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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-5-2014 CDBG MinutesCDBG Minutes February 5, 2014 Page 1 of 11 CITY OF ORANGE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM COMMITTEE MINUTES WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2014 6:30 P.M. Weimer Room, Orange City Hall MEMBERS PRESENT MEMBERS ABSENT STAFF PRESENT Mary-Ellen Manning None Mary Ellen Laster Eva Perez Fernando Rico Gina Scott I.CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 6:35 P.M. II.APPROVAL OF MINUTES – JANUARY 29, 2014 Committee Member Scott moved, seconded by Committee Member Perez, to approve the January 29, 2014, Minutes as presented. Motion carried, 4-0. Ms. Laster advised that the revised CDBG meeting schedule had been distributed to the Committee. CDBG Minutes February 5, 2014 Page 2 of 11 III. FUNDING PRESENTATIONS BY NONPROFIT AGENCIES AGENCY:ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF ORANGE PROJECT:Operation School Bell Request funds to purchase school uniforms. Amount Requested:$6,000 Total Project Cost:$74,700 Charlotte Vaughn, Grants Committee Chair and Grants Administrator, thanked the Committee for its past support; announced that the cost of goods went down slightly this year; advised that they are continuing with their junior high school program along with the elementary school program, noting that both have been very successful; and stated that the goal for next year is to dress 900 elementary and 200 junior high kids. Deida Conrad, Chair of Operation School Bell, displayed the articles of clothing and goods that are distributed to the junior high and elementary kids -- polo shirts, sweatshirts with the school logos, skorts, shorts, long pants; stated that the elementary girls can choose from skorts or shorts; that the kids receive two pairs of pants, a sweatshirt, two packages of socks, and six pairs of underwear. She mentioned that the manufacturer is working with their agency to provide nicer uniforms for the kids. She added that each child receives a book appropriate to their age, a backpack filled with school supplies (folder, paper, ruler, pencils, glue stick) and hygiene kits (shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, comb). She invited the Committee Members to attend their dressings, which takes place three times a month on Wednesday nights and Monday nights. Ms. Conrad clarified that these CDBG grant funds are used to clothe the children by the Chapter’s daytime volunteers; that the Assisteens Auxiliary helps to provide the backpacks; that the Working Women’s Auxiliary helps to provide the shoe vouchers and the hygiene kits; and that the Orange Blossoms helps to provide the books. Ms. Vaughn clarified for Committee Member Manning that the grant request will dress 93 students at $64 each, but the total budget will dress over 900 students; and noted that some of their money is raised through their thrift shop fundraisers. She added that the manufacturers are both local, one located in Santa Ana and one in Orange. She added that the entire Chapter works on this process, and that the Assisteens also help to get the kids dressed. Committee Member Perez asked how they receive their referrals. CDBG Minutes February 5, 2014 Page 3 of 11 Ms. Conrad stated that this agency provides assistance to children in the Orange Unified School District and that anyone seeking help can call the agency and ask to speak with Aide Alma. She also mentioned that they are also providing assistance to the homeless children. AGENCY:CONSUMER CREDIT COUNSELING SERVICE OF ORANGE COUNTY PROJECT:Financial Management Request funds for salaries, materials, and use of facility space. Amount Requested:$5,000 Total Project Cost:$75,000 David Reyna, Housing Coordinator, advised that this agency mostly offers debt management, financial literacy, and housing programs, such as pre-purchase counseling for first-time homebuyers. He stated they educate their clients on fair housing issues as well as foreclosure prevention; that they assist their clients in obtaining federal funding, loan modifications, noting it is all free of charge. He stated that most of the money for their debt management plan comes from creditors. Mr. Reyna stated that for the City of Orange, the funds would be used for financial literacy and pre-purchase counseling; stated that their focus is typically on Lower Income clients, noting that 52 percent of their clients are Very Low Income. He stated that last year, the agency provided one-on-one financial counseling service to 121 clients from Orange; and that 33 Orange clients came in for the group educational program. Mr. Reyna stated the agency also does credit report reviews and provides a financial literacy outreach program that includes educating youth by visiting school districts; and he stated they would like to bring this educational program to the youth of Orange. He advised that the agency conducts 900 workshops a year, educating approximately 10,000 clients per year; that they counsel approximately 5,000 clients; and that their services are all offered in English, Spanish and Vietnamese. Mr. Reyna clarified for Committee Chair Rico that the core of this proposed program is financial management. He added that they offer a back-to-work program and fair housing education. He reiterated that the funding they are seeking from Orange will be used for financial literacy and housing education. Committee Member Manning asked if their clients are referrals. Mr. Reyna stated that many of them are referrals from lenders and from HUD. CDBG Minutes February 5, 2014 Page 4 of 11 Mr. Reyna noted for Ms. Laster that the agency provides referrals for down payment assistance, partnering with other agencies to provide up to $60,000 for the client. He stated the $60,000 