02-01-2017 CDBG MinutesCDBG Minutes
February 1, 2017
Page 1 of 12
CITY OF ORANGE
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM COMMITTEE
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2017
6:30 P.M.
Weimer Room, Orange City Hall
MEMBERS PRESENT MEMBERS ABSENT STAFF PRESENT
Mary Ellen Manning David Gillanders (Alternate) Mary Ellen Laster
Megan Penn
Eva Perez
Fernando Rico
Janice Mickelson-Weilmuenster
I.CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 6:39 P.M.
II.APPROVAL OF MINUTES – JANUARY 25, 2017
Committee Member Perez moved, seconded by Committee Chair
Penn, to approve the January 25, 2017, Minutes as presented.
Motion carried, 4-0 (Manning abstained; absent Gillanders)
CDBG Minutes
February 1, 2017
Page 2 of 12
III. FUNDING PRESENTATIONS BY NONPROFIT AGENCIES
AGENCY:ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF ORANGE
PROJECT:Operation School Bell
Request funds to purchase school
uniforms, shoe vouchers and
hygiene kits
Amount Requested:$15,000
Total Project Cost:$107,815
Charlotte Vaughn, Grants Administrator/Committee Chair, thanked
the Committee for their past support of this program, noting that
this is the agency’s 54th year of providing clothing for children. She
added that this is the agency’s longest standing program; and that
last year, they celebrated their 75th anniversary here in Orange. She
advised that not too much has changed with the program; noted
that in coordination with the Penney’s store in Orange, they
dressed 75 non-uniformed children; and advised that there are a
number of elementary schools that do not have a uniform program.
Deida Conrad, Operation School Bell Chair, advised that Fletcher
Elementary School successfully voted to go to a uniformed
program last year.
Ms. Vaughn pointed out there are clothing needs at all of the
schools; and that Operation School Bell helps the children fit in by
providing them with new clothing.
Ms. Conrad passed around some thank you notes the children have
written expressing their appreciation of the new clothing.
Committee Member Manning asked if the children return for
hygiene necessities once they run out.
Ms. Vaughn responded that the agency cannot provide a year’s
supply, but pointed out the children are given full-sized bottles of
hygiene items; and she added just by giving them the hygiene kits,
it has the potential to inspire them to continue on with their
hygiene habit once they start using the kits.
CDBG Minutes
February 1, 2017
Page 3 of 12
Committee Member Rico asked what the process is to bring in a
school uniform program.
Ms. Conrad advised that the parents and the administration
typically have a drive to vote at a PTA meeting.
Committee Chair Penn asked what the children receive for the
$100; and asked if they are dressing the same number of children
this year.
Ms. Vaughn stated that with this money, each child walks away
with very good quality, new clothing that usually sustains their
school clothing needs throughout the school year; and advised that
they will dress the same number of children this year with the
funding. She advised that they missed the total number of children
they had planned to dress last year by 30 or 40, noting that some
parents either do not show up for a dressing appointment or have
to work and do not make new appointments; but added that the
agency’s goal for this year has been lowered by 25 elementary
children to make sure the annual goal is met.
Committee Member Manning invited the agency to contact her
should they run out of books to distribute to the kids, noting that
The Friends of the Orange Library can assist.
Ms. Conrad advised that each child gets to pick out the books they
want, noting they have gender/age specific books in their selection.
Ms. Vaughn stated that they have made a few changes to clean up
their paperwork/forms to make it more in line with CDBG
guidelines; and advised that by this summer, all school aides will
be using the same forms.
Ms. Conrad stated that they put on an appreciation brunch for the
aides in August; that at this brunch, they discuss any problems
they had during the year; and noted that they will undertake a
training session on keeping more accurate records. She mentioned
that they constantly need to train the aides because of a large
turnover. She invited the Committee Members to attend one of
their dressings to see how they operate.
CDBG Minutes
February 1, 2017
Page 4 of 12
AGENCY:FAIR HOUSING FOUNDATION
PROJECT:Fair Housing Program
Request funds for salaries, benefits
and other expenses related to
providing this service
Amount Requested:$24,522
Total Project Cost:$26,944
Barbara Shull, Executive Director, stated that this agency has
continued this year to successfully provide the Fair Housing
Program for the City of Orange. She explained that the Fair
Housing Program is basically four programs: landlord/tenant
counseling services, remediation and referrals, counseling services,
and resolution of housing discrimination. She stated there has not
been an increase in activities this year; but pointed out that the
agency’s Virtual Counseling Network (VCN) is up and running,
which is run out of their new office in Anaheim, just down the
street from Angel Stadium. She added that the main office is in
Long Beach. She noted that one-third of the walk-in clientele in the
Anaheim office is from Orange.
