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05/08/1997 - SpecialNEIGHBORHOOD AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING SPECIAL NEEDS PUBLIC MEETING CITYOF CLEARWATER May 8, 1997 Present: Sam Evans Mental Health Associates Jacqui Robinson Abilities, Inc. of Florida Jack Humburg Abilities, Inc. of Florida Barb Green Aids Community Project Lillie McCoy Gulf Coast Community Care Alan Ferri Clearwater Housing and Urban Development Department Michael Holmes Clearwater Housing and Urban Development Department Brenda Moses Board Reporter The meeting was called to order at 10:20 a.m. by Director of Clearwater Housing and Urban Development Department, Alan Ferri, at the Salvation Army, 1765 Belcher Road, Clearwater. In order to provide continuity for research, the items listed were not necessarily discussed in that order. The purpose of this meeting is to compile information about 4 specific topic areas for the Consolidated Plan, particularly special needs in the community. Meetings have already been held on housing issues, homelessness issues, and economic development. Mr. Ferri explained that HUD defines individuals with special needs as persons with mental and physical disabilities, AIDS, HIV, emotional and learning disabilities, and other such disabilities. The resources the City currently has to address special needs are limited, and any information that community organizations can share with the City to obtain additional funding would be greatly appreciated. Mr. Ferri requested that agencies submit their suggestions, ideas, and detailed program information to his office no later than June 6, 1997. It was noted that the majority of the money received from State and Federal government is slated for housing. In this year’s Consolidated Plan budget, the City will allocate approximately $2 million, which is a decrease from last year. Of that money, $408,000 is slated for home ownership and housing rehabilitation at or below a 65% median. Approximately $633,000 is from the State and Senate Partnership for housing only. Sixty-five percent of the money must be allocated to construction, no less than 30% allocated to families at or below 50% of median, no less than 30% allocated to families between the 50% and 80% median, and no more than 30% allocated to families between 80% and 120% of median. Those over the 120% of median must find other housing alternatives. The balance of the fund is referred to as the Community Development Block Grant. This year the City’s entitlement has shrunk because the Federal government and Congress have not increased allocations. This year $1,035,000 is available for community programs. The City is permitted to spend $150,000 a year for Public Services. Mr. Ferri explained that any time an external agency or potential subgrantee requests funding to pay for staff costs, it is categorized as a public service. Congress has capped available Community Block Grant funds to 15% of the entitlement. Annually, the definition of what public services involves is scrutinized by HUD and Congress. An example given was the reduction in funding received by Career Options. Their appropriation over the past 3 sessions of Congress was cut by 80%. As part of this year’s Consolidated Plan cycle, the City will be submitting a neighborhood redevelopment strategy. This strategy will include focusing resources and energies towards issues such as how Brownfield and Weed and Seed funds will be used. The area designed as Brownfields is almost identical to the Weed and Seed area, which means this will be the neighborhood revitalization strategy area. There is $100,000 in available funds for a 2-year contract. This should open up additional resources from the Federal government. It was noted there are 100 potentially contaminated sites in the Brownfield area. The Brownfield area is bounded on the west by Ft. Harrison, Belleair Road on the south, Betty Lane and Missouri Avenue on the east, and Stevenson’s Creek on the north. It also encompasses 2 neighborhoods that are in the Weed and Seed area. When agencies apply for outside additional resources, especially Federal funds, they can site the fact that they are in an improved Weed and Seed area, in an improved Brownfield area, as well as a neighborhood strategy area. This coming fiscal year, the City will have $500,000 for Weed and Seed activities and $180,000 of that will go toward augmenting police activities. Approximately $225,000 of the money will be slated for employment activities in the Weed and Seed area. It was noted that the City Commission favors accentuating resources for new permanent job creation in conjunction with the Community Development Block Grant. When creating new permanent jobs in the private sector that pay a minimum of $15,000 annually, employers receive points dependent upon the numbers of new jobs offered. Mr. Holmes noted there is another program the Community Development Block Program for nonprofit organizations that have a need for public facilities. Agencies were urged to notify him of any agencies that have a need for renovations or acquisition of buildings for housing, or for operation of their agency. It was noted there is no cap on CDBG funds granted for those purposes. Mr. Evans of Mental Health Associates noted that mental illness continues to grow as the population grows. Additional dollars are not being provided. The Mental Health Association has “drop-in” centers which are very cost-effective programs run by consumers for consumers. They are strictly “day programs” which are open 7 days a week. They help consumers become healthy tax-paying citizens again. Traditional psychiatric facilities are stretched to the breaking point because of increased load and increased costs of day treatment, hospitalization and partial hospitalization. Some individuals only require counseling or day treatment which a drop-in center can provide. Consumers work in the centers, and are paid a small wage, while redeveloping their self-esteem and receiving job training. Hours vary from 5 to 10 hours per week. An old home is currently being used as the Clearwater drop-in center. The home is expensive to maintain. More land is required for therapeutic sports activities. Mr. Evans expressed his preference to locate the drop-in center closer to the bus line. He suggested a site anywhere off of Route 60 and Cleveland to better facilitate those utilizing the transit system. He emphasized that funds being utilized for these drop-in centers are an effective, efficient use of rehabilitating individuals at a lower cost. Ms. Green from the ACP (Aids Community Project) indicated the ACP project is staying open and plans to be in its current location until the end of September, 1997. She stated that many of the ACP clients utilize the emergency drop-in centers as described by Mr. Evans. Some clients have addiction or mental health issues and are in need of housing. There is a housing waiting list, and sometimes the only available alternative is to place an individual in an emergency shelter for a few days. There is not enough deposit money to provide housing for everyone. She noted that an individual diagnosed with full-blown AIDS does not have the energy to look for housing on his own all day. She emphasized there must be more emergency temporary housing and alternatives for these types of individuals. Many of them who receive minimal disability checks cannot exist on those funds. Ms. McCoy of Gulf Coast Community Care noted her organization is also an AIDS service organization. She agreed that there is a desperate need for housing and resources. Financial resources are very limited and more funding is needed. Without housing, not much can be done to help individuals with their situations. Mr. Humburg of Abilities of Florida noted his organization provides services to individuals with all types of disabilities. Traditionally, Abilities has provided job training and placement, and vocational services. There continues to be a need for individuals with disabilities of all types. Discrimination continues to exist towards individuals with all types of disabilities in the employment and housing setting. Over the years, the method of placement using job coaching, and other types of on-the-job supports continues to be a need as shelters and employment settings continue to be closed. Home ownership is rapidly become a major problem because subsidies are not large enough to accomodate everyone. He encouraged the City to contemplate more “scattered” types of housing, rather than congregating people with disabilities into one single facility or complex. Providing scattered site housing allows individuals with disabilities to become a part of the community, and allows the community to adopt them as well. Utilizing HUD 811 programs, Abilities of Florida has purchased scattered site condominiums and are interested in expanding this option. Mr. Humburg agreed that emergency shelters are extremely important to individuals with AIDS and other disabilities. He noted housing is almost nonexistent unless it is offered in a segregated environment. Discussion ensued regarding the funding criteria for bricks and mortar projects compared to public service programs. It was noted agencies can submit 2 separate applications for each use. Mr. Holmes and Mr. Ferri offered their services in assisting agencies with this paperwork. Mr. Ferri noted that the City is looking at building single family units for lower income families at a cost of $30,000 to $40,000. Most of the units would be offered with a due on sale clause. The meeting adjourned at 11:15 a.m.