loan is deferred for 30 years, believing this assistance makes their monthly payments affordable. Mr. Reyna stated the funds are used for pre-purchasing and the financial literacy program. Ms. Laster asked if their clients who come in for pre-purchase counseling also participate in the educational financial literacy program. Mr. Reyna indicated yes, but stated they also get a lot of clients that just come in for the financial literacy program and are not looking to purchase a home, some clients who are just there for credit repair and paying down their debt; and stated that is where they work with the creditors. Committee Chair Rico noted his confusion that Mr. Reyna had previously said these funds were only to be used for financial literacy and housing education, inquiring whether the funds would also used to help the clients purchase a house. Mr. Reyna indicated no, that these funds are strictly for education and counseling. Mr. Reyna noted for Committee Member Scott that realtors or loan officers volunteer to teach some of the courses; and he pointed out that these volunteers are not allowed to solicit any business, that they are only there to provide education. Committee Member Perez asked where the assistance is provided. Mr. Reyna stated that they provide classes off-site in various Orange County locations to make it more convenient for clients, but that their main site is in Santa Ana. He advised that they also meet at Chapman University to assist local clients. AGENCY:FAIR HOUSING FOUNDATION PROJECT:Fair Housing Program Request funds to accomplish goals of the Fair Housing Program, including salaries, benefits, rent, communications, mileage, insurance, consultants, staff development, testing general office supplies and equipment, printing outreach, and advertising expenses. Amount Requested:$24,522 Total Project Cost:$27,196 CDBG Minutes February 5, 2014 Page 5 of 11 Barbara Shull, Executive Director, stated that this is their first year providing fair housing services in Orange, noting they are going into their 8th month; announced that the agency will celebrate its 50th year in this business this year. She stated it has been a pleasure providing this program in Orange; stated that City staff has been helpful in publishing public service announcements on the City’s cable channel, and scheduling their activities at City facilities. She added that the agency has a wonderful working relationship with the City’s Code Enforcement Division, and is pleased with the participation they are receiving, not just for direct services, but with their education and outreach services. Ms. Shull distributed a year-to-date list of highlights for Orange; advised that the agency has already achieved 68 percent of their goal for the direct client services in housing discrimination and general housing, tenant/landlord counseling; and that they have reached 50 percent of their education and outreach goals. She stated that in the seven months of operation in the City, 273 Orange residents have attended the education outreach events the agency has provided in Orange; and pointed out the agency brings its services to the 22 cities it serves, which makes the agency’s program successful. She stated that they conduct the services for Orange at City Hall and the Main Library; that they schedule all of their educational outreach events in advance so that there is plenty of time for proper advertizing by public service announcements and distribution of flyers announcing their workshops and their trainings. She added they also do walk-in clinics approximately every other month in Orange; and stated that they answer their phones Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Ms. Shull stated that the 2014-15 proposal will provide the same fair housing program that is being provided currently at the same cost, noting they are not seeking an increase in funding. She reiterated that they are exceeding their expectations for direct client services; and advised that they do not turn clients away regardless of how much their goals are exceeded. She mentioned the agency would be able to leverage the City’s grant with $2,674 dollars from another funding source, which helps with advertizing and staffing. Ms. Shull stated that just today, she realized their scope of work provided in the proposal was understated, and she distributed a revised copy to the Committee, replacing page 7 of the proposal. Committee Chair Rico stated that Ms. Laster has apprised the Committee how well their agency has done with this program in Orange; he provided feedback on the application, noting inconsistencies, one being a reference to Irvine instead of Orange; and he encouraged this agency to take time when preparing and proofreading the application. CDBG Minutes February 5, 2014 Page 6 of 11 Ms. Shull apologized for the errors and stated she will make corrections and provide staff with the revisions tomorrow. AGENCY:FAMILY PROMISE OF ORANGE COUNTY, INC. PROJECT:Family Promise Supplement Food Program Request funds to provide supplemental food. Amount Requested:$2,500 Total Project Cost:$5,000 Melody Mosley, Board President, stated this agency is part of a national organization with over 175 facilities nationwide; advised that they are the first one in Orange County; and mentioned there are three in Los Angeles. She explained that this agency was started by a woman who saw an availability of space in many congregations to house the homeless. Ms. Mosley stated that the agency has a network of 13 participating interfaith congregations, each congregation agreeing to host families four times a year. She explained that a family will go to that congregation every night for a week and go to another the next week, etc.; advised that they have a day center at the First Methodist Church of Orange; and