Steering Committee Minutes

February 28, 2007

First Presbyterian Church

Newport, OR 1:00-3:00pm

Members Present: Don Taylor, Cassedea Hansen, Anne Swinehart, Bill Hall, Joanne Troy, Tom Hatley, Kacy Jensen, Karen Ramsden, Rod Pfeifer, Bridget Dix

1. Review of February 8^th Stakeholders Meeting

Great turnout and discussion; there were some excellent points and ideas made

Kacy Jensen spoke with Jim Briggs from Quantum Telecommunications:

Jim Briggs is very interested in working with us and is looking into donating  a system for transients to have their own phone number. It would be a system where someone could call from any phone and access their messages.

Kacy Jensen will follow up on this idea at our next stakeholders meeting.

2. Review of the Draft Plan

It is a great base and starting point for moving into the action steps and plan.

Right now, it is a compilation of the data collected to this point.

A few suggestions were made for changes.

Tom Hatley has opened up the draft plan to everyone for reviewing, editing, rewriting and adding sections.

For many entities, the plan is a two step process; first getting the draft plan approved and then completing the action plan.  There was discussion of needing to have all of the data collected and have a definite target we are shooting for so that people will realize the scope of the problem.  We would like to have some action steps identified before publicly announcing the draft plan.

We should have a name for the 10-year plan to end homelessness, such as “At Home in Lincoln County”

3. Action Plan:

We need to identify specific goals even if the funds or the State are not currently there supporting them.

It would be good to have a tracking system set up so we can see who we are helping and get data on our successes/failures.  The current state HMIS system only tracks homeless individuals that receive assistance from certain agencies that have received State Homeless Assistance or Continuum of Care funds.

We need to look at non-traditional ways to create housing units and who’s going to do what.

There has to be a “safe” place for people to come to and receive medical attention, dental care, laundry, showers, mail, phone, info/referral, and other basic services.

4. Potential ideas for the action steps/plan:

Drop-In Center for people to go to for information & referral and act as a service center

One time assistance fund

Move-in assistance fund (ex. Portland has a moving assistance fund of about $1250 per family to aid in first and last months deposits. They have had an 80% success rate)

The County could possibly generate revenue for a service center by imposing a local document recording fee – to be considered only if State measure fails.  Another possibility would be to increase transient room tax.  This may be more acceptable locally as it is paid by tourists.

Create an interfaith hospitality network

Overnight shelter for single family adults

Shared housing program- program to appropriately match up adults who are looking for roommates

Dorm style housing- potentially they can receive a rent discount for doing direct services for the public such as mowing lawns, removing trash off the roads, etc.

5. Agenda for March 14^th Stakeholder meeting

Review the draft plan

Tom Hatley will provide a list of possible action steps for stakeholders to decide which ones to pursue and which ones are their priorities.

The Housing Authority will provide updated information on the average contract rents in Lincoln County.

Next Steering Committee Meeting is Thursday March 22^nd, same time and place