The agenda for this meeting can be found here: handetroit.org/s/100724-BM-Pa…

From HAND's website: "The Continuum of Care (CoC) model was instituted by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in the 1990’s, as HUD recognized the need for a more coordinated, collaborative, and community-driven approach to...

"...awarding funds to organizations providing services to people who are experiencing homelessness. One of the responsibilities of the CoC is to collaboratively plan and apply for HUD McKinney-Vento funds."

The meeting is underway and is starting with announcements of future meetings

Just some helpful acronyms:

Chairman Candace Morgan is stepping down and Dr. Gerald Curley is leading the meeting in her stead.

Having approved the last meeting's minutes and agenda, they are moving on to New Project Recommendations. They are being presented by Amanda Sternberg, who I am embarrassed to admit I looked up to make extra sure she wasn't actress Amandla Stenberg.

It seems that the board had more funding than was covered by all their grants, and they encouraged orgs to request multi-year budgets, as opposed to the usual 1 year budget

They score applications and award funding based on those scores. I'm not sure how the scoring works and I'd be interested to see anything explaining it.

Unfortunately, a lot of stuff that should be in the agenda end up only being available on PowerPoint slides. I want to supply those but also realize it's terrible for screen readers. I'll do my best with alt-text

According to Sternberg, the reason why the Wayne Metro project is on top despite not having the highest score is that is the only current project that will result in new units being built.

So this is unusual: they vote by online ballot and count them later and publish the results. I have Open Meetings Act questions...

The next recommendation is for a project to receive CoC Builds funds. What that is: hud.gov/program_office…

The board is only allowed to submit one application to HUD for Builds funding and a local competition was held in September.

These slides fly by and are so dense! I'll add better alt text a little later for those who need it.

The website for the winning project noahprojectdetroit.org

Two interesting aspects of the projects that apply: they have to provide evidence that they are encouraging racial equity and that their plan has received input from people who have experienced homelessness.

A motion was made and a vote was called but we won't have the results for a minute as I said

Next up is Tasha Gray presenting the Continuum of Care planning Grant

In looking for a proper candidate for the grant, they sent out a survey

A rundown of some of the activities eligible for the grant

Some improvements to the grant itself

They are taking a short break I'll let you know when they return!

The meeting has resumed and Amanda Sternberg is going to solicit input on the application itself and the application process

The CoC is competing with other organizations and CoCs for the HUD funding and this is about the application for that funding

They're going to move into breakout rooms on Zoom. Not sure how I'll be able to navigate rhis

So it seems it will work like this: Each person (guests and board members) can choose a room to join, apparently one per round (2 rounds) . I picked the one with the most people in it which is Room 2: Reducing the Number of First Time Homeless

Angel Reed praised the "street team" and the staff member assigned to the breakout room clarified that there are several street outreach teams, including a street medicine team.

Staff member Zachary Betthauser praised the integration the CoC into the DHS HelpLine, helping people with numerous kinds of assistance

Moving on to things the CoC should STOP doing, Regina Hentz described shady, unlicensed developers getting people into houses that are falling apart and then dipping out because they got theirs.

Daniel Caravallah asked if CoC might start keeping a list of substandard property developers. He suggests someone comes in saying their house condition has led them to seek homeless services, that the worker might make a note of the property and its developer

Betthauser adds that they might also make a list of GOOD Section 8 housing and developers

Regina Hentz says there are developers out there without licenses essentially doing illegal business without consequences. Betthauser says there's not much the CoC can do except make sure they advocate for reputable firms.

We got kicked from the rooms and we're moving on to round 2.this time I'm joining Preventing Return to Homelessness

Unlike first time homeless, the return to homeless numbers have not improved , but gotten slightly worse

That being said, currently only 16% of people placed into permanent housing returned to homelessness within 12 months

So if your homeless and get out (through the CoC) you're at about an 84% chance of still being housed a year out.

Paula Sands brought up an interesting point: are applicants able to voice preferences in their choice of housing (for example, someone with claustrophobia might prefer quick access to open air, like with a balcony)

Sternberg responded that they do provide all the choice they can, but the other side of the problem is the variety and quality of affordable housing stock in the city.

Something that stands out is the difficulty of getting information and guides out to the public.

Sternberg ended her presentation with an overview of next steps for the HUD competition. Packed with meetings

Moving on to public comment, the first comment simply thanked the CoC.

In response to public comments, they posted a couple helpful links in the chat dhcmi.org/applicants homeconnect.detroitmi.gov

The meeting was adjourned (without a vote) at 4:11pm