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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-12-14 Homelessness Steering_MIN DRAFT Minutes December 15, 2011 Ad hoc Homelessness Steering Committee Ashland Public Library 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. Attendance Ayers, Parker, Lewis, Saldana, Hopkins-Powell, Voisin (Council liaison), Seltzer (City staff) Absent O’Bryon, Rohde, Slattery (Council liaison) Call to Order Parker called the meeting to order at 4:05 p.m. Approval of Minutes Hopkins-Powell/Saldana m/s to approve the minutes of the November meeting; minutes were approved with corrections. Update on Listening Post Hopkins-Powell reported the Listening Post has been up and running for the past 5 or 6 weeks. Volunteers sit with people at Uncle Foods Diner and participate in general conversation. After dinner, some people sit at the Listening Post and most seem to appreciate the opportunity to talk and have someone listen even if they opt not to participate. New volunteers are being trained and the group is looking for a second location. Sub-committee Reports Public Education and Media The sub-committee has not met. Day Use Center/Mobile Clinic Parker reports she met with Larry Patterson who suggested they move forward with identifying a place for car camping, explore a legal campground and the day use center. He suggested the group develop a comprehensive plan with all the ideas and associated costs to present prior to the budget process. Ayers and Parker met with Parks and Recreation Director Don Robertson about the use of the Grove as a Day Use Center. Robertson does not feel the Grove would work because the interface with current users and homeless is not appropriate. If Council decided to approve the Grove for a day use center, Parks would move the current recreation programs to another location. He did indicate the use of the office space and showers would be acceptable on a trial basis. The Grove is available for shower use on Fridays between 2:30 and 4:30 in the afternoons. Parker wants to use this window of time to allow homeless men use of the shower. Page 1 of 3 There was general discussion about how the service would be organized with supplies and volunteers in attendance. Seltzer will check with the City to determine if there are any issues that need to be addressed: liability, cleaning, Council approval, cost of hot water etc. M/S Hopkins-Powell/Saldana to move forward with the proposal to provide showers on Friday afternoons on a trial basis: Motion passed 4 to 1. Parker will draft a written proposal to submit to Robertson and include details of the service. Voisin reported at the Coalition meeting the group agreed to approach the National Guard Armory about using the building to provide showers and/or use of the building as an emergency shelter. Voisin has contacted the building manager who will follow through with his supervisor. The Congregational Church could be the entity to “sponsor” the service. Voisin also reported a local man and Access are in contact with Gary Singletary at the Daily Tidings about the possibility of the papers’ parent company donating the vacant Tidings Ashland building for use as a Day Use Center. L Clinica Mobile Clinic Parker reported the La Clinica Mobile Clinic is slightly behind schedule but could be up and running by January. They have agreed to provide service in Ashland one day per week. The trailer measures 40 feet long and 7 feet wide and needs access to 220V. The Methodist Church is amenable to allowing the trailer to park in the parking lot on Tuesdays to service attendees of Uncle Foods Diner but has not yet committed. The Congregational Church and the Presbyterian Church were also mentioned as possible locations. Lewis explained the Methodist Church has a conditional use permit (CUP) that allows Uncle Foods Diner to use the parking lot but neighbors are not necessarily supportive of the practice. He wonders if the current CUP allows for services provided by the Mobile Medical Unit and neighbor’s reaction. Lewis will follow up with the Methodist Church. Winter Shelter Saldana reported Occupy Ashland has taken up the cause for winter emergency shelters. Saldana attend a meeting with Occupy Ashland. A number of homeless people who were at the meeting said they would not use the cold weather shelter. Saldana commented there may be others that would use the shelter. There was general discussion about the City’s resolution providing available city facilities for a shelter when the weather is 20 degrees or below and the use of CERT Page 2 of 3 volunteers to staff the shelters. It was noted that the resolution applies to City facilities not to private property e.g. the Presbyterian Church could open a shelter at whatever temperature they chose. Update on Donation Boxes Rohde reported via Parker that the Chamber has spoken with the local St. Vincent DePaul group about collecting and using the money for people in need. The local group does not appear to be interested and the Chamber will ask the Medford St. Vincent De Paul if they would be willing. Seltzer reminded the group that at one of the previous HSC meetings, DeeAnne Everson suggested United Way may be willing to be the umbrella organization for the funds. Wrap Up Parker asked the committee how it wanted to use its limited time prior to March when the Committee is dissolved. Lewis suggested re-reading the minutes from the October council meeting and re-visiting the charge of the committee. He feels the committee may be getting off track of the original charge of the committee and should focus energy on direction Council provided at the October meeting. Meeting adjourned at 6:00 Next meeting dates January 11 January 25 February 8 February 22 Page 3 of 3