HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-11-18 Housing & Human Services PACKET
Ashland Housing and Human
Services Commission
Regular Meeting Agenda
November 18,2021:4:00–6:00pm
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
1.(4:00)Approval of Minutes (5 min)
October28, 2021
2.(4:05)Public Forum (5 min)
3.(4:10)Housing Production Strategy Overiew(25min)
Brandon Goldman, Senior Planner
4.(4:35)Annual Update to the Council Debrief (5min)
5.(4:40)Severe Climate Event Stakeholder Listening Session Debrief (20min)
Rich Rohde,Echo Fields, Joy Fate
6.(5:00)Severe Climate Event Policy Recommendations Discussion(25min)
Rich Rohde,Echo Fields, Joy Fate
7. (5:25)Overview of the Affordable Housing Program Presentation(15min)
Linda Reid, Housing Program Specialist
8. (5:40)(Liaison Reports)(10min)
Liaison Reports
Council(Gina Duquenne)Staff (Linda Reid)
SOU Liaison (Unfilled)General Announcements/Local Housing
SOU program report (Chris Mahan) Updates
9. (5:50)Upcoming Eventsand Meetings and Agenda Item Suggestions
December 1, 2021-Snowberry IIPreview
December 9, 2021 11:00 AM-1:00PM-HHSC Goal Setting Retreat
10.(6:00)Adjournment
Memo
DATE:November 15, 2021
TO:Housingand Human ServicesCommission
FROM:Linda Reid, Housing Program Specialist
RE:October 28 HHSC minutes
At the time of packet issuance, the minutes were notupto date and will be emailed separatelybefore the meeting on
November 18, 2021.
DEPT. OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Tel: 541-488-5305
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800-735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
Memo
DATE:11/18/2021
TO:Housingand Human ServicesCommission
FROM:Linda Reid, Housing Program Manager
RE:Housing Production Strategy Overview
The Housing and Human Services Commission has requested an update regarding the status of the
Housing Production Strategy the City of Ashland will be undertaking during 2022. Brandon Goldman,
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Regular meeting to provide an
Senior Planner, will be present at the Commission’s November 18
update and address any questions Commissioners may have about the project.
City of Ashland received aTechnical Assistance grant from the Department of Land Conservation and
Development (DLCD) for preparation of a Housing Production Strategy (HPS). DLCD has contracted
with ECONorthwest to provide consultant services to assist the City in preparation of the HPS in
conformance with the Oregon Revised Statutes guiding the development of the plan
).
(https://oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_197.290
Preparation of a HPS will identify and prioritize activities the City can undertake over an 8-year period
to promote the production of affordable housing, and other needed housing types. This document builds
upon thecomprehensive housing needs assessmentworkincluded inAshland’s recently adopted
Housing Capacity Analysis. The analysis of identified strategies provided in the HPS will evaluate the
potentialeffectiveness of each strategy in meeting Ashland’s housing needs in consideration of
constraints due to infrastructure capacity, environmental constraints, resources, and regulatory barriers.
DEPT. OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Tel: 541-488-5305
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800-735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
Memo
DATE:11/18/2021
TO:Housingand Human ServicesCommission
FROM:Linda Reid, Housing Program Specialist
RE:Debrief of the Annual Presentation to the Council
Co-Chairs Linda Reppond and Rich Rohde will provide any feedback from the Council regarding the
Commission’s annual presentation to the Council which was held on November 16, 2021.
DEPT. OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Tel: 541-488-5305
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800-735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
Memo
DATE:11/18/2021
TO:Housingand Human ServicesCommission
FROM:Linda Reid, Housing Program Specialist
RE:Severe Climate EventWorkgroup Outreach Plan
The Housing and Human Service’s Severe Climate Workgroup hosted two stakeholder listening
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sessions. One on November 9and one on November 11. The November 9meeting was attended by
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13 people, and the November 11meeting was attended by 7 people. Notes from both meetings are
included below. There were a few stakeholders who expressed an interest in providing feedback,
although they were unable to attend either meeting, or had additional input that would like to contribute.
