Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-11-20 Housing & Human Services Committee PACKET Housing And Human ServicesCommittee Agenda Otte-Peterson Room of the Grove Note: Anyone wishing to speak at any Housing and Human Services Advisory Committeemeeting is encouraged to do so. If you wish to speak, please rise and, after you have been recognized by the Chair, give your name and complete address for the record. You will then be allowed to speak. Please note the public testimony may be limited by the Chair. November 20, 2025 REGULARMEETING AGENDA I.CALL TO ORDER: 4:00 p.m. II.APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA III.REVIEW OF UPCOMING PROJECTS(4:05-4:15 p.m.) IV.REVIEW AND DISCUSS PREVIOUS GOALS(4:05-4:15 p.m.) V.BRAINSTORMING, ASPIRATIONS-FEASABILITY DISCUSSION A.City of Eugene’s Renters Protection Overview(4:15-4:25 p.m.) B.Overview of the City’s Social Service Grant(4:25-4:45p.m.) C.Workplan draft review,discussionand brainstorming(4:45-5:15p.m.) VI.BREAKOUT EXERCISE A.Dot Exercise (5:15-5:30 p.m.) VII.REFINE AND PRIORITIZE GOALS VIII.WRAP UP AND ADJOURNMENT:7:00 p.m. 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 1of 1 Memo DATE: November20, 2025 TO: Housing and Human Services Advisory Committee FROM: Linda Reid, Housing Program Manager DEPT: Planning RE: Review of Upcoming Projects MONTHH&HS MEETINGCDBGAHTFWorkplan items January Social Service RFP Issued-first RFP Issued Last Manufacture Home Grant RFP Issuedweek of Januaryweek of JanuaryPark Zone Ordinance (MHPZ) Outreach Event? February receive CDBG, SS RFP Due-February Proposals Due-Equitable Housing thst Grants,and AHTF 14February 21Plan (EHP) apps for review)Subcommittee Formation thth March CDBG App. Review March 27-Public March 27Review and Hearing/presentatand Make Recommendationions/RecommendRecommendations Consolidated Plan ations Review and Recommendation thth April Social Service April 15Council April 15-Review MHPZ Ordinance Grant Review and review and final and final allocation review and recommendationallocation/Annual by Councilrecommendation/S Officer ElectionAction Plan Public S Grant Plan NoticeUpdate Planning nd May Review and May 22-Annual Finalize Equitable Approval of the Action Plan Public Housing Plan Event CDBG Annual Hearing/ApprovalDetails/Data Action Plangathering for SS Grant Plan Update June Equitable Housing Plan Public Engagement Event Planning Department 20 East Main StreetTel:541.488.5300 Ashland, Oregon 97520Fax:541.552.2059 ashland.or.usTTY: 800.735.2900 Memo July Rent Burden Event Review Draft Planning Kick-offEquitable Housing Plan August Social Service Grant Update Finalization September Review and Consolidated Social Service Approval of the Annual Grant Update CDBG CAPERPerformance Review and Finalize Rent Evaluation Report Recommendation Burden Event Review and DetailsApproval October Rent Burden CET Process Public HearingPlanning November Goal Setting Retreat December Goal Setting Retreat Annual Presentation to the Council Planning Department 20 East Main StreetTel:541.488.5300 Ashland, Oregon 97520Fax:541.552.2059 ashland.or.usTTY: 800.735.2900 Memo DATE: November20, 2024 TO: Housing and Human Services Advisory Committee FROM: Linda Reid, Housing Program Manager DEPT: Planning RE: AnnualWorkplan Update Attached to this memo is the 2024 Annual Workplan presented to the City Council. The Commission will review the previous year’s workplan and discuss what they would like to include in the 2025 Annual Workplan(a draft of which is also attached). The 2025 Annual Workplan will be th presented to the City Council at the Study Session on December 15. Planning Department 20 East Main StreetTel:541.488.5300 Ashland, Oregon 97520Fax:541.552.2059 ashland.or.usTTY: 800.735.2900 Housing and Human Services Advisory Committee 2024 Achievements In 2024 the Housing and Human Services Advisory Committee completed or addressed the following items in pursuit of the current workplan: Reviewed and recommended appointment of members to the council requested ad- hoc Subcommittee to address the development of the Homeless Services Masterplan Report. Reviewed applications and made recommendations regarding the allocation of $134,000 in Social Service Grant funding to twelve non-profit organizations. Reviewed applications and made recommendations regarding the allocation of $350,000 in Affordable Housing Trust Fund Grant funding to three affordable housing organizations and one homeless services provider. Reviewed applications and made recommendations regarding the allocation of $179,575 in Community Development Block Grant funding to two non-profit organizations. Worked with Homeless Services Masterplan Subcommittee on community engagement and data collection to help inform the development of the masterplan. Provided a mid-cycle update as requested by Council at a Study Session on the development of the masterplan. Engaged in planning for the Housing Resource Fair to take place in February 2025 Held the Annual Rent Burden Meeting in November. Review and recommendation of the Homeless Services Masterplan Report – The Advisory Committee will review and make a recommendation to the Council at their th regular meeting on July 