VIII. AGENDA BUILDING – Future Meetings
IX. ADJOURNMENT: 6:00 p.m.
Adjourned at 6:07pm
Next Meeting Date: June 22, 2023
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this
meeting, please email linda.reid@ashland.or.us. Notification 72 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to
make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to the meeting (28 CFR 35.102-35.104 ADA Title 1).
Page 3 of 3