Any further feedback provided regarding the development of the severe climate policy will be provided
to the commission, either via email, or in a more comprehensive memo at the next regular meeting.
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meeting prepared and submitted by Echo Fields:
Summary of November 9
11/9/21 Attendees:Isleen Glatt; Delores Nims, Cass Sinclair, Greg Perkinson, Christine Quitt, Joe
Gibson, Rachel Dials(and Joy, Rich, Linda, Echo) and Heidi from our Commission. Echo did the
introductions, took notes.
Parametersfor calling a shelter/temp & AQI thresholds: Joy opened with her support the temps listed
in “model 1” in the hand out. CQ noted that the parameters in MFR are not great, but what was
possible, considering the limited availability of volunteers. \[No discussion of what other ideas about
what the numbers might be or are in other models. Didn’t get to the comparison of models in the
handout\]
Volunteers:Lots of ideas about volunteer management. DN: COVID required steps to protect older,
vulnerable volunteers; CS: OHRA switched to paid staff, not volunteers due to COVID. GP (SOU):
students could be more involved if COVID numbers keep improving, more outreach to on campus
students who have expressed interest (CS/OHRA concurred) CQ(MFR homeless taskforce) suggested
DEPT. OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Tel: 541-488-5305
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800-735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
ways to help churches be so dependent on just their OWN congregants—i.e. creating a shared pool of
trained volunteers, use of training videos, identifying “lead” volunteers with additional training/skills,
people who can be called upon by multiple groups. Joy: there could be ways to have volunteers who
step up for short term/day-to-day/as needed taskswithout taking on longer term obligations; IG(Sr.Ctr.)
mention the Rogue Valley COAD that could generate a pooled list of persons willing to be volunteers.
CQ noted that they have created their own separate email address “Medford emergency shelters” aspart
of their outreach strategy. CQ noted that Rogue Retreat is ready to open the Pallet Community on E
Main, but they don’t have staff available. It can open when workers are hired. The site cannot be used
as safe sleep/tent/car camping site.
DN (UU church) commented on the over-reliance on churches for social services—city should do more.
How do city officials see their role in providing social services?
Facilities/Locations: GP (SOU) noted that the smoke shelters in 2019 were helpful but COVID made
that impossible in 2020. RD(APRC): Pioneer Hall still closed due to COVID still. Will rent for $20/hr
to nonprofits but cannot be used for overnight sheltering because there is no sprinkler system, broken
beam. Linda pointed out that facilities forovernight sheltering have different requirements/needs than
those that are daytime/business-hours only. The Grove is still closed due to COVID but when open, it
will be used mostly for rec classes/activities. Joe noted in the chat that those priorities should be
changed—sheltering vulnerable people higher priority than recreation.
Joy commented that in her view people in shelters should not be obligated to sign up for services. CQ
said services are offered at her shelter but not required to sign up inorder to stay there.
Food:DN: Rogue Retreat has said they plan to provide food for 49 people year round. Volunteers
needed to prepare/transport?
Communication/coordination/collaboration:Rich reminded the group of the importance of groups
cooperating,communicating
\[note: most conversation focused on serving unhoused persons & didn’t touch much on thebroader
issues of all at-risk populations.\]
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Summary of November 11meeting prepared and submitted by Echo Fields:
Attending:Linda Reid. Commissioners: Jackie Bachman, Linda Reppond, Joy Fate, Echo Fields
(facilitated/took notes) Stakeholders: Elizabeth Hallett(Peace House); Laurie True(UCC) Ted
DeLong(OSF) Echo did intro, shared screen of agenda/handouts/ temperature & AQI thresholds,
definition of vulnerable populations(i.e. unhoused but others, too). Things Rich would have said:
DEPT. OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Tel: 541-488-5305
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800-735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
Stressed the need for cooperation,communication, collaboration, “centeringthe voices with lived
experience”
Most conversation focused on warming/winter sheltering since that’s already a need. Didn’t really talk
much about cooling or “safe air”/smoke shelters—summer seems too far off right now, so doesn’t seem
as urgent.