18. Key Long RangeProjects Develop an Equitable Housing Plan-Initial Stages o The Equitable Housing Plan must be adopted concurrent with the 2025-2029 CDBG Consolidated. o Development of the Plan was pre-empted by the request to develop a Homeless masterplan report and the purchase and development of 2200 Ashland street as every night low barrier emergency shelter. Staff is working on a scope of work for a consultant and the Committee is communicating with SERJAC about community engagement. Rent Burden-Education and Outreach Event – underway. o The HHSAC has heard from a variety of community members regarding potential topics and formats for the annual educational event, topics range 1 from information about ADU development, community education on the Community Land Trust Model, and workforce and middle housing. o The HHSAC began developing a plan for this year’s event at their regular meeting in June. Manufactured Home Park Zoning Ordinance – underway. o This project will be undertaken by the Planning Commission and planning staff and will go before the HHSAC for review and recommendation. Consolidated Plan for the Use of Community Development Block Grant Funding o City Staff is in the initial stages of developing a five-year plan for the use of CDBG funding. The HHSAC will primarily be engaging in Community input for development of goals and priorities for the use of funding and for reviewing and making a recommendation for the draft plan. Development of a Request for Proposals for the Beach Creek Property. o The HHSAC will work with staff to draft an RFP for development of the Beach Creek property by an eligible affordable housing developer. Update of the Fair Housing Analysis of Impediments to fair housing choice o The Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice must be adopted concurrent with the 2025-2029 CDBG Consolidated. o The Equitable Housing Plan, the Consolidated Plan and the Analysis of Impediments have similar data and narrative sections and have several areas of overlap. All three documents require some community input, the HHSAC will work with SERJAC to complete community engagement activities with will be used to inform all three documents. 2 Housing and Human Services Advisory Committee 2025 Achievements In 2025 the Housing and Human Services Advisory Committee completed or addressed the following items in pursuit of the current workplan: Rent Burden-Education and Outreach Event Manufactured Home Park Zoning Ordinance Consolidated Plan for the Use of Community Development Block Grant Funding Development of a Request for Proposals for the Beach Creek Property CDBG Grant Process Key Long-Range Projects Develop an Equitable Housing Plan-Initial Stages o The Equitable Housing project is currently underway, staff and the HHSAC is working with SERJAC on a community engagement plan. Rent Burden-Education and Outreach Event – underway. o The HHSAC began developing a plan for this year’s event at their regular meeting in June. Manufactured Home Park Zoning Ordinance – underway. o This project will be undertaken by the Planning Commission and planning staff and will go before the HHSAC for review and recommendation. Construction Excise Tax o The Housing Production Strategy identifies the establishment of a Construction Excise Tax as a strategic action to explore in 2025. Social Service Grant Strategic Plan Update and Priority Goal Review. o The HHSAC will update the data in the Strategic Plan for the use of Social Service Grant funds and undertake a process to identify resource gaps and needs in the Ashland Community to determine if there is a need to change or update the identified priority funding goals. 1 Memo DATE: November20, 2025 TO: Housing and Human Services Advisory Committee FROM: Linda Reid, Housing Program Manager DEPT: Planning RE: Brainstorming Memo Previously Commissioners have expressed an interest in learning more about the Eugene Renter’s protection Ordinance No 20694. The HHSAC is past due in updated the strategic plan for the use of Social Service Grant Priority Goals. This was last completed in 2018 and is slated to be updated every 4 years. At the regular October HHSAC meeting it was decided that the Commission would discuss how best to update the Homeless Services Master Plan Report. Planning Department 20 East Main StreetTel:541.488.5300 Ashland, Oregon 97520Fax:541.552.2059 ashland.or.usTTY: 800.735.2900 City of Ashland Social Service Grant Program Strategic Plan Adopted December 16, 2014 Introduction-Purpose of the Plan The Cityof Ashlandis committed to supportingthe agencies and organizations that work to improve the lives of its most vulnerable citizens. The Strategic Plan for the use of Social Service Grant funds is intended to provide guidance for applicants and assistance to elected and appointed officials by providing a framework for allocating resources and for tracking progress on identified goals and community priorities. The Strategic Plan will be updated at four year intervals (every two grant cycles) to be responsive to the changing demographics of the community and to the social and human service needs of the citizenry. The updates may include shifting goals and measurable objectives