10-Year Affordable Housing Plan: Lincoln County

Steering Committee Meeting Minutes

September 19 2006 1-3:00pm

First Presbyterian Church, Newport

 

Members Present:  Don Taylor, Bill Hall, Richard Sherlock, Bart Boyer,

Rick Brissette, Joanne Troy, Gina Knabe Umble, Tom Hatley, Hannah Rosenau

 

1. Review of Kick-Off Event:

            Positive feedback was heard from community and committee members about the event, which helped to “keep everyone on the same page”. Total attendance was estimated around 100 people.

           

2. Report on State Advisory Council for Ending Homelessness:

            The EHAC held their first official meeting this month to develop a statewide plan to end homelessness. Commissioner Bill Hall was appointed Vice Chair of this council, under acting Chair Victor Merced.  Some of their goals include better integration of existing state services and advocacy for new resources.

 

3.  Mission & Vision of Steering Committee:

            Bill Hall introduced a preliminary draft of a mission and vision statement.  The group made adaptations to better fit Lincoln County; additional revisions and the final version will be reviewed by e-mail to the group and presented at the stakeholders meeting.

            The final approved vision statement:

All people in Lincoln County have the opportunity to live in a decent, safe and sanitary home that allows for their physical, emotional and economic well-being.

 

4.  Process for Developing 10-Year Plan:

            It was decided the stakeholders have been sufficiently introduced to the concept of the 10-Year plan at the kick-off, so the October 12th meeting can move into Step #2, defining the community’s needs.  The meetings were confirmed for every 2nd Thursday of the month from 1-3pm in Newport.  The plan is set to be drafted in 6- 8 months.  Several community forums need to be held to gather input and give out updates, attendance and use of existing and upcoming forums was encouraged.

 

5.  Assistance from HUD:

            If need arises, a facilitator will be provided by HUD to assist in organizing and developing the stakeholder committee. 

 

6.  Information/ Data:

            Key service providers were identified to contact and ask to present to the larger group on Oct 12th regarding their specific capacity, and current and future needs.  The need for an inventory of “who is doing what” and an accurate measurement of the homeless community was expressed.

 

Other Discussion Items:

·        Need for immediate solutions for homeless families/individuals is being expressed by cities

·        Media coverage: 

o       possible articles about larger story told through individual lives to be written (success stories from Samaritan house, changing dynamics of neighborhoods from families to 2nd homes,  the life of a person without shelter, etc)

o       Newport News-Times articles:

Housing, homeless issues take center stage at gathering www.newportnewstimes.com/articles/2006/09/20/news/news03.txt

Officials discuss affordable housing crisis www.newportnewstimes.com/articles/2006/09/20/news/news22.txt

 

 

The next steering committee meeting is set for October 26th 2006, from 1-3:00pm at First Presbyterian Church in Newport.