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04/08/2025 Neighborhood and Affordable Meeting Minutes April 8, 2025 Housing Advisory Board City of Clearwater Main Library- Council Chambers 100 N. Osceola Avenue Clearwater, FL 33755 e Meeting Minutes Tuesday, April 8, 2025 9:00 AM Main Library - Council Chambers Neighborhood and Affordable Housing Advisory Board 1 City of Clearwater Neighborhood and Affordable Meeting Minutes April 8, 2025 Housing Advisory Board Present 6 - Chair Robyn Fiel, Vice Chair Lindsay Dicus-Harrison, Board Member Camille Hebting, Board Member Linda Byars, Board Member Christine Bond, and Board Member Charessa Doty Also Present 2 - Dylan Mayeux — Economic Development & Housing Real Estate Coordinator, and Dani DeBois- City Clerk Specialist 1. Call To Order The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. 2. Approval of Minutes 2.1 Approve the January 28, 2025, NAHAB Meeting Minutes. Board Member Byars moved to approve the January 28, 2025 NAHAB meeting minutes. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 3. Citizens to be Heard Regarding Items Not on the Agenda :None 4. New Business Items 4.1 Discuss Performance of Subrecipients of the City of Clearwater's Community Development Programs. Community Development Coordinator Dania Perez and Housing and Community Development Specialist Jessica Chueka gave a PowerPoint presentation on the performance of the subrecipients of the Community Development Programs. 4.2 Presentation by Applicants for grant funding. Representatives from the following organizations reviewed their funding requests: Metropolitan Ministries (NeighborHOPE Program), Clearwater Neighborhood housing Services, INC., DBA Tampa Bay Neighborhood Housing services, InterCulteral Advocacy Institute, INC. dba Hispanic Outreach Center, Pinellas Opportunity Council, INC., Pearl Transit Corp, Artz 4 Life Academy, INC., Pinellas Diaspora Arts Project, Inc. dba Community Tech Experiences Project, Hope Villages of America, The Arc Tampa Bay, Directions for Mental Health, Inc. dba Direction for Living, Safety Harbor Neighborhood Family Center, INC. dba Mattie Williams Neighborhood Family Center, Society of St. Vincent de Paul Council of Upper Pinellas County dba St. Vincent De Paul Community Kitchen and Resource Center, Learning Independence for Tomorrow, INC., Live Play Workshop, INC. dba Crossroads Music Institute, WestCare GulfCoast-Florida, Inc., Tampa Bay Community Development Corporation dba Suncoast Housing Connections, Historic Business Initiative Fund, INC. dba Prospera, WeeCare, Inc. dba Upwards, 2 City of Clearwater Neighborhood and Affordable Meeting Minutes April 8, 2025 Housing Advisory Board GulfCoast Legal Services, Inc., and Boys and Girls Clubs of the Suncoast, Inc. In response to questions, Metropolitan Ministries representative Ester Matthew said the part time associate is selected and awaiting funding for the position. Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Services representative Todd LeClair said that they host both online and in- person class options for the required housing counseling and home buyer education offered monthly as well as continuing to remain a resource for the home buyer after closing. InterCultural Advocacy Institute, Inc. representative Amanda Markiewicz said the application was filed with a misrepresentation of their available start day and clarified that the organization will be able to begin October first. Pinellas Opportunity Council representative Alonda Vaughan said there has been an increase in assistance needed in conjunction with the rise in general prices and no commensurate pay increases to match the higher needs. Artz 4 Life Academy, Inc. representative Jai Hinson said they have been working with the school board and are grateful for the growth in that partnership with them. Pinellas Diaspora representative J.A. Morton-Bond said the request would be focused on building specialist skill sets and the traditional arts in the multi-sector definition around Pinellas. Hope Villages of America representative Belinda McAbee said the program follows recipients for six months following the program. The Arc Tampa Bay representatives Brian Siracusa and Carolyn Reginelli said their organization mostly focused on assisting group homes with intellectual developmental disabilities and providing day programs for that demographic. Directions for Mental Health representative Finn Kavanagh said the building has three floors. Safety Harbor Neighborhood Family Center representative David Hale said the generator would be tied to a gas line and would not be dependent on possibly limited resources, coupled with the facilities solar panel the location would remain fully operational in dire weather events. Society of St. Vincent De Paul representative Carol Purcell said there has been an increase in the homeless population in the last three years creating more demand for the services provided. Learning Independence for Tomorrow representative Matt Spence the service is not limited by age and their current students range from children to 56 years old. Live Play Workshop, Inc. representative Richard Lyszczek said they are currently teaching 10-15 children and have been utilizing word-of-mouth primarily to spread the word of the services provided.The organization provides any needed instruments. WestCare GulfCoast representative Rhonda Lieberman said that the average time before placement is 20-30 days and there is an onsite monitoring area where staff can oversee detox withdrawals with emergency services nearby if medical intervention is needed. Tampa Bay Community Development Corporation representative Fran Pheeny said they do supply a downpayment assistance program and education to homeowners on how to harden their homes safely for upcoming 3 City of Clearwater Neighborhood and Affordable Housing Advisory Board storm seasons as well as provide counseling for finances and rehabilitation programs. WeeCare, Inc. representative Felipe Gamboa said they are bridging the gap between teachers and home for children to provide better learning support for those in need. GulfCoast Legal Services representatives Theresa Prichard said they address affordable housing issues for families as well as provide free services to the elderly and those who were victims of crimes. 5. Old Business Items Ms. Byars said she had hoped the parks department would have applied for a grant to assist in the rebuilding work they have been doing since the previous hurricane season and expressed that there was a need for accessible transportation services which have yet to be met as well. Meeting Minutes April 8, 2025 6. Director's Report :None 7. Board Members to be Heard :None 8. Adjourn Attest: The meeting was adjourned at 11:07 a.m. City Clerk Specia11,7. City of Clearwater t7161" -V1 Chair Neighborhood & Affordable Housing Advisory Board 4