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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-17-2010 CDBG MinutesCDBG Minutes February 17, 2010 Page 1 of 7 CITY OF ORANGE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM COMMITTEE MINUTES WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2010 6:30 P.M. Economic Development Conference Room MEMBERS PRESENT Mary Ellen Manning Eva Perez (arrived at 6:40 pm) Fernando Rico Gina Scott Robert Tunstall Alternate Darren Smith MEMBERS ABSENT None STAFF PRESENT Mary Ellen Laster Robert Moya Aaron Schulze I.CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 6:30 P.M. II.APPROVAL OF MINUTES – FEBRUARY 10, 2010 Committee Member Scott moved, seconded by Committee Member Manning, to approve the February 10, 2010, Minutes as presented. Motion carried, 4-0 (Chair Perez had not yet arrived). Ms. Laster noted for Committee Member Rico that Robert Moya called Edward Gerber, the Executive Director of Lestonnac Clinic, to determine why he did not attend last week’s meeting for the agency’s presentation. Mr. Moya commented that Mr. Gerber incorrectly believed the grant writer had attended the meeting to make the presentation. III. FUNDING PRESENTATIONS BY NONPROFIT AGENCIES AGENCY:OLIVE CREST TREATMENT CENTERS, INC. PROJECT:Wheeler House refurbishment Request funds for window replacement. Amount Requested:$7,000 Total Project Cost:$7,000 Amy Rowland, Director of Residential Services, advised that Olive Crest has been serving Orange County since 1973, providing shelter for abused and neglected children; that the agency currently has five group homes in Orange CDBG Minutes February 17, 2010 Page 2 of 7 County and several in the City of Orange; and stated that these homes are typically located in single-family neighborhoods. She advised that the children living in these homes participate in local activities, attend local schools, play local sports; and noted that the agency tries to make a comfortable home environment for these children, adding that each night, they all sit at the dinner table with staff to enjoy their meal together. Ms. Rowland explained that the agency is requesting money to replace the windows for the Wheeler Street house, noting this home was purchased in 1973; and that the single-paned, crank-out windows have been in place for almost 40 years. She advised that the County may end up cutting the social service foster care budget by 10 percent. She added that replacing these windows with energy efficient windows will lower the high energy bills during the summers and winters. Ms. Laster advised that Olive Crest will need to provide a lead-based paint assessment for this home to determine if the paint on the window frames contains lead. She added that lead testing will need to be done by a professional on any areas that will be disturbed during this project, noting this information will be needed prior to the Committee’s final deliberations. Ms. Rowland stated that she believes all the agency’s homes that house children ages 6 to 12 years old have been abated for lead-based paint, but stated she is not aware whether this house has been tested. Ms. Rowland noted for Committee Member Scott that any project bills over the $7,000 would be covered by the agency. AGENCY:PAINT YOUR HEART OUT, INC. PROJECT:Orange Paint Day Request funds to screen applicants, train volunteers, secure resources for repairs and supplies, assess selected homes, create work plans, complete restoration of 5 homes, recognize volunteers/donors, salaries, and lead based paint removal. Amount Requested:$20,000 Total Project Cost:$35,000 Debbie Schultz, Executive Director, explained that this agency paints the exterior homes of the Low-Income residents, giving preference to seniors and disabled residents; and she distributed to the Committee before-and-after photographs of the projects the agency has completed far with their 2009-10 funds, noting the agency has fully expended its grant. She pointed out that the agency was able to complete six homes instead of the contracted five. She advised that the agency works on landscaping; replaces broken windows; repairs fascia board, fences, and gates, installs necessary handrails; and repairs and paints stucco, etc.; advised that there is no cost to the homeowner; and stated CDBG Minutes February 17, 2010 Page 3 of 7 that the agency will contact other agencies when there is a need for interior improvements. She explained that the volunteers only work on the exterior of homes; that all of their work is typically done in two days; that they usually do their prep work on a Saturday with 15 to 20 volunteers per team; and they return later to do the painting. She mentioned that the homeowners select their paint colors. She noted that one of this year’s elderly homeowners had nine broken windows on his home; that he did not have a working heater; and that he was the lowest income resident the agency was able to assist. Ms. Schultz advised that the volunteers will be taught how to properly prep and paint the exterior; advised that the homes are tested for lead-based paint; and that if lead-based paint is found, it is abated at no cost to the homeowner and that no CDBG funding is used for lead-based paint abatement. She noted that two of the six homes the agency worked on this year had lead-based paint; that all the homes in Orange were owned by the elderly who were either Low Income Level 1 or Level 2. Committee Member Manning asked how the agency obtains its clients. Ms. Schultz stated that Code Enforcement sometimes provides referrals, and that clients learn about the program from friends, agency brochures, ads placed in various publications; and noted that project site signage generates a lot