GH CAN Leadership Meeting Notes 7/22/2020

GREATER HARTFORD COORDINATED ACCESS NETWORK MEETING AGENDA

Follow Up Meeting

Wednesday, July 22, 2020 via Zoom

 1PM – 2:15PM

1.       Welcome and Introductions – 5 minutes

2.       COVID – 19 – 5 minutes

                                                               i.      Agency Updates – Any new re-open plans?

1.       Cornerstone – new shelter is opening. Tritown shelter building has been approved by fire marshal. Open to shelter folks on August 1^st. 14 Bedroom – individual bedrooms. 2 rooms can be multiuse rooms. The entire place has been renovated. Old shelter space will be used as an evaluation area. Census will not increase – 16 people max for now. One person from shelter is at the hotel and can return.

3.       Update on Showers at McKinney – Mark Jenkins – 3 minutes

a.       Staff willing to staff showers but needs more resources and funding for staff. Mark will put a sign on RV in Southgreen that showers are available and will have a vehicle to transport clients. Mark will look for funding later. Will happen immediately. Marks staff will help with clean up and follow up. 9am -3pm Monday through Friday for showers, clients must shower and leave, need to enter with masks. PPE kits will be provided as well by Mark. Outreach staff will let clients know about showers. Men showers only. Nothing after 3pm, shelter closes at 4pm.

4.       COVID Testing Coordination – Amanda Gordon – 5 Minutes

a.       Retesting planning process – JH has been coordinating testing. Next testing date has not been determined. Amanda’s list of congregate sites will be sent out to Hartford Healthcare and each agency will connect with HHC to coordinate testing. Agency will identify who needs to be tested. Matt will provide information on contact at HHC.

b.       Jane and Yoshi will work on providing showers for women.

5.       Cold Weather/ Winter Planning – Lisa Cretella – 3 minutes

a.       Kelly has send out a meeting invite to start cold weather planning. Aug 6^th meeting will take place from 1-3pm.

b.       Churches may not be able to help this winter

c.       Alternative ideas are welcome

d.       Enfield – will provide minimum storage, showers, will have paid staff, social distance to serve 16 clients.

6.       CT BOS RFP for New Projects – Matt Morgan – 3 minutes

a.       Email was sent out to CAN

b.       RFP proposal for new projects – for RRH and PSH

c.       Last year there was very few applicants

d.       If anyone has plans to apply please let us know – Cornerstone might be applying, SPI will apply (Possibly RRH), CRT might also be applying

7.       ESG Statewide Prevention Workflow – Matt Morgan – 10 minutes

                                                               i.      Draft document has been sent out of flow and screening tool. Statewide task force has been working on this. How can people access the program? –Statewide.

                                                             ii.      Would want to know in HMIS who went through the program, newly homeless, evaluation component will also be added

b.      Should the call center in Norwalk or 211 be the triage/screening point for this program?

                                                               i.      THRAP program or 211 – Norwalk might have been cheaper in cost to use for triage calls.

                                                             ii.      Breakout Group reports –

1.       211 to be screening point will keep everything seemless. Everyone agreed to have 211 be point of contact for screening.

2.       Concern of different funding – different services

3.       Clarity needs to be provided to 211 – needs to be expedited so things move along

4.       211 can separate who needs to go to prevention or diversion

c.       Should 211 or providers do intakes and process paperwork and request payments for this program?  Are there any staff who could be leveraged for this purpose?

                                                              i.      Any agencies to provide staff

                                                             ii.      90% to go towards rental assistance and maybe 10% for legal services

                                                           iii.      Currently no one to run the program

                                                           iv.      SOAR CT has a fund - we will ask for funding and will ask HFPG (possibly interested)

                                                             v.      Breakout Group Reports-

1.       211 can do initial screening than pass through providers to collect documentation and assistance

2.       Add questions in the tool about medical barriers and age

d.      Any other input or feedback on this draft model?

