Committee on Homelessness

Lodi Committee on Homelessness (LCOH) Meeting Minutes Meeting Date: Thursday, May 7, 2020 Meeting Time: 1:00 p.m. Meeting Location: Virtual Zoom Meeting Attendees: 24 - John Ledbetter, John Della Monica, Mark Thielenhaus, Shelby Young, Kari Chadwick, Russ Hayward, Steve Schwabauer, , Linda Piek, Kathryn Siddle, Patrice Clemons, Kimberly Peterson, Martin Ross, Steve Stoal, Ms. Whitney-Ramirez, Doug Kuehne, Mr. and Ms. Cummins, Lynsay Nuss, Julia Tyack, Adam Cheshire, Shelby Young, June Aaker, Pat Fehi, Hudson, and Donald (some full names are missing). Meeting Minutes: Called Meeting to Order: 1:00 p.m. Introductions Updates and Reports: a. Sacramento Self-Help Housing (SSHH) a. Lodi Project – goal to purchase two homes by June 30; looking for sites that are in nice neighborhoods, near services (ie. Stores), and near public transportation. The program provides housing with supportive services (case management – 4 level process, etc.), and will be low-barrier shelter. Difficulty in finding homes because of Covid-19. Behavioral health is program partner. Typical model is one house leader and five clients. Clients save up money to be able to be independent (4 level process) after a few years. b. Steve Toal – program director presented program information. b. HEAP – Tiny Homes a. Phase 2 environment b. Site-design to meet noise study analysis c. HA agreements in process c. Point-in-Time Count Jan 2021 a. Still planning and preparing with a team to move forward on Jan 2021. d. Officer Shiele Update a. Seen increase in funding; Resources limited due e. SJCoC a. SB 89 Funding Opportunities – John Ledbetter, LCOH Chair i. CoC was allocated $512,733.78 from the State to address Covid-19 ii. CoC decided funds will be split into two buckets of funding iii. 80% - $410,187.42 – Support for Front-Line Service Providers 1. Operation, materials, and staff for homeless service providers that provide outreach, emergency shelter, emergency food, health care, and housing. iv. 20% - $102,546.76 – Project Room Key to reducing density of shelters and encampments Page 1 of 3  Lodi Committee on Homelessness (LCOH) Meeting Minutes 1. Acquiring shelter space suitable for quarantine and/or convalescence, including but not limited to hotel/motel rooms, houses, trailers, and other temporary structures. 2. County approved lease agreement on Motel 6 (near highway 5) for this program through September (but project ends June 30). Took long process and negotiations fell through with hotels. Then State reached out with pre-set lease agreement with Motel 6. County decided to move forward. Ultimately, Motel 6 would not allow Covid-positive individuals to live there; only Covid-negative. People with underlining health conditions, over 65 years old, and high at risk are allowed to live there. About half of rooms are full now. Only taking referrals from agencies; cannot take walk-ins. County was able to get additional SB89 fund dollars, at total of $1.5 million in allocation for this project through June 30th. Hotel operators do not want to accept homeless that are Covid- positive. No homeless persons have tested positive for Covid at this point; but with more testing coming, then they’ll have new data. Services are provided to residents, being paid by SB89. Restaurant in Lodi (Brickhouse) is providing food to the hotel. Laundry service, security, medical services 4 days a week, case management through HSA. Not a long-term shelter. v. Both the County and the City of Stockton received their own funding. 1. The CoC recommended that the City of Stockton and San Joaquin County utilize their allocation of SB 89 funds to reduce density in emergency homeless shelters and homeless encampments, as well as to provide resources to emergency shelters, emergency food providers, outreach teams, and homeless encampments necessary to contain the spread of COVID-19 and alleviate the impact of the crisis on those agencies. vi. A NOFA for the CoC funds will be released by April 3rd at the latest 1. 13 applications submitted and CoC allocated all 13 applications. CoC Website says who was funded. vii. CoC update: 1. Community Development Department (CDD) Staff – reached out to City staff to set-up funding and get out allocation. Half of funds will be sent directly to subrecipients and then the other half will be reimbursement. Subrecipient contracts have been sent out for approval/signature by subrecipient. viii. City of Lodi’s Grant: 1. Sanitation station at Chapman Field (where congregation of homeless population),but have now decided to change location near river because not a way to keep secure. Restrooms, handwashing, and security provided. ix. Salvation Army Grant: 1. $4,200 for additional costs associated Page 2 of 3  Lodi Committee on Homelessness (LCOH) Meeting Minutes 2. Over 760 meals at lunch, and becoming day-shelter. Drop-in meals in evening/outside so that inside clients say within and separate from evening visitors, for health/safety reasons. b. CARES Act – CDBG Funds i. HUD allocated CDBG-CV $380,000 ii. $1 Million to Stockton and funds to County c. Strategic Plan i. Plan drafting took a break during Covid-crisis. In May, meeting held to continue making revisions/update to the plan draft. ii. Martin Ross – Ready to Work – serving more Lodi homeless and working collaboratively with Lodi Food Bank – Pastor Bill, Russ H. a. Do we have enough food available? Do we have enough sites? i. Mark- Salvation Army says they have had enough food, and they are giving away a lot, and they can continue to give more food to other sites. ii. Contact Salvation Army to get more food and/or at more sites. b. Salvation Army is a main food distributor of food in lodi (food provide by Second Harvest Food Bank, see below). c. Two local food banks: i. Second Harvest Food Bank (outside Lodi) ii. SJ County Emergency Food Bank (Stockton) d. These banks serve various locations in Lodi, including CA Human Development, Grace and Mercy, boys and girls club, schools, mobile farmers market, LOEL, Salvation Army. Other a. Social media – please check with committee before posting on social media about items discussed in this meeting b. Red Cross – contacted Salvation Army that they can provide support, in case conditions worsen. Adjourn – next meeting June 4, 2020 Page 3 of 3