Activation/thresholds: Linda Rep. noted the need for flexibility in activating shelters. Jackie
B. also noted the need for a decision maker—city managerideally—who understands the need
for flexibility. Laurie T. pointed out that it would be a bad idea to set thresholds at levels the
city/non-profits/churches could not have the carrying capacityto deliver on and wondered if the
Pallet Community and OHRA will accommodate most people in need, reducing demand for
emergency shelters.
Joy joined the meeting a bit late—lots going on at the Underground Shelter (officially under the
sponsorship of SOJWJ at present)—but shared her experience with demand for warming shelters
at present. Laurie asked for more precise numbers/data on usage patterns. (At the end of the
meeting Joy looked out into the room at the Underground Shelter and counted about 15 people
present)
Facilities:Currently, OHRA Center; 2082 E. Main Pallet Community/Rogue Retreat; UU Pallet
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& N. Main. E. Main Pallet Communityshould be up and
Shelters, Underground Shelter 5
running in the next couple of weeks when staff/volunteers are available via Rogue Retreat. Linda
Reid explained the current funding situation for E. Main—need for more permanent, long term &
predictable funding in the next year. And there is a possibility for more pallet shelter units in the
future. \[how useful will they be for heat/air quality shelters?\] Funding currently: CDBG, HUD,
AHTF, social service grants. What other sources might there be?
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Joy noted that the 5& E. Mainbuilding is privately owned & will not be available forever; the owner
may need to turn it to other uses and is not being reimbursed for keeping the power on. Joy
works to make sure there is “no drama” and the neighbors are not impacted by shelter operations.
More conversation about the use of the Grove(Jackie B), prioritizing sheltering above recreational
programs. Need for Pioneer Hall to be used, upgrading the kitchen, removing obstacles to using
a wider variety of city-owned spaces/buildingsin emergencies (e.g. fire stations? city council
chambers? city hall?) Pioneer Hallneeds to be available ASAP.
Jackie B. also wondered what spaces the school districtcould contribute
DEPT. OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Tel: 541-488-5305
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800-735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
SOUpossibilities: Linda Reid shared what Greg Perkinson (SOU VP) said at the Tuesday meeting.
Daytime smoke/heat sheltering may be easier for SOU to accommodate because they may not be
overnight. Overnight warming shelters are more complex to staff.
Linda Rep. noted the need for emergency sheltering that can accommodate families with children
Volunteers. The pool of volunteers in the community as a whole is aging and thus dwindling.
Not only due to COVID. Church congregations are aging beyond the point that volunteer levels
will be sustained.
Food: Some questions about what Rogue Food Unites has done in the past, might do in the
future in emergent weathersituations; also School District kitchens & food programs
Discussion of current needs of the Peace House/Uncle Foods Dinerfor access to commercial kitchen
and site for the weekly meals, once the Methodist Church becomes unavailable. Elizabeth &
Jackie conversed a bit about OHRA terminating its contract with Peace House for meals,Peace
House is also nearing the end of funding from COVID relief and fire emergency sources. \[one
participant noted that the fire stations have excellent kitchen facilities\]
costs associated with providing food:escalating costs for food, food container prices. Transportation
from kitchens to sites where meals are beings served can be complicated, more expensive. Peace
House may need to reduce service in the coming months, and so less able to add any additional
tasks related to feeding persons in emergency shelters. Providing food to emergency shelters on
top of the more long-term year round programs will strain capacity.
Elizabeth H. concluded with the observation that government needs to do morebecause nonprofits and
churches are stretched beyond capacity.
DEPT. OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Tel: 541-488-5305
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800-735-2900
www.ashland.or.us
Memo
DATE:11/18/2021
TO:Housingand Human ServicesCommission
FROM:Linda Reid, Housing Program Specialist
RE:Overview of the Affordable Housing ProgramPart 2
Continuation of the Power Point Presentation on the City of Ashland Affordable Housing Program.
DEPT. OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Tel: 541-488-5305
20 E. Main Street Fax: 541-488-6006
Ashland, Oregon 97520 TTY: 800-735-2900
www.ashland.or.us