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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-10-2010 CDBG MinutesCDBG Minutes February 10, 2010 Page 1 of 6 CITY OF ORANGE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM COMMITTEE MINUTES WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2010 6:30 P.M. Economic Development Conference Room MEMBERS PRESENT Gina Scott Mary Ellen Manning Eva Perez Fernando Rico Robert Tunstall MEMBERS ABSENT Alternate Darren Smith STAFF PRESENT Mary Ellen Laster Robert Moya Aaron Schulze I.CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 6:35 P.M. II.APPROVAL OF MINUTES – JANUARY 27, 2010 Committee Member Rico moved, seconded by Committee Member Scott, to approve the January 27, 2010, Minutes as presented. Motion carried, 5-0. 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:$ 52,250 Sue Counts, Grants Chairman, stated that the agency plans to clothe 105 children with these funds; and she displayed some of the clothing given to the children (pants, sweatshirt, underwear, socks, skort). She noted that as of last year, the Agency has reduced the number of articles given to each child due to the lack of funding. Melodee Fahy stated that the agency’s three main philanthropic projects –the Dental Center, Operation School Bell, and the Special/Emergency Assistance Programs - had budget cuts of $5,000 each during the year; that they have CDBG Minutes February 10, 2010 Page 2 of 6 reduced the number of clothing articles given to each child; and stated that each child does receive at least one complete clothing outfit. She added that the agency was subsequently able to increase the budgets for the programs after additional funds were donated. In response to a question, Ms. Fahy stated that a few of the students return their used uniforms at the end of the school year, which the agency is able to provide to other students, but that new uniforms are preferable. Ms. Counts stated the agency previously worked with the school district’s Health Services Office to receive referrals, but that the agency’s volunteers are now independently working on their own to obtain referrals; and she advised that since they have taken this over, they are reaching more new families and more children. Ms. Fahy stated that fittings are now being done in the evenings, so that children do not have to take time out from school to be fitted for their uniforms. Committee Member Rico asked if the $57 cost to clothe each child has stayed the same over the recent years. Ms. Fahy responded that the figure is about the same, though she noted that only a few years ago, the cost was $75 for each child; and she reiterated that they have reduced the number of articles given to each child so they can clothe more clients. Ms. Counts stated they are using a similar assessment form as the CDBG Program to recruit and qualify needy families. Ms. Counts confirmed for Ms. Laster that the agency’s address is 124 South Orange Street. Ms. Fahy stated the agency is renovating its thrift shop to expand the selling space, hoping this will increase revenue. AGENCY:THE FRIENDLY CENTER, INC. PROJECT:Emergency Assistance and Supplemental Food Program Request funds to supplement the salary of the Family Services staff. Amount Requested:$ 10,000 Total Project Cost:$ 317,254 Cathy Seelig, Executive Director, played a new 30-second PSA video of the agency’s mobile food pantry program, noting the students at Chapman University donated their services to help create the video. She expressed her appreciation of past Orange CDBG support, noting the need has increased. She advised that the agency does not pay for any of the food it distributes, because all of it comes from Second Harvest Food Bank or donations from the CDBG Minutes February 10, 2010 Page 3 of 6 community. Ms. Seelig stated that the daily food program will serve 50 to 80 families at their two facilities, noting this is a 17 percent increase in the last six months of 2009 compared to the prior year; advised that there is always food in the pantry and that there is no reason for anyone in Orange to go without food. She added that the agency also receives donations from service clubs, churches, food drives, and other Second Harvest Food pantry programs; and that staff picks up perishable food from Albertsons, Fresh & Easy, Mother’s Market, and Vons on Mondays through Thursdays. She mentioned that the perishable foods are highly desired by the clients. She added that the agency has initiated a more equitable way to distribute the food, noting that this has been well received by the clients who often wait many hours in line to receive these donations. She advised that the mobile food pantry carries between 8,000 and 10,000 pounds of food, which is usually gone within two hours. Ms. Seelig explained that the agency has qualified five families for the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP), which is a three-year program that Orange funded last year; and stated the agency is moving forward with that Program. In response to a question from Ms. Laster, Ms. Seelig clarified that the agency’s three-year HPRP allocation is $301,202, and that $100,401 is shown as one of the other funding sources on the FY 2010-11 CDBG funding request. She invited everyone to tour the Friendly Center’s facilities. AGENCY:HELPING OUR MENTALLY ILL EXPERIENCE SUCCESS, INC. (HOMES) PROJECT:Riley House Rehabilitation Request funds to install energy efficient windows. Amount Requested:$ 9,980 Total Project Cost:$ 9,980 Helen Cameron, Executive Director, stated that the agency started 25 years ago this April; explained that the agency carefully selects mentally ill people who have the best chance of being successful in independent housing; and advised that the agency expects all of its clients to be active outside the homes by either working, volunteering, and/or going to school. She noted that HOMES has five different homes: three in Orange, one in Anaheim, one in Fullerton; a 30-unit apartment complex in Midway City for the homeless and mentally ill clients; and as of last year, a new 24-unit apartment complex in Anaheim that has one- and two-bedroom units. She mentioned that Anaheim provided the property; advised that every adult in that apartment building was