to more efficiently and effectively address community wide issues. History/Background The City of Ashland established the Social Service Grant Program in 1986 due to a reduction in Federal Revenue Sharing funds which had, in prior years, provided funding to the City to support the activities of non- profit and social service agencies that provided services to vulnerable Ashland Citizens. Resolution 86-35 was adopted in recognition that: “the funding of health care and social service needs is an important City function which contributes to the health and well-being of the citizens of Ashland.” The Council at that time opted to maintain funding for social services with an emphasis on health care in recognition of the City’s tourism based service sector economy, and felt that it was “appropriate for the City to address the problems created by this 1 . Since that time the City of Ashland has committed a portion of the general fund in support type of economy” of activities that address the health and social service needs of the Ashland community. Today’s Community Snapshot The ability of working class individuals and families to afford housing and secure employment that offers compensation that is commensurate with the local cost of living, has far reaching impacts on the community. Reduced discretionary spending negatively impacts the local economy, the physical and mental wellbeing of families, and inhibits access to good nutrition and basic health care. Community diversity, vibrancy, and resilience are all impacted by an individual’s or families’ ability to work and reside in their community. This has been and continues to be a challenge for the Ashland community. 2 Population: The City of Ashland has a population of just over 20,295 people. Age: The population of Ashland has seen an increase in older individuals and a decrease in younger families with children. These findings are evident in the most recent census data; which shows that 3 approximately 83% of the population is 18 years old or older. The largest age group is 45-54 year olds 4 at 13.9%, and is echoed in the findings of various demographic reports and community assessments. 1 Philip Arnold, Former City Councilor. 2 2013 PSU Population Research Center estimate certified estimate. 3 2008-2012 ACS 5 year estimates. 4 Ibid. 1 Income and Poverty: The median income for a household in the city was $43,305, and the median income for a family was $58,616. About 18% of the population and 11.4% of families had incomes below the poverty level, with female headed households with children under 18 and those households with children under 5 experiencing the highest rates of poverty, at 42.2% and 43.4% respectively. 4.7% 5 of individuals 65 years old and older are below the poverty level. Housing: The City of Ashland has over 10,000 housing units. 53% of occupied housing units are owner 6 occupied, and 46.1% are renter occupied. In the 2012 National Citizen’s Survey completed for the City of Ashland, the City met or exceeded most national benchmarks for citizen satisfaction for all but two categories; availability of affordable quality housing and employment opportunities. Availability of affordable quality housing and variety of housing options are comparatively lower than both national 7 benchmarks and to other University communities with populations from 10,000 to 40,000 comparisons. Similarly, Census data shows that 43% of homeowners with a mortgage and 54.5% of renters pay more 8 than 35.0% of their income toward housing cost. 9 Employment: 2013 Ashland annual average unemployment rate was 6.7%.Ashland School District reports that over half of the employees within Ashland live outside of the district and commute to 10 work. Transportation: When workers must live elsewhere and commute into or out of the community, this has a significant impact on other aspects of the community. Community diversity, vibrancy, and resilience are all impacted by an individual’s or family’s ability to work and reside in their community. Similarly, household transportation costs increase and traffic and air quality are impacted. This has been and continues to be a challenge for the Ashland community. Health: The social service grant program was originally established in part to address access to affordable health care, and while access to affordable health care continues to be a priority especially as the population ages, community feedback and demographic data has identified more pressing healthcare service needs. The 2013 Community Health Assessment identified oral/dental health and mental health, especially as it relates to depression and suicide as the most urgent unmet health care needs within the community. Further, community feedback identifies mental health disorders with co-occurring drug/alcohol addiction to be a need that is currently not adequately addressed in the Ashland community. 5 Ibid. 6 2008-2012 ACS 5 year estimates 7 2012 National Citizen’s Survey. https://ashland.or.us/Page.asp?NavID=15166 8 Ibid 9 Guy Tauer, Regional Economist, State of Oregon Employment Department. 