of calls. She added that the agency is getting ready to paint this spring in Anaheim, Santa Ana and Placentia. She stated that the agency will take volunteers as young as 14 years of age; and noted that all volunteers must sign a Release of Liability form before they first step on the property so there is no liability to the homeowner. She noted that the agency will have been in operation for 20 years this Spring; and mentioned the agency does this work in Spring and Fall. AGENCY:WOMEN’S TRANSITIONAL LIVING CENTER, INC. PROJECT:Independence from Dependence Request funds to partially pay staff salaries. Amount Requested:$10,000 Total Project Cost:$1,142,000 Kathy Strong, Director of Contracts Administration, stated this agency has increased its presence year after year in Orange; explained that the program encompasses a continuum of care for victims of domestic violence and human trafficking; advised that the agency has a Safety Net Motel program, a 45-day emergency shelter, a 90-day shelter program for substance abuse and mental illness clients; and noted that clients can stay up to two years in the program. She advised that the outreach education and advocacy program picks up and continues to provide their clients services when they are living on their own outside of their shelter programs. She stated that this agency is different from other shelters in Orange County in that the agency accept clients that are victims of domestic violence who are also victims of human trafficking; and that CDBG Minutes February 17, 2010 Page 4 of 7 the agency is the only shelter that will accept dual diagnosis clients who have ongoing mental health problems and ongoing substance abuse problems. Ms. Strong stated that their newest program is a re-entry program wherein the agency works very closely with the probation and parole system to obtain women clients who are being released from the prison system and who have suffered domestic violence in their lives. She stated that these clients are assisted as soon as they leave the prison system and placed into a substance abuse program to help them deal with issues that would likely put them back on the street. She stated that this program has enjoyed a 100 percent success rate thus far with the 20 women the agency has helped in the last year; and advised that the women who have graduated from this program have moved on and that four of these women have regained custody of their children. She added that the agency has also started to take in male clients of domestic violence at their shelter; and advised that the agency will take in boys over the age of 13 and emancipated youth, unlike other shelters. She noted that most clients from this population realize they need to make it at this shelter because no one else in the County will take them. Ms. Strong pointed out that the agency’s focus is to get the clients to survive independently without the aid of welfare, to get them drug and alcohol free, free of domestic abuse and violence, and to get them back into school; and advised that the agency is now partnering with the Bryman Schools, noting that so far, eight of their clients have graduated with scholarships and have been placed as nursing assistants. Committee Member Manning asked if there is any follow-up on those who have graduated. Ms. Strong stated the agency has several methods of follow-up, such as encouraging all former clients to stay in contact with the agency periodically; that the agency has an outreach program to make periodic contact with former clients once they are living on their own; and that every year the agency holds a Christmas party to which all former clients are invited, noting that approximately 90 percent of the former clients participate in this annual event. She noted that some have stumbled and stated that the agency will continue to help those returning clients. She added the agency also has a personal empowerment 10-week program for teens and adults. Ms. Strong noted for Committee Member Rico that last year the agency assisted five human trafficking victims; that this year, the agency has assisted 15 human trafficking victims; and that the biggest jump is with people who have been kidnapped in Mexico and brought to the United States and sold into prostitution. She stated that this agency now has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Mexican government, through its Consulate, which provides that government’s full support of the shelter’s attempts to shelter and assist victims of human trafficking. Ms. Laster explained that Orange CDBG funds cannot be used to assist nonresidents of the United States. CDBG Minutes February 17, 2010 Page 5 of 7 Ms. Strong advised that the CDBG funds are not used for those human trafficking clients, and the agency is not proposing to use these funds for that population. AGENCY:YWCA OF CENTRAL ORANGE COUNTY PROJECT:First Steps at Beverly’s House Request funds for partial staff salary and benefits. Amount Requested:$7,500 Total Project Cost:$35,000 Gabrielle Hass, Executive Director, stated that the funds will be used for the transitional housing for emancipated females, ages 18 to 21, exiting from the foster care system; and noted that this is the only home of its kind in Orange County. She noted that women in this population are pretty vulnerable and are not quite ready to live on their own; and explained that the agency teaches these females various life skills. She advised that this house has 10 client beds; that the girls can stay for up to two years; that in those two years, they can move into the apartments behind the home as they show progress; and advised that these girls must either go to school or work. She noted it is the agency’s preference for