mentioned that for the past two months, the day center has housed 16 individuals on site. She explained that these families go to work or look for work and/or go to school during the daytime and that in the evenings, they are transported to a congregation to spend the night; that the congregation will provide them a place to stay, dinner, breakfast and a bagged lunch. She added that around 6:30 a.m., the families are picked up and taken back to the day center where they can shower and get ready for work or school. Ms. Mosley advised that they opened a transitional house through the generosity of the First Presbyterian Church of Fullerton; that they have two families living there, noting it has been problem free and very successful; and added that the families can stay up to six months. She noted that some of their clients have cars but have no money for housing and basic needs; and she stated there are few places that will take a whole family. She stated their transitional housing has a 92.5 percent graduation rate, where they go on to help them find places of their own often through the use of governmental subsidies. Ms. Mosley stated they would like to do more in Orange, noting that First Methodist of Orange and First Presbyterian of Orange are two of their host congregations and added that they also are in partnership with New Hope Presbyterian in Orange. She stated that they would like to have a food pantry at First Methodist of Orange, noting they are only in the planning stage and are learning about the existing programs in Orange. She stated that they would like CDBG Minutes February 5, 2014 Page 7 of 11 this food pantry to be complimentary to the existing programs, believing there is a need for this service on the fourth Saturday of each month. Ms. Mosley noted for Committee Member Manning that they are directly on the campus of First Methodist Church of Orange, towards the back; and explained that the children typically continue to go to their own schools but that some will attend Project Home Alliance School. Committee Member Manning asked if Ms. Mosley was aware that Holy Family on Glassell has a food pantry the fourth Saturday of every month, noting the next event is February 22nd; and she stated that no income verification is required at Holy Family. Ms. Mosley indicated she was not aware, but stated there is such a great need that they would have plenty of clients. She mentioned that St. John’s does ask for a utility bill and they limit the number of times they can get fresh food unless they have a surplus on hand. She noted that the food is obtained from Second Harvest. Ms. Mosley noted for Ms. Laster that they could refer their clients to the Friendly Center for services during the week. Ms. Laster confirmed for Committee Member Scott that CDBG funds cannot be used to purchase food or portable shelving. Ms. Laster asked if Executive Director Casey Crosbie is a full-time salaried employee. Ms. Mosley stated she believes he is, but added that he puts excess hours in and is very dedicated to this effort; added that they have two part-time paid staff, each working approximating 15 hours a week. Ms. Laster explained that since Mr. Crosbie is a paid full-time employee receiving a full-time salary, he can’t use CDBG funds to supplant funding that is already there to fund his salary. Committee Chair Rico asked if the food-related work hours of the part-time employees would be considered incremental hours. Ms. Mosley indicated yes. She stated that their van driver, Kevin, also takes care of things when Mr. Crosbie is gone; and that Erica is the case worker at the transitional house. Committee Chair Rico pointed out that the application is written specifically for food purchase and that the only thing CDBG could fund is $1,000 for the additional paid staff. CDBG Minutes February 5, 2014 Page 8 of 11 Ms. Laster explained that under the City’s guidelines, the City would not fund a contract for $1,000 because it is too small for a federal contract. Committee Member Scott added that it is a lot of work for that amount of money, pointing out the minimum amount is usually $2,500 and over. Ms. Mosley noted for Ms. Laster that they do pay for the food at the food bank. Committee Chair Rico encouraged this agency to get their program underway, gather statistics and return for CDBG funding next year. Ms. Laster added that CDBG funding will also not cover administrative overhead; and she noted that she did mention to Mr. Crosbie before submitting his application that it is advisable to have the statistics for the number of beneficiaries of their program; and that he should try to operate the program for at least one year, collecting the necessary statistics and then apply for CDBG funding based on actual beneficiary numbers instead of estimated numbers they might have. AGENCY:FRIENDLY CENTER, INC. PROJECT:Emergency Food Assistance & Supplemental Food Programs Request funds for salary costs. Amount Requested:$10,000 Total Project Cost:$111,688 Cathy Seelig, Executive Director, noted that the program has not changed a whole lot, but pointed out they continue to see a great need for the services they are providing; and she highlighted the services provided to two recent clients. She noted they provide family advocate services, supplemental food programs, help with resumes, job development, emergency assistance, mental health counseling assistance, and that they currently have seven food programs. She stated that is it very common for these families to not only need food, but also toilet paper, laundry detergent and hygiene supplies. She explained that these services provide a safety net for families who are going through crises and that they help them get back on their feet and become independent. She stated they are providing a good variety of perishables