GH CAN Operations Committee Meeting 5/16/18

Greater Hartford Coordinated Access Network

Operations Committee Meeting Notes

Wednesday, May 16^th, 2018

In attendance

Janet Bermudez, Hands on Hartford

Crane Cesario, DMHAS

Roger Clark, ImmaCare

Anita Cordero, ImmaCare

Rochelle Currie, The Connection

Mary Davenport, The Network

Sarah DiMaio, Salvation Army

Fred Faulker, The Open Hearth

Heather Flannery, South Park Inn

Maria Jackie Florez, Mercy Housing and Shelter

Ruby Givens-Hewitt, MSP

Jamie Ingaran, The Network

Andre McGuire, CRT McKinney

Maureen Perez, CRT McKinney

Natalie Ramos, ImmaCare

Iris Ruiz, Interval House

Zoe Schwartz, CRT

Luz Serrano, ImmaCare

Monique Shand, YWCA

Jose Vega, CRT McKinney

Wendy Walker, CRT McKinney

Ki Young Burby, CCAOH

Jennifer Greer, CHR

Melissa Torres, Intercommunity

Patricia Lopez-Cruz, CHN

Kaitlen McGriff, CRT East Hartford

1.      Case Conferences – Fred Faulkner

a.      McKinney

b.      YWCA

c.      Interval House

d.      The Network/CHR

2.      Coordinated Entry

a.      Coordination with Domestic Violence Providers – Iris Ruiz, Mary Davenport, Jen Greer

                                                    i.     211 Language on p. 3

                                                   ii.     Current process map on p. 4

1.      Iris – The situation with 211 has been addressed but hasn’t been fixed. If a caller mentions domestic violence, even if it’s been 10 years, they still get sent to domestic violence hotline. The hotline assesses for current domestic violence. If there is current domestic violence, they divert them somewhere else with a safety plan or get them into shelter. The clients are put on the BNL so they access the housing resources through the CAN since Interval House does not have their own housing programs. Iris stated they will divert clients if they have the resources. If the clients have a job and need an apartment, they can assist with security deposit and first month’s rent. They have also assisted with rental arrears after folks have been housed. Sometimes the diversion center calls interval house and they’ll come pick them up if they’re currently fleeing.

2.      The problem they’re currently having is they are an emergency safe house. They are looking to get them to the next step as soon as possible, which is sometimes not necessarily housing. If they are not able to meet goal within 60 days, Interval House will work with them to accomplish goals. There are clients who are homeless and then get into the DV system. 211 sets up appointment and then they can’t be diverted because they’re already in shelter.

3.      Once on the smart sheet, even if they are called for a bed, they will report that they don’t need the bed anymore and Interval House is not aware of it. Iris is asking if shelters can call Interval House when they’re calling clients for beds. Problem is smart sheets is not CCADV identified.

4.      Iris asked why DV clients aren’t being de-identified for Smart sheet? They are added to the smart sheet at the CAN appointment after already calling 211. Since they have been scheduled a CAN appointment, the theory is that they already been “cleared” for domestic violence and are able to have their names entered into smart sheet. Diversion Ctr. is not covered by VAWA for the DV clients.

5.      If someone is leaving Interval House, they need to call 211. It doesn’t make sense to go to the CAN appointment if they can’t be diverted because they’re already in shelter and there isn’t any space in the homeless shelters.

6.       Interval House had to move from a motel to a hotel due to flooding at safe house. It has been about 4 weeks since they’ve been displaced.

7.      Sarah suggested having client transfers through the meetings or CAN Operations meeting with approval.

8.      Iris stated folks are suggested to talk to one another but it seems like more of a side door.

                                                  iii.     Mary –

1.      The Network doesn’t get nearly the volume of Interval House. Mary asked what do you do when they have to leave but can’t refer to another DV shelter because there isn’t any active DV? How do you get them into the homeless system?

2.      Shelter perspective concern is that they’re supposed to take folks off the shelter waitlist based on whatever the local CAN approved. We need consensus from everyone. Shelters need to have CAN letter or CAN case note in HMIS in beginning of the file on how they came through without being on Smartsheets.

3.      Andre thinks bringing them in through CAN Operations would be unfair to the rest of the people on the shelter waitlist.

4.      Doesn’t think we should bring 211 in because there’s no resources.

                                                  iv.     Jen –

1.      CHR gets calls from clients who are already housed and working with other programs like intimate partner violence and looking for financial assistance. For example, someone may be getting out of jail and they’re looking to move this person. They are looking to use diversion at much as possible. If they can get to families’ house, then have them go through diversion for security deposit assistance. For clients with no income, they won’t be able to be diverted because they cannot prove means to sustain the rent going forward.

                                                   v.     The CAN agreed if Interval House has clients that need to be discharged, email Fred to be discussed at CAN Operations.

                                                  vi.     CAN operations only meets biweekly so asked them to bring up folks with reasonable amount of time, not at day 58 or 59. Asking them to give extensions for those folks who are brought to the CAN if there aren’t beds available.

                                                vii.     CAN Ops voted YES to have DV providers to use this process if need to discharge clients to the homeless system.

                                               viii.     Suggested to add Category 4 to HOME funds/rapid exit.

3.      Coordinated Exit:

a.      Recently Housed – Lisa Quach

b.      Housing Data – see p.2

4.      Leadership Updates – Crane Cesario

a.      Renewal Evaluation Standards for COC – whenever a grant that has to be renewed, COC as a whole look at standards for programs to get higher scores. Standards are extra high because CT operates at so high a level. Some don’t make sense such as increasing income but losing non-cash benefits due to increase in income, so we are working to make sure our programs are being scored fairly.

b.      Programs usually not in Hartford that aren’t performing are talking about bringing money elsewhere. Some of the funds may go to planning grant and also legacy (old S+C) that doesn’t have services.

c.      Programs are evaluated for outcomes. Discussion of rapid rehousing clients returning to homelessness later (after assistance ended). Staff did an informal thing to see who was evicted and what landlords are complaining.

d.      Communication breakdown – Rapid rehousing client reported she was not housed but she was housed with the program. As a result, two programs paid rent for her for 2 different units for the same month. Group will meet to debrief to see how we can improve communication.

5.      July 4^th Meeting Time – Mollie Greenwood – no meeting. Only meeting 3^rd week of July.

Full SPDAT training 6/6/18 – Registration is $35 for non-members and $20 for members. Encouraging new folks and refreshers.

United Way CNH and Supportive Housing Works is working with Journey Home to update Smart sheets to be HIPPA compliant. Might have to make changes to user agreements.