chronically homeless; and announced that there has not been any turnover in the original residents of this apartment building. Ms. Cameron stated that six adults live in the Riley House, four men and two women; stated that they take care of their own shopping and cooking; advised that the clients’ rent is usually subsidized through Section 8 housing assistance and/or disability income; and advised that the $500 rent the agency receives CDBG Minutes February 10, 2010 Page 4 of 6 from the residents only covers approximately one-third of their housing costs. She explained that the agency has various fundraisers throughout the year and that it applies for various grants to cover the other costs to keep the homes running. Ms. Cameron stated that this home is in need of 14 energy efficient windows to replace the existing windows, expressing her hope this will result in substantial utility bill savings each month. She advised that there have never been any neighbor complaints about the agency’s properties in the last 25 years. She added that the contractor is in the middle of remodeling the kitchen in the Riley House, which is being funded with this year’s CDBG funding from Orange. Ms. Cameron provided the Committee with a bid for the window project, noting that the project should only take a week since the windows will be retrofitted within the current window openings. Ms. Cameron noted for Committee Member Scott that they do not take any client who has been hospitalized within six months or who has had substance abuse issues within six months, noting that the agency’s clients are pretty stable by the time they come into this program. In response to a question, she noted that agency staff does not live on-site. She added that she and one other person staff the agency, that one of the staff members had to be laid off, and that salaries have been cut by 25 percent this year due to the agency’s limited budget. She mentioned that the County just passed a 10-year plan to end homelessness. Ms. Laster advised Ms. Cameron that if funding is provided for the proposed project, the agency will need to pull City permits for the window installation. AGENCY:MARIPOSA WOMEN AND FAMILY CENTER PROJECT:Mariposa Family Program Request funds for salaries and benefits for the counselor and clinical supervisor. Amount Requested:$ 7,500 Total Project Cost:$ 364,626 Stephanie McCormick, new Executive Director, stated that this agency has been serving the community for almost 33 years; that its family counseling program is one of its largest in the County, that the Program provides the highest quality services for the lowest cost to clients; and noted that Mariposa’s services include women’s substance abuse programs, CalWORKs programs, and family counseling programs. She advised that they see approximately 2,200 clients each year, the majority of those being women; that in the family counseling program, they see about 1,100 clients and provide therapy services that address domestic violence, substance abuse, sexual assault, parenting, anxiety, grief and depression; and she pointed out that due to the poor economy, the need has drastically increased. She advised that the agency’s average client is a 27½-year- CDBG Minutes February 10, 2010 Page 5 of 6 old Caucasian, single female, who is usually divorced with 2.5 children; and mentioned the agency is seeing a greater demand than ever before for its family counseling programs. Ms. McCormick explained that what sets this agency apart from other mental and behavioral health treatment outpatient centers is that it offers three distinct programs that frequently align and realign with one another, noting that some of the agency’s CalWORKs clients are in the substance abuse programs, and some of the family counseling clients cross over into other programs. She noted that the family counseling program has a Program Director, three Clinical Supervisors, one Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, 24 Marriage and Family Therapist interns and/or trainees; and added that the agency is a highly ranked training facility for MFT interns. Heather Hargis, CalWORKs Program Director at Mariposa, stated that the agency’s male client base is increasing as is the number of male therapists, that the men’s groups are ongoing. She noted that Mike Meador, one of the male therapists, provides bereavement counseling. Committee Member Manning asked how the agency receives its substance abuse referrals. Ms. Hargis responded that the agency receives referrals from the Volunteer Center of Orange County and other agencies. In response to a question, Ms. McCormick stated that the agency piloted a teen counseling project at one of the high schools in Huntington Beach; that the referrals come from the schools, counselors, teachers, and/or parents; and expressed the need to get more schools involved and to create more therapy groups for teen counseling. She noted they also receive self-referrals and added that the partnership with the schools is critical as the agency attempts to expand this program. In response to Committee Chairperson Perez’ inquiry regarding mandated parenting classes, Ms. Hargis stated the agency is court-approved; and that those programs are normally seven to eight weeks long. With the exception of CalWORKs, which is a no-cost program, Ms. McCormick explained that the agency’s fees for services are based on a sliding fee scale; advised that if additional counseling were necessary, that would likely be accommodated for an extra fee; and highlighted the agency’s plans to work more closely with the court referral program. She added that there is some flexibility within most of the agency’s programs for clients needing a little extra. Ms. Laster asked how CalWORKs referrals are obtained. Ms. Hargis stated that the CalWORKs referrals come directly from the County’s regional coordinators who assess potential clients for this program; advised that the CalWORKs program is a health services program for welfare-to-work clients; and that approximately 75 percent referrals from this program involve domestic violence, some of which also involve substance abuse. CDBG Minutes February 10, 2010 Page 6 of 6 IV. PUBLIC COMMENT None. V.ADJOURNMENT At 7:50 P.M. the meeting was formally adjourned.