Ms. Shull explained that the agency is also providing HUD housing
counseling; advised that HUD just released their new Notice of
Funding Availability (NOFA) for 2017 but has yet to finalize the
new rule on housing counseling, which requires that housing
counseling agencies become certified. She advised that the
agencies have 17 months for staff members to receive their
certifications; and added that everyone in the office is attending
multiple trainings in order to pass the certification test. She noted
her expectation that HUD will make an announcement soon as to
when it will be testing for this certification, believing it may be by
April of this year. She added that with the new certification, fair
housing organizations will also become organizations that handle
first-time homebuyer programs, mortgage assistance programs,
financial coaching programs, etc. She stated that if an agency
receives HUD housing counseling funds, it will need to be a wrap-
around agency; and mentioned that this the Fair Housing
Foundation has always been a wrap-around agency working in
coordination with other organizations.
CDBG Minutes
February 1, 2017
Page 5 of 12
Ms. Shull provided handouts, one being the agency’s year-to-date
Highlights; advised that they have assisted 124 unduplicated
Orange households with 172 issues; and advised that people
typically need help with more than one issue. She added that the
agency has provided one management training to date, with
another one being scheduled. She noted that so far this year, four
individuals from Orange have alleged housing discrimination, but
stated the agency has not opened up a case because those
allegations could not be supported and did not warrant further
investigation.
Ms. Shull stated that the agency’s new reporting format now keeps
track of not only the unduplicated clients, which they are allowed
to count as CDBG beneficiaries, but also the number of issues the
agency has addressed. She stated that the last handout provides a
narrative that includes the agency’s outreach activities in all
contract cities including Orange.
Committee Member Manning asked if any cases end up in court.
Ms. Shull responded that sometimes cases do end up in court; but
explained that the agency has had more success focusing on
education and reconciliation over litigation, pointing out it is a
more fair system in contract cities that are receiving these services.
She added that litigating can get very political within contract
cities. While there are some cases that do end up in court, she
advised that the agency does not send these cases to court; that the
first course of action for resolution is always reconciliation; if that
does not work, their second avenue of resolution is to refer the
case to HUD or the State equivalent, Department of Fair
Employment and Housing; and the third avenue is to refer the
client to a private fair housing attorney. She pointed out that the
agency is not a plaintiff in those cases and that it does not pursue
the case with the attorney.
In response to Committee Member Rico’s inquiry regarding the
homebuyers program, Ms. Shull explained that HUD will now
directly fund certified housing counseling agencies, noting that
HUD funded multiple programs in the past that were not always
successful.
Committee Member Rico asked if the certification process is
currently available.
CDBG Minutes
February 1, 2017
Page 6 of 12
Ms. Shull responded that HUD issued the Final Rule (regulations) in
2016 after several years; and that the process needs to be finalized
before the testing can commence, which date has yet to be
announced. She stated there are a few agencies that offer, for a
fee, training for this certification and test preparation; and noted
that approximately two years ago, HUD started offering online
courses. She stated that the test will be free of charge, but that
there is a fee for the training. She added that the agency has
received some scholarship money for these training courses; and
stated that she does not yet know if that certification will have to
be renewed from time to time.
Ms. Laster asked if this certification training has anything to do
with the City’s CDBG contract.
Ms. Shull responded that there are currently no regulations
requiring a fair housing service provider to receive certification
training; but added that if the agency wants to receive additional
funds for these other programs, it will need to receive certification
in the future. She added that at some point in the future, funding
may not be possible unless an agency is certified.
Ms. Shull noted for Ms. Laster that the VCN has made it possible to
reach out to more people and stated that more people are
attending the agency’s web workshops and participating in their
Housing Counseling Network (HCN), a real-time counseling effort in
collaboration with various agencies; and she explained that with
this real-time network, it provides a great wrap-around delivery of
service programs that encompass various housing issues, such as
fair housing, landlord/tenant issues, and credit counseling.
Ms. Laster advised Ms. Shull that Stephanie Luu, a Fair Housing
Foundation counselor, should be commended, stating that Ms. Luu
recently held walk-in clinic at Orange City Hall, and handled rude,
irate, and verbally abusive client in a calm and professional
manner.
CDBG Minutes
February 1, 2017
Page 7 of 12
AGENCY:FRIENDLY CENTER, INC.
