CITY OF DANBURY
 Danbury Housing Partnership
 155 Deer Hill Avenue
 Danbury , Connecticut 06810
 Minutes of the January 10, 2008 Meeting

Attendance: Barrows, Lemme, Schierloh, Zaborowski, Nolan, Sistrunk, Rodano, Valeri, Lima, Yamin

Absent: Coelho, Elpern, McLachlan, Payton, Pitts, Sangut, Scalzo, Shepperd

The meeting of the Danbury Housing Partnership was held in City Hall, conference room #3c, on January 10, 2008. Chairman M. Nolan called the meeting to order at 3:08pm. The minutes of December 6, 2007 meeting was reviewed by all present members. A motion to accept the minutes of December 6, 2007 was made by C. Sistrunk, seconded by D. Valeri, passed unanimously and placed on file.

Speaker for the Partnership meeting is Mr. Al Barber, President of Catholic Charities. Chairperson Nolan reported on the Ad Hoc Housing Feasibility Study Committee and the contact/proposal from Troyer Advisors, LLC to determine the type of senior housing needed in Danbury. The meeting with the contact company was not completed. Mr. Nolan attended the meeting of the Financial Resources and Fundraising committee, which will be reported along with the rest of the committee reports. The meeting with the state strategic plan has been postponed to January 29th at Western Connecticut State University.

There were no public comments.

At this point in time, Chairman Nolan requested Vice-Chairperson C. Sistrunk to preside over the rest of the Partnership meeting. Mr. Barber joined Catholic Charities approximately 3 years ago. In the past, this organization did not do much activities regarding support housing, due to inexperience or basic knowledge. The programs now offered by Catholic Charities include scattered site housing to managing over 100 people under one roof. HUD has requested Catholic Charities to assume the contracts for several scattered housing sites. HUD wanted to keep the contracts active, and knew that Catholic Charities had a good track record for handling such sites. There are many challenges in housing for Fairfield County and Catholic Charities would like to initiate their programs to assist the working poor, families in transition, families affected by domestic violence and now veterans housing.

Mr. Barber met with Mr. Mike McLachlan a month ago regarding the direction that the Housing Partnership was taking within the Danbury community. One of the items of discussion with the Mayor’s office is that Catholic Charities are not builders, developers or competitors with housing professionals, but rather collaborators. This organization firmly believes in providing supportive housing with a hands-on approach. Mix programs, such as what the City of Stamford offers includes a combination of market rates, moderate income individuals and those clients who would need some form of assistance and counseling.

There are two scattered housing sites programs that include: 1.) obtaining a program involving 48 individuals, 2.)a rehabilitation project in Bridgeport for homeless individuals. A HUD grant was able to assist in financing this housing rehabilitation which allows 16 Section 8 individuals who were once on the street to reside in a beautiful apartment. There are on site per diem counselors to assist all individuals in the scattered housing sites. There have been graduates from the program; there have been those who could no longer participate in the program. Catholic Charities has not been able to take on many more projects, but are completing one housing rehab project, under the Next Step Program, which will be creating 22 - 2/3 bedroom apartments for the working poor. There will be full time counselors in this facility. Catholic Charities has incorporated a great campus environment with a soup kitchen, a food pantry, the 22 unit facility, an SRO that has been in place for 10 years with nine individuals, and also a habitat for humanity house for a family of 7(father with 6 children).

Catholic Charities would like to provide to Danbury, their expertise and support services which go to fundamental needs such as food, case management, formal counseling to handling mental/health problems, to a project that the Partnership would want collaboration with. Financial, technical support, planning and zoning regulations may differ from one part of the state to the other. This can set back some projects or delay the initial start of a project, even if an organizations intent is good. Catholic Charities would like to offer their support, counseling and management of certain acquired properties or projects.

Most of Catholic Charities funding comes from grant dollars through DSS, DEMAS, and HUD. Foundation dollars have also been used to support the initiatives of Catholic Charities. The City of Danbury, along with local developers, builders, VA representatives, mental health advocates, etc. would like to meet with Catholic Charities to discuss a possible collaborative partnership. The City would like to set a goal of 30 to 60 days time period to initiate a project. Proper marketing, public relations, etc. will be necessary to address our target population.

Senior housing, supportive and transitional, veterans housing, addressing the homeless situation is all responsibilities and purpose for the Danbury Housing Partnership. The Partnership will work to preserve and promote affordable housing opportunities within the City of Danbury. Also, the Partnership will develop, assess, and monitor all programs created to ensure that all measures are taken to implement the Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness. One of the goals of the Housing Partnership is to identify Catholic Charities as an entity that would be available for service providing and to ensure that the Partnership continues a working relationship between these two groups.

Ms. Sistrunk moved to request that Bill Hoey of Catholic Charities be invited to be an ad hoc member of the Social and Supportive Services Committee. Seconded by Judge Yamin, and passed unanimously.

Committee reports were provided to Partnership members:

  1. Housing and Community Development Committee report was given by G. Lemme. Members met today, before the Partnership meeting. Guest speaker was Mr. Joseph DaSilva who discussed, in length, his proposals on housing throughout the City of Danbury. Mr. DaSilva has many ideas in which to produce housing that would benefit Danbury. Ms. Joan Carty and a housing representative for Western Connecticut State University will be our guest speakers in February. Mr. DaSilva will provide an update of his housing proposals at the March meeting.

  1. Social and Supportive Services Committee report was given by C. Radano. Meetings will be held at the end of this month. The Ten Year Plan for this committee years one and two were previously reviewed. Discussion was presented regarding Section 8 tenants and landlords, obtaining a list from Ms. Sistrunk to explore further education of local landlords, etc.

  1. Financial Resources and Fundraising Committee report was given by P. Schierloh. A meeting was held yesterday with discussion relating to the need for transitional to permanent housing in the local community. Mr. John Sullivan has been appointed to the Housing Partnership by Mayor Boughton.

  1. Public Relations, Marketing and Education Committee report was given by P. Schierloh. This committee will be meeting on January 25th. The website is still not operating nor is a logo been decided. More information will be presented at the next Partnership meeting in February.

Chairman Nolan discussed the senior and veterans housing feasibility study. Some questions and answers were developed, but due to time conflicts, no further information is available until a meeting is set. Ms. Sistrunk inquired if we could use a form of telephone polling as an alternative to the feasibility study done. Chairman Nolan indicated that if the Partnership is going to utilize state and federal funding, we will need to have some concrete statement made, which is actually what the feasibility study will obtain. Ms. Sistrunk stated that if there is a quicker alternative way to get the Partnership to where we know there is a need, and to quantify it in a way that will assist and supplement any funding requests made, then the Partnership needs to act on this as soon as possible. Discussion entailed and will be further reported at the February Partnership meeting.

Updating the Mayor’s Taskforce Ten Year Plan report, since we are in the second year of the plan, the recommendation is to have each of the subcommittee identify their tasks, obtain their information then summarize and update the plan for year one and two. Mr. Schierloh and Ms. Radano will assist the committees to expedite their reports so that all information could be submitted to the Common Council in April.

Membership update discussion was made between Chairman Nolan and Mr. McLachlan. The original memberships have some position expiring very soon. The Partnership needs to address those members who have not attended or have limited attendance and report this to the Mayor.

Mr. Nolan indicated that a letter was written in December to the Commissioner of DECD and the Director of HUD on behalf of the Partnership supporting the disposition plan of the Danbury Housing Authority and their scattered housing sites.

A motion to adjourn was made by C. Sistrunk, seconded by Judge Yamin, passed unanimously.