                                                              i.      A little bit more time for breakout rooms – more than 10 minutes

                                                             ii.      Email Matt with any feedback

                                                           iii.      CCEH has a prevention program

                                                           iv.      City of Hartford also has a prevention program

                                                             v.      Salvation Army also has prevention program

8.       Statewide/Local 1000 Homes/ESG-COVID Housing Effort Update/–Andrea Hakian, Kara Capobianco, Lisa Quach, Matt Morgan, Lionel Rigler – 10 minutes

a.       Ongoing effort

b.       CHR – new employee starting on Monday, another offer has been sent out. Next 4 weeks will have 2-3 new staff, will train as quickly as possible. 1 staff is now 20 hours a week for RRH – assisting staff.

c.       Matt, Lee and Lionel have been in a training discussing a tool. This tool will allocate funding to where the need is. Will help set goals, ask about race equity. This is a planning tool, more details to come soon.

9.       Meeting Schedule – 2 minutes

a.       Every other week or every week?

                                                              i.      1^st and 3^rd Wednesdays – Move back starting Aug – schedule meeting for 1hr and half

10.   Agenda Items – 2 minutes

11.   Announcements – 2 minutes

a.       DMHAS employees will be working from home till August 28^th

GH CAN Leadership Meeting Minutes 7/15/2020

GREATER HARTFORD COORDINATED ACCESS NETWORK MEETING AGENDA

Follow Up Meeting

Wednesday, July 15, 2020 via Zoom

 1PM – 2:15PM

1.       Welcome and Introductions – 5 minutes

2.       COVID – 19 – 8 minutes

                                                               i.      Agency Updates – Any new re-open plans?

3.       BOS SC CAN Vote for Representative – Matt Morgan – 5 minutes

a.       Two representatives per CAN, each rep gets a vote at meetings

b.       Non conflict topics can be voted on by rep

c.       Bi- Annual meeting – for everyone and members

d.       Crane is willing to serve another year if needed

e.       Matt is willing for anyone to take his place, unable to attend meetings at the time

f.        Lisa Q. is willing to serve; others can be nominated as well.

g.       Lisa Q. and Crane to serve on BOS meetings and represent the GH CAN

4.       Showers at McKinney – CRT – 3 minutes

a.       Jose and Steve suggested McKinney to host showers if GHHR to clean and supervise showers

b.       Agreement of 11am – 1pm M- F (for now, closed on weekends) for showers available to clients

                                                               i.      Concern about this being a lunch hour

                                                             ii.      Hours can be changed if funding becomes available – reason for this time is because of availability

                                                           iii.      Proposed time 1:30 – 3:30pm – Mark has staffing and van

                                                           iv.      McKinney can provide soap and towels

                                                             v.      Need disinfecting products – JH has cleaning products at the office

                                                           vi.      Mark can have a vehicle available to transport clients who need showers at McKinney

c.       Outreach is needed for those who are unsheltered and can communicate showers

                                                               i.      Can start soon - Mark needs a formalized Outreach Engagement process in order to start

d.       To follow up on – Jose to let us know

5.       Cold Weather/ Winter Planning – Lisa Cretella – 3 minutes

a.       One meeting so far internal – need a broader meeting internally, will be coordinated soon with Kelly

6.       Legislative Advocacy - Quantitative Rationale and Cost Estimates – 15 minutes – Matt Morgan

a.       Matt shared his screen with last year’s information

b.       Every year group decides what needs to be advocated for

c.       Last year we used a data match for supportive housing to determine how much supportive housing is needed

d.       Proposed – use CHS. 90% need supportive housing who are chronically homeless. 10% not chronic need supportive housing. Also use HMIS data to get data (alternative). Should there be an average?

e.       Other interventions are not included at this time

f.        Any thoughts or questions?        

                                                               i.      What percentage of homeless population need supportive housing?

g.       Last year based on Medicaid data match – based on 1 day of homelessness, 8% families, 15% individuals and 1% youth.

h.       What about those who are literally homeless and have Medicaid?

i.         Last year looked at those with $750 income for individuals and $1000 for families – can be rapid exit

j.         No rationale for Rapid Rehousing last year

k.       Included those who needed a higher level of care

l.         Matt to send out information for feedback – will be discussed at statewide CAN meeting

7.       Statewide/Local 1000 Homes/ESG-COVID Housing Effort Update/ESG Prevention –Andrea Hakian, Kara Capobianco, Lisa Quach, Matt Morgan, Lionel Rigler – 4 minutes

a.       RRH CHR – in the process of hiring two new housing support specialist for COVID relief. Will be bringing in 3 full time staff. Will be starting mid – August. ESG allocations is available, relief money is not available yet. Technology funds is available for the CAN. One idea – computers. Purchasing ipads – will they be helpful for client, shelter (day and night shelters) providers, for those in hotels to get touch with support, activities, telehealth? 30k for technology. Purpose is to serve those in need.