PROJECT:Community Food Orange
Request funds for salary cost of
direct service staff
Amount Requested:$10,000
Total Project Cost:$22,172
Cathy Seelig, Executive Director, thanked the Committee for its
past support, noting there is a constant need for food in the
community. She mentioned that she has been with Friendly Center
for almost 19 years. She explained that the number of reported
clients has been greatly reduced this year because the agency is no
longer permitted to ask for income verification for many of their
programs, but advised that the agency continues to serve whoever
seeks assistance. She stated that the agency receives much of its
food from Second Harvest and Food Finders, and these agencies
require that Friendly Center not ask for income documentation.
Ms. Seelig pointed out the agency is able to have its own rules for
one program, Community Food Orange, and that it qualifies for
CDBG funding. She explained that the agency’s direct service part-
time staff member picks up the food and delivers it to the two
facilities and in some cases helps to deliver food to families who
have filled out the CDBG form; that this staff member is very
important to this program continuing. She noted that the staff
person is a community member who received services from
Friendly Center in the past; and that she is very dependable, speaks
Spanish and is familiar with those in this community. She added
that this program takes place at both of the Orange sites twice a
week, noting there is a lot of food going to those in need; and she
reiterated that the need has not diminished at all, that the agency
is just not allowed to count everyone that is assisted. She added
that the agency is only able to ask how many live in a household
and their zip code; and she noted that it has become harder to run
these programs.
Ms. Laster pointed out that while the agency cannot count the
beneficiaries that do not fill out the HUD CDBG form, the agency is
still able to include the total number served in the performance
report narrative that it submits to the City.
CDBG Minutes
February 1, 2017
Page 8 of 12
Ms. Seelig advised that the agency receive fresh produce at the end
of its shelf life; and that the agency receives meat, dairy,
vegetables, and fruit. She stated that due to more restrictions,
children now have to throw away any food they do not want. She
added that they used to have a box for unwanted food and that at
the end of the tutoring sessions, the children and their families
could take home whatever was left in the box. She added that the
agency would need to have refrigerators at the tutoring sites to
keep this food from being thrown away.
Committee Chair Penn stated she was amazed with the number of
people that were in line to receive food at a recent event at the
Killefer site.
Ms. Seelig stated that it was likely the mobile food pantry; advised
that the agency typically distributes 6- to 8,000 pounds of food to
nearly 200 families with that program, each family walking away
with approximately 50 pounds of food. She advised that they are
now delivering nonperishable food to a few clients’ homes.
AGENCY:HELPING OUR MENTALLY ILL
EXPERIENCE SUCCESS (HOMES), INC.
PROJECT:Riley House Rehabilitation
Request funds for laundry room remodel
Amount Requested:$9,375
Total Project Cost:$9,375
Raul Fernandez, HOMES, Inc., Supportive Housing Operations
Manager, stated that HOMES has six houses, three of them in
Orange; and advised that five of these houses are for clients with
mental illness who live independently. He stated that HOMES also
has a program for emancipated youth in Irvine; a 30-unit building
in Midway City, and 24 apartments in Anaheim for residents who
are chronically homeless with mental illness. He added that the
agency also has a house for emancipated youth; and a fully
integrated, affordable housing community in Irvine where 20
residents with mental illness are part of a 134-unit housing
community. He advised that the agency’s most recent housing
complex is located in Anaheim that houses 48 previously homeless
families, along with 15 households with adults with mental illness.
CDBG Minutes
February 1, 2017
Page 9 of 12
Mr. Fernandez stated that six residents (two women, four men) live
in the Riley House; that the residents pay affordable rent with their
limited SSI income, typically $880 a month; noted that they each do
their own shopping, cooking, cleaning, and budgeting; and that
HOMES conducts regular staff/household meetings to discuss
medication management with the residents and household
relationships. He advised that each resident has household chores
and must be involved in a minimum of 20 hours of outside
activities; and he advised that these residents are Extremely Low
Income. He stated that HOMES is one of a few housing
organizations that houses this special needs population; and noted
that the cost to provide this housing is typically three times more
than the income the agency receives from the rents.
Mr. Fernandez stated that the Riley House was built in 1965, but
that it has been well-maintained thanks to the support of the
Orange CDBG program over the years. He advised that the greatest
need is updating the outdated laundry room; that they want to
increase the capacity by adding another washer/dryer to the
laundry room so that the six adults can all do their laundry more
efficiently. He noted his plans to purchase new energy efficient
appliances for the laundry room; and that they will be adding new
water lines, upgrading the lighting, putting in new tile and dry-
walling some of the exposed pipes. He added that the purchase of
the new appliances is not part of this request.
Mr. Fernandez invited the Committee to visit this house to see for
themselves how nice last year’s upgrades are, noting it beautified
the entire environment of the house. He added that HOMES
corporate office is located in Irvine; and stated that the agency’s
newest undertaking is providing housing for veterans.