and non-perishables; and she mentioned that the Women’s Club of Orange has been very generous with their support. Ms. Seelig stated they will appreciate any assistance they can get from the limited funding; and added that they offer high quality wrap-around services for the families. Committee Member Manning asked if the agency helps their clients find jobs. CDBG Minutes February 5, 2014 Page 9 of 11 Ms. Seelig explained that their clients are typically Low Income families who are not well educated; that they provide job development education and assist with helping them apply for jobs on line, noting they have computers for their clients to use. She noted for Committee Member Manning that they do have a monthly mobile pantry on the fourth Friday of every month, which gives out approximately 6,000 to 8,000 pounds of food. Committee Chair Rico asked if they anticipate serving more people this year than last year. Ms. Seelig stated they are estimating the same figure in this year as last, but advised that they typically exceed those numbers, noting it is hard to predict; but that they do not expect the number of clients to decrease. She commented on the government’s cutback on the food stamp program; and she stated that through Second Harvest, they not only provide kids with afternoon snacks, but they also now provide supper (sandwich, apple, milk, carrots). Committee Chair Rico asked if the family members come in with sickness and asked if they are referred for medical assistance. Ms. Seelig stated it depends if they have insurance; explained that if they have no insurance, they refer them to places like Lestonnac Free Clinic; that they will meet with their family advocate to see what medical programs they may be eligible for; and advised that there are two mobile health clinics that come out to the Friendly Center -- one is for agricultural workers and the other is a cardio van. She added that the family advocate program assesses all the needs of the family even though they might just be in there for food. Ms. Seelig noted for Committee Member Manning that whoever provides the program funding sets the rules for their daily food program and whether they must be income qualified or a resident. She noted that the Friendly Center clients must have a food card; and stated that Second Harvest will not allow qualifying clients. Ms. Seelig noted for Committee Member Perez that the van does not come every month, but it does arrive on a schedule. CDBG Minutes February 5, 2014 Page 10 of 11 AGENCY:HELPING OUR MENTALLY ILL EXPERIENCE SUCCESS, INCORPORATED (HOMES) PROJECT:Riley House rehabilitation Request funds for to remodel the upstairs bathroom. Amount Requested:$10,360 Total Project Cost:$10,360 Helen Cameron, Manager for residents with special needs, complimented this Committee and Orange for being one of a few in the County that takes seriously what CDBG is supposed to fund, supporting decent housing for Low and Extremely Low Income families; and stated that without this support, housing for this population would be harder to find. She advised that HOMES currently has six houses and three apartment developments; stated they developed the first homeless apartment in Midway City ten years ago for people with mental illness, noting they are celebrating the 10th anniversary this week; that five years ago, they opened the first apartments in Anaheim for residents who have mental illness and were chronically homeless, an even more difficult population to serve; and that the third one was built in Irvine two years ago, providing 60 affordable housing units with housing for 10 clients who have mental illness and who were homeless. She stated that in two weeks, they will celebrate the next phase of that Irvine development with 72 new apartments with housing for 10 more families with mental illness, providing two 2-bedroom units and 8 single bedroom units. Ms. Cameron stated that this request is for the Riley house, a 6-bedroom house with 3 bathrooms; that it houses two women and four men; and that they are requesting a bathroom remodel. She stated that this house is beautiful and one of the best looking in the neighborhood. She explained that because of their program, these residents are very stable in these houses; noted that their incomes are typically disability income, earning approximately $850 a month; and explained that without the ability to have a room in a house like this, they would either be on the streets or living in overcrowded housing. She added that these residents have their own bedrooms and that they share a bathroom with one other individual. Ms. Cameron explained that each resident is expected to be involved in outside activities; that the majority of them are working part-time and/or going to school; and that many of them are participating in the new Wellness Center just down the street on Tustin Avenue, which has wonderful programs for people with disabilities. She advised that the Wellness Center has approximately 1,000 members who attend a variety of classes every day at this site; and added that this center has 14 beds for crises/emergency housing. CDBG Minutes February 5, 2014 Page 11 of 11 Ms. Laster mentioned that she has visited the home and agrees that the work on this house has been beautifully done; that the residents were nice and cordial; and that the residents bedrooms were very well organized. She added that it was interesting to see the different age groups that live in this home. Committee Member Manning asked if the clients are referred. Ms. Cameron stated the clients are typically referred through Orange County Mental Health. She stated that their safety equipment, smoke alarms and fire extinguishers are routinely checked/refilled. VI. PUBLIC COMMENT None. VII. ADJOURNMENT At 8:30 P.M. the meeting was formally adjourned.