                                                               i.      Barbara is interested for HOH – tablets are more flexible to move around, with hotspots

                                                             ii.      Equipment to be purchased then to be given to provider

                                                           iii.      Andrea to email information for feedback or interest – Sofina to send out to CAN

b.       Prevention Update – waiting for HUD approval. RFP that wnet out from state one agency responded. Proposing a new state ESG. 10 mil for eviction prevention. Triage tool for prioritization for those who are likely to become homeless.

c.       Questions shared by Matt.          

                                                               i.      Will this be a point system?

                                                             ii.      What are other parts of the state doing?

8.       Agenda Items – 2 minutes

9.       Announcements – 2 minutes

GH CAN Leadership Meeting 7/1/2020

GREATER HARTFORD COORDINATED ACCESS NETWORK MEETING AGENDA

Follow Up Meeting

Wednesday, July 1^st 2020 via Zoom

 1PM – 2:15PM

1.       Welcome and Introductions – 5 minutes

2.       COVID – 19 – 15 minutes

                                                               i.      Agency Update

1.       Salvation Army – opening second floor for families at Marshal House. Working with resources, case management for long term recovery. Providing mortgage and utility assistance for those who have been impacted by COVID. A new case manager has been hired, an internal candidate, starting on Monday, July 13^th.

2.       Mercy – vacancy in women’s recovery program, taking intakes during COVID, call Mercy if anyone has any referrals – direct referrals.

3.       SPI – testing at both hotels, all negative results. Trying to reconfigure space.

4.       Relocation between hotels – state requested reduction in room, consolidated hotels. Guest have relocated to Best Western. Relocated 9 families, 1 to SA and 3 to EH and 5 are at SPI with a housing plan. Goal is to house as many clients as possible. Hotels are extended till end of July.

5.       ImmaCare – possibly reopening mid August. Will determine the number to shelter once opening.

6.       Chess and medical – conversations are still on going for plan.

3.       Statewide ESG-COVID Housing Effort Update/ Prevention –Andrea Hakian, Lisa Quach and Crane Cesario – 15 minutes

a.       CHR was not on call this week. Meetings will be bi-weekly.

4.       City of Hartford Updates for ESG – 5 minutes

a.       CDBG HOPWA – councils are meeting on Mondays. Hoping for approval in three weeks by the council. Annual plan is online, department of services webpage.

5.       Agenda Items – 2 minutes

a.       Cold Weather/ Winter Planning

                                                               i.      Salvation Army is overseeing the process. Lisa had a conversation with Leany from the City. Some challenges occurred this past winter. Meeting next week internally to discuss what the Warming Center will look like for December 2020. No major decisions have been made. Matt also had a decision with Leany, to discuss capacity. Millner school will remain an option with social distancing. Lisa to send out an announcement to group for agencies to join.

                                                             ii.      Enfield Warming Center – Steve is meeting with supervisors and town to start planning. No major plans have been set.

                                                           iii.      Standing Agenda item

b.       Update and Status for Day Shelters and Meal programs

                                                               i.      Mercy – soft opening through July, looking to get PPE and policies in place. Need to figure out funding, the goal is to resolve concerns by August. Day showers and day shelters to open by August. Need to limit the number of people and need to distance clients.

                                                             ii.      Hands on Hartford – meals from 255 B., tents are provided outside on good weather days. Will not be going back downtown until early September. Holiday meals are still occurring, meals to go and tent seating. Looking to provide more sheltering and services. Going out to encampments. No showers at the moment.

                                                           iii.      Sara from JH received a call from Police Department to find out about showers.  

                                                           iv.      Phones – unsheltered and calling 211, any agencies allowing phone usage? Hands on Hartford is allowing phone usage – Monday through Thursday mainly but will allow Fridays as needed.

                                                             v.      Kiosk or phone for 211 – downtown, not to be outdoors but indoors. Bus Stop or Providers building? To be in a lobby. Maybe the lobby of City Hall. South Park Inn is interested in having a conversation about a kiosk.

                                                           vi.      Preference for housing – information to be collected using form. Form to be uploaded to HMIS once completed. YWCA, FSC have started working on it. Form to be resent to CAN.

6.       Announcements – 2 minutes