the girls to go to school, noting that some will finish their high school education, while most go on to junior college. She mentioned that some of the girls receive financial aid. She advised that last year, the agency hired a funds development associate to help search for more funding and that the agency has staffed the house a little differently to address the large turnover of clients, believing the clients are finding it easier to follow the house rules. She advised that a group of volunteers tutor and mentor the girls; and that interns from Chapman University provide pro bono assistance. Alternate Committee Member Smith asked what the actual number is of Orange residents being served. Ms. Hass explained that she does not have those numbers but that once these girls come to stay in this home, they become Orange residents. Committee Member Manning asked where this agency obtains its referrals. Ms. Hass stated the referrals come from Orangewood or the County of Orange. Committee Member Perez asked where the volunteers come from. Ms. Hass stated that the group of volunteers is from the Honors Club. Ms. Hass noted for Committee Member Rico that not all the girls stay the entire two years; reiterated that the agency’s new staffing system is striving to eliminate the large turnover of girls going through this program each year; and stated that the average stay for a client is nine months. She added that she knows of two girls who re-entered the program. CDBG Minutes February 17, 2010 Page 6 of 7 AGENCY:LESTONNAC FREE CLINIC PROJECT:Bridge to Care Request funds to pay for staff salary and supplies. Amount Requested:$10,000 Total Project Cost:$100,000 Edward Gerber, Executive Director, advised that Lestonnac Free Clinic has been in Orange for 30 years providing full scope health care services to the residents of Orange and other cities; explained that these funds will provide funds for a walk-in Saturday clinic; and advised that there are currently 19 community clinics throughout Orange County, all overwhelmed with taking on new patients. He stated that the agency developed a program called Bridge to Care clinic, where the agency can treat people and give them their medications to help them manage their illnesses and keep them out of emergency rooms; and advised that approximately 20 percent of their clients are residents of Orange. He pointed out that the agency does not have the resources to see everyone who waits in line for help; and that the agency will typically take the first 35 people who are in line and have them wait and send the next 35 people away until the afternoon so they are not waiting the entire day in line to be seen. He advised that this grant will be joined with the $50,000 grant the agency received from the United Way to provide a walk-in clinic on Saturdays. In response to Alternate Committee Member Smith’s inquiry, Mr. Gerber stated that while the clinic was started by a Catholic nun 30 years ago, the agency will help anyone from any religion, that it does not prosthelytize, and it is open to everyone regardless of their religious background. He stated the agency has opened walk-in clinics in Stanton, Santa Ana, and Tustin in the last three months. Addressing Committee Member Scott’s inquiry, Mr. Gerber stated that the majority of their clients need assistance with their diabetes and hypertension and that the remainder is usually for colds and flus. He advised that the agency is able to do blood tests on site and adjust medications accordingly. Ms. Laster pointed out that the agency’s income qualification sheet is missing from their application packet; and she asked Mr. Gerber how the agency income- qualifies its beneficiaries. Mr. Gerber stated it is impossible for the agency to verify someone’s income on the first visit to the walk-in clinic; but stated the agency does have an application form that is given to clients if they return for follow-up care. He stated that the first visit is self-declared income, reiterating that the agency is not able to do a background check on the first visit. He stated the agency will take paycheck stubs or some other method to prove income at the follow-up visits. CDBG Minutes February 17, 2010 Page 7 of 7 Ms. Laster stated that patients that do not provide income verification cannot be assisted with CDBG funds, pointing out that unless this agency is obtaining some type of income verification on the first visit, the program would not qualify for CDBG funding. Chair Perez mentioned that CDBG funds could be used for the supplies and follow-up care. Mr. Gerber stated that last year the agency served over 14,000 patients through this clinic, noting that most likely, 11,000 to 13,000 of those patients qualified as Low Income. Ms. Laster asked Mr. Gerber to submit the agency’s income verification form and intake application so that staff and the Committee can see how the beneficiaries meet the Low Income criteria. Mr. Gerber stated that he will provide the application. He mentioned that the agency also conducts support groups, such as NA; that it has a food bank; pointed out that this clinic is able to gather volunteer specialists in the medical field; and added that the clinic is now doing diabetes retinopathy surgeries with a donated machine. Ms. Laster stated that the agency did not submit some of the requested information; and that the agency did not follow directions in filling out the application. She added that the application should demonstrate the agency’s administrative capability and noted that it might be difficult for this agency to use the CDBG funds only those who income qualify as opposed to first-time clients. IV. PUBLIC COMMENT None. V.ADJOURNMENT At 8:03 P.M. the meeting was formally adjourned.