10 ASD 2012 Demographer’s report. http://www.ashland.k12.or.us/Files/ASD%20Demographer%27s%20Report%202012.pdf 2 Community Strengths and Challenges Community Strengths Ashland residents are civic minded, and work together to solve community issues through a strong commitment to community service. While access toaffordable health care continues to be an issue for many in the community, since the inception of the Social Service Grant Program many resources to address theseconcerns have been implemented. Ashland’s community groups,faith-based groups, civic groups, non-profit organizations, social service agencies, governmental agencies, and business groups have a history of successful collaboration. Ashland’s faith-based communities communicate and collaborate to problem solve and implement strategies to address community concerns. • Community Challenges High need individuals and those with challenging behaviors, such as those with dual diagnosis,(mental health and/or alcohol/drug addiction), physical, mental, or developmental disabilities, need more effective service options than the community currently provides. There is a deficit of supportive services for vulnerable populations such as; peoples with developmental disabilities, people with mental health issues/frail/elderly populations, veterans, at-risk youth and homeless populations. 3 Working families and citizens earning below the median income for the Medford/Ashland area have a difficult time finding rental or ownership housing options in Ashland which arecommensurate with their incomes. There is a lack of transitional housing options for families and individuals who are working toward self-sufficiency. Social Services Grant Program Mission Statement To fund support services that improve the lives of Ashland residents, assist individuals and families in the 11 community and promote personal and community safety, health, and wellbeing. Strategic Priorities: (These strategic prioritieswere identified through a process which includedcommunity outreach,grantee/stakeholder feedback,andkey informant interviews. These priorities are not in any priority order.) 12 Assistance to obtain and/or maintain housing 13 Supports to increase accessibility and availability of transportation options/services 14 Services for people with mental health issues Services for people with drug and alcohol addiction Services for at-risk youth Implementation Strategies (which may include, but is not limited to the following) Allocate resources to activities which address an identified strategic priority Support innovative proposals Support proposals that leverage community collaborations or enhance community or existing regional 15 partnerships Support proposals which have a proven capacity to carry out theirstated goals/meet proposed numerical outcomes Support proposals which are ready to proceed 20% of the overall grant allocation will be made available to support small grants; small grants include any request of up to $5000, should the City not receive enough applications to allocate the balance of funds. The City will have the discretion to allocate any remaining balances to small grants. Outcome Measurement 11 Consistent with Council priority strategic plan goal 5: “Seek opportunities to enable all citizens to meet basic needs.” 12 Consistent with Council priority strategic plan goal 5.2: Support and promote, through policy, programs that make the City affordable to live in. 13 Consistent with Council priority strategic plan goal 3.4: Support RVTD in fulfilling and expanding its mission. 14 Consistent with Council priority strategic plan goal 5.1: Examine means and methods by which to improve access to mental health services in Ashland for Ashland citizens who need them. 15 Consistent with Council priority strategic plan goal 5.3: Leverage partnerships with non-profit and private entities to build social equity programming. 4 Request the grant recipientsto list their anticipated measurable activity/program outcomes Review and compare applicants’ identified anticipated outcomes annually and at the completion of the grant year usinga standardizedevaluation matrix.(Example: Number of Ashland Residents who; received housing support, participated in life skill training, received job search assistance, etc.) The Commission will host stakeholder/applicant/communityforum every four years to elicit feedback on grant making process and reporting requirements 5 Priority Ranking Below is the Priority Ranking with the most identified priorities at the top(this list only includes items identified multiple times or which pertain to eligible grant funding activities) Affordable Housing (increased funding forrental assistance, emergency housing, for middle and lower income, supportive housing) Homeless (space for, shelter, winter shelter, transitional housing, services for homeless and at risk, day center, navigators for services, permanent housing) Mental health services (more, locally, Social Workers needed) Healthcare Seniors (services for, Hunger/Food Security Addiction (services for) Transportation Resources for Youth/Affordable childcare programs Employment Services Services for Peoples with Disabilities Affordable Utilities Porta-Potties/showers Vaccinations Keeping people in their homes Life skills training Suicide Prevention