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04/16/1998 - Public Meeting Homeless PUBLIC MEETING - HOMELESS CITY OF CLEARWATER April 16, 1998 Present: Jerry Spilatro Community Services Foundation Peggy Eaton Community Services Foundation Barbara Green Homeless Emergency Project Pam McFarland Homeless Emergency Project Dana Slaughter Homeless Emergency Project Christine Griffin Citizen Terry Hammond Clearwater Homeless Intervention Project Jim Brown Veterans Administration Alan J. Ferri Housing & Urban Development Director Patricia O. Sullivan Board Reporter The meeting was called to order at 3:14 p.m. at Everybody’s Tabernacle. To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. Housing & Urban Development Director Alan Ferri said a series of public meetings are scheduled to review community concerns related to the City’s Consolidated Plan. The FY (fiscal year) 1998/99 CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) will be reduced to $999,000. Funding for the Federal HOME (Housing Opportunity Made Equal) and Florida’s SHIP (State Housing Initiatives Partnership) programs also will be reduced. During FY 1998/99, the City will have $2.4-million funding available to address Clearwater’s housing and community development needs, a reduction from $3.9-million 3 years previously. Mr. Ferri expressed concern these funding sources will be decreased further to $1.5-million within 2 years. Applications to address community needs already exceed available funds. Today’s meeting is to identify homeless related problems which have arisen since the City’s last needs assessment. A significant percentage of City grant funding resources are directed to homeless needs. City funds have been used toward the cost of constructing the 48-bed CHIP (Clearwater Homeless Intervention Project) facility to be staffed by the Salvation Army, HEP’s (Homeless Emergency Project) rental apartments for homeless families, and RCS’ (Religious Community Services) 18 units of transitional housing. The City is seeking information regarding unaddressed problems facing the homeless. The data will be used to prioritize needs and seek alternative resources. Current funding cannot be used to meet the transportation needs of the homeless. Regarding the day-care shortage, staff is working with Head Start to establish a 150-slot facility in North Greenwood. The Kimberly Home is seeking certification to provide day-care services. CHIP Executive Director Terry Hammond said the Salvation Army’s temporary 15-bed homeless facility has been in operation for 3 years. The Salvation Army also operates an outreach and drop in center for the homeless. The CHIP facility was constructed adjacent to the St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen which serves a daily main meal. The Salvation Army will direct the CHIP facility program. The facility resulted from the work of a Task Force and was developed with the collaboration of local agencies to centralize homeless services for those tired of living on the streets. Case management will include goal setting, day-to-day counseling, a continuum of care, and follow-up. The new 8,000-square-foot, 48-bed facility will centralize services. CHIP is applying for grants to fund a licensed clinical social worker to deal with client addictions. Mr. Hammond said the program helps clients find jobs and develop a savings plan. A shortage of transitional housing is the most significant gap in the clients’ move toward independence. He said SRO (Single Room Occupancy) units also are needed. In the previous year, the Salvation Army served 1,475 unduplicated homeless individuals and served more than 3,000 individuals within 3 years. Mr. Hammond said with more than 3,200 individuals in Pinellas County homeless on any night, additional services need to be developed. He said the program’s tracking mechanism indicates the program helps previously homeless individuals to remain off the streets. Barbara Green, HEP Administrator, said her agency used $200,000 in City grants toward the construction of 3 apartment buildings, which replaced 12 old mobile homes, and a learning center with computer stations and tutors where all HEP clients can attend classes. She expressed concern these new permanent homes, which will house 16 families, have replaced important transitional spaces. The need is much greater than the spaces recently provided by RCS. HEP will accept CHIP clients in permanent spaces once they have completed their time in transitional housing. HEP is developing an SRO facility and, through study, will try to forecast the future needs for SRO slots. Ms. Green said many of the working poor cannot afford rent. Little low-income housing exists. More affordable housing is needed. Jerry Spilatro, Executive Director of CSF (Community Services Foundation), said his agency helps individuals locate affordable rental units and purchase homes. He said the community need for emergency shelter and transitional housing is great. Peggy Eaton, of CSF, said the need for Section 8 housing vouchers is at least 10 times greater than the availability. Jim Brown, Regional Minority Veteran Coordinator for the VA (Veterans Administration), said he outreaches to minorities with information regarding veterans benefits. He questioned how the needs of homeless single fathers with children in North County can be met when HEP’s facilities are full. Mr. Hammond indicated the CHIP facility has a family dormitory for emergency housing until more appropriate housing can be arranged. He invited all to attend the facility’s Grand Opening on April 20, 1998. The facility can be designated as a “cold night shelter” in VA literature. Dana Slaughter, HEP Housing Coordinator, said in addition to transportation needs, many homeless people suffer from mental illness and lack access to health care and proper medication. While waiting an average 2-months for an appointment at Directions for Mental Health, many homeless clients, through no fault of their own, cannot function, think clearly, or focus. They need medications immediately. Ms. Green said it is extremely difficult to house and help mentally ill individuals during this prolonged wait. Untreated individuals overtax limited staff resources. Concern was expressed mental patients referred by health providers are given priority over homeless patients referred by homeless providers. It was hoped the CHIP facility will obtain funding for a clinical segment. Many individuals are lost to the streets while awaiting medical attention for mental illnesses. It was noted the federal government had not followed through on promises to provide outpatient treatment for individuals affected by the movement to deinstitutionalize mental health patients in the early 1980s. Ms. Green said caring for mental health patients requires extensive case management. Mr. Ferri requested interested parties send him by June 6, 1998, written comments regarding this need and a summary of problems resulting from the lack of available mental health care and the inability of patients to obtain necessary medication or counseling. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 4:03 p.m.