The Committee members asked that he give their best regards to
Helen Cameron.
Committee Member Manning asked if any counselors live at the
houses.
Mr. Fernandez responded that the residents live independently,
noting that one residents has lived the Riley House for 17 years
and others have lived there for 11 years.
CDBG Minutes
February 1, 2017
Page 10 of 12
Committee Member Perez asked about their medical resources.
Mr. Fernandez stated that the residents are all enrolled in clinical
and treatment programs and routinely receive clinical services.
Ms. Laster asked if Helen Cameron works for HOMES or Jamboree
Housing.
Mr. Fernandez stated she works for Jamboree, which absorbed
HOMES Incorporated, but added that HOMES remains a separate
501(c)3, advised that he is currently the only full-time staff for
HOMES and explained that HOMES has the benefits of partnering
with Jamboree but does not have to pay any rent for office space.
He added that Jamboree has over 50 communities Statewide.
AGENCY:MARIPOSA WOMEN AND FAMILY
CENTER
PROJECT:Community Counseling Program
Request funds for direct program
expenses, including staffing costs
Amount Requested:$10,000
Total Project Cost:$819,176
Dr. Krista Driver, President and CEO, distributed an agency
pamphlet, noting that Mariposa has been providing affordable
mental health services to women and their families in Orange for
40 years; and pointed out that the agency’s founder is highlighted
in their most recent pamphlet. She noted that Mariposa has a
Substance Abuse Program, providing out-patient substance abuse
treatment for men and women; and that the agency now has an
Adolescent Substance Abuse Program.
Dr. Driver advised that the Community Counseling Program uses a
gender-sensitive treatment approach to offer services to men,
women, and adolescents; and that the program includes help for
those suffering from domestic violence, physical and sexual abuse
and other traumas. She advised that the agency now work with
three courts that address the homeless population; noted this is
the least funded counseling program; and that with this
collaborative court program, the agency has served 500
participants in the program, not only providing counseling
CDBG Minutes
February 1, 2017
Page 11 of 12
services, but also helping them find shelter, food, clothing and
helping them be successful in staying out of jail.
Dr. Driver advised that their largest program served 1,700 people
last year, and collectively they served 3,000 people from the
Orange campus last year. She advised that the agency has offices
in Orange and San Juan Capistrano and that they are looking at
expanding into the east region next year. She advised that the
agency works a lot with victims of domestic abuse and sex
trafficking; advised that their youngest sex trafficking client is 11
years old; and noted that they do partner with several agencies in
Orange. Dr. Driver mentioned that Mariposa is more active with its
counseling efforts than it is with the political side of this industry.
Ms. Laster asked if the court program is part of the application.
Dr. Driver responded that the court program is not included and
that she was just providing an overview of the agency’s activities.
Ms. Laster asked if WTLC had closed its shelter in Fullerton.
Dr. Driver stated that Mariposa partners with WTLC; that the
shelter was moved to a different, undisclosed apartment complex;
but added that the old facility will now be an out-patient facility
with case management.
Ms. Laster commented that HUD’s homeless priorities have
changed and it may be reducing funding for emergency and
temporary shelters to fund more permanent housing.
Dr. Driver stated that Mariposa is the oldest domestic violence and
mental health counseling agency; and mentioned that WTLC now
has an attorney on staff, who is able to get obtain restraining
orders for their clients.
Committee Member Perez noted her concerns with people not
being able to afford these services.
Dr. Driver explained that the agency usually finds a way to provide
services to those who cannot afford the intake or counseling fees,
noting that the agency reduces the fees, scholarship the services,
waives the fees, or seeks other programs, such as CalWorks, to help
individuals receive the services they need.
CDBG Minutes
February 1, 2017
Page 12 of 12
Committee Member Mickelson-Weilmuenster pointed out that most
clients usually get more out of therapy if they pay something.
Dr. Driver added that clients who pay something also typically
show up for their appointments and take their therapy more
seriously. She added that the agency also provides free on-site
childcare for clients while they receive counseling services; and
mentioned that the agency’s busiest months are January and
February and that the summer months are the least busy. She
added that the agency is seeing more clients as the years pass;
advised that they have a staff of 100, half of those being volunteers
earning their required hours for certification; and that they are
working with several universities to help develop the students’
careers.
IV. PUBLIC COMMENT
Committee Member Rico asked if the senior center walk-through
took place.
Ms. Laster stated that it was cancelled and that she will be in
contact with him once the new date is set.
V. ADJOURNMENT
At 9:00 P.M. the meeting was formally adjourned.