Human Services Advisory Council

Page 1 of 2 MINUTES Human Services Advisory Council City of Falls Church PURPOSE OF MEETING: To advise City Council on human services delivery to Falls Church citizens. DATE OF MEETING: January 18, 2018 PLACE OF MEETING: Dogwood Room, City Hall MEETING CALLED TO ORDER BY: Nicole Newman at 6:34 p.m. THOSE PRESENT: HSAC Members: Staff: Craig Cheney Sue Richter Alisa Macht Nancy Vincent Nicole Newman (chair) City Council Liaison Anne Norloff Marybeth Connolly Debra Z. Roth Student Representative Tahaseen Shaik APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes from the December 21, 2017 meeting were approved. OLD BUSINESS:  Affordable Housing Policy revision – The City’s Affordable Housing Policy was revised five years ago. A workgroup is being convened to provide updates. This will be a joint effort of the Housing Commission and HSAC. Craig Cheney volunteered to co-chair and Deb Roth will serve on the workgroup.  Other – Marybeth Connolly was reappointed as the City Council rep to HSAC. NEW BUSINESS: Community Services Fund - Four applicants made Presentations:  FCHC Virginia Community Development Corporation – They would like to use the funds to purchase refurbished iPad tablets for the seniors at Winter Hill Apartments. Prior to handing out the equipment, each person will be required to attend a class for three months and have shown competency in their use of the technology. The residents have little to no access to computers on an individual basis and are limited financially. By providing this technology they feel the seniors will improve their ability to live a more active, independent life and reduce barriers. Information was provided pertaining to the cost of purchase along with several links that discussed how seniors benefit. HSAC members questioned whether this has been proven to improve senior’s lives. Has a study been done and what are the results; how did they measure the result?  Page 2 of 2 Some of the questions/items they would like to see for possible reporting if the grant is approved: What are the results? Did the iPads improve the quality of life and are the residents currently still using them? How do or did you (FCHC) measure this achievement?  Images for Good – They provide professional grade photographic services and images to organizations to engage and benefit students and veterans and tell important stories in the community. They mentor students and provide opportunities for them to learn. Funding will be used to purchase more equipment such as iPads, cameras, and lenses. Four of the students from George Mason were present and talked about what they had done in the program.  American Legion Post 130 - They provided an update of the variety of activities for veterans, their families, and the youth of the community. They also support activities of the City. Funding requested is for sending high school youth to Boys and Girls State government education programs, which are six days in length during the first week of summer. Each participant becomes a part of the operation of his or her local, county, or state government.  Homestretch- Funding requested will provide housing rental assistance and services to families so that self -sufficiency, financial stability, and permanent affordable housing can be achieved for all families. The objective is to move families from crisis to self- sufficiency and permanent affordable housing. Currently there are fifty families enrolled in the program. Over the past year, Homestretch has been seeing more people from human trafficking than from the past. A new item with the program is they have the entire third floor that serves as a health clinic for their participants. Chris also invited HSAC to come and tour their offices. At the February 15th HSAC meeting, recommendations will be made for the Community Services Fund for FY2019 and will be forwarded to the City Manager and City Council for budget approval. STAFF REPORT:  City Hall renovations are ongoing. The West Wing will be vacated February 1 and the East Wing will be vacated April 1. Housing and Human Services (HHS) offices are temporarily located in the Gage House at the far end of the City Hall parking lot. Other offices will be relocated to 400 N. Washington Street.  The City Council is planning their annual retreat for Saturday, February 10. They would like a list of HSAC goals for the next three years in advance of the meeting and invited board and commission members to attend.  The budget process for fiscal year 2019 is ongoing. All departments were directed to keep their budgets flat. In order to allow for contract increases from Fairfax and Arlington Counties, HHS proposed program cuts. MEETING ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m. SIGNATURE OF RECORDER: Sue Richter The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This document will be made available in an alternate format upon request. Call 703-248-5005 (TTY 711).