CITY OF DANBURY
 Danbury Housing Partnership
 155 Deer Hill Avenue
 Danbury, Connecticut 06810

Minutes of the July 3, 2008 Meeting

Present: Barrows, Sangut, Schierloh, Shepperd, Sistrunk, Valeri, Zaborowski

Absent: Rev. Coelho, Elpern, Lemme, Lima, McLachlan, Nolan, Rev. Payton, Rev. Pitts, Radano, Scalzo, Sullivan, Judge Yamin

Also Present: Sharon Calitro (representing D. Elpern), Joseph Sullivan (MCCA), Dawn

Wilson (MCCA), Maureen Biggs (MCCA)

The meeting of the Danbury Housing Partnership was called to order by Chair Carolyn Sistrunk at 3:01 PM.

Ms. Sistrunk reported that the Second Submission portion of the grant application for the Vet House transitional facility had been submitted by Paul Valeri of the Non-Profit Development Corporation of Danbury. The proposal is a collaborative effort of NPDCD, the City of Danbury, the Housing Authority of the City of Danbury and other community partners. Ms. Sistrunk also reported that the Housing Authority had received approval from the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development to proceed with its disposition program involving scattered site properties. The Authority anticipates being able to make public announcements regarding availability of the properties for sale by mid-August.

President Joseph Sullivan of MCCA, Inc. made a presentation to the Partnership regarding their proposal to seek funding through the Next Steps III Supportive Housing Program. Next Steps is the major State program to fund the construction and operation of permanent supportive housing units. The program involves acquisition/construction funding from CHFA, supportive services funding from DMHAS and rent subsidies from DSS. MCCA is currently looking at a development to consist of twelve apartment units. A consultant is assisting MCCA in preparing the application to CHFA which must be submitted by July 25. The project will be managed by MCCA and supportive services provided through DMHAS funding. In response to a suggestion from Ms. Sistrunk, Mr. Sullivan indicated that the project would include a set-aside for veterans in support of the City’s “Housing For Heroes” initiative. Mr. Sullivan asked members for their assistance with data needed to document needs in the community and requested that the individual agencies represented on the Partnership also submit letters of support.

A motion was made by Paul Schierloh that the Partnership authorize the chair to execute a letter of support for the MCCA Next Steps III proposal and certify that the proposal meets specific recommendations in the City’s Ten-Year Plan To End Homelessness. Motion seconded by Sue Zaborowski and passed unanimously.

A motion to approve the minutes of the June 5, 2008 meeting was made by Wayne Shepperd, seconded by Milena Sangut and passed unanimously.

Under committee reports, Mr. Shepperd noted that the Public Relations, Marketing and Education Committee had not met since the prior meeting and that website training had been re-scheduled to July 23, 2008.

Ms. Zaborowski reported that there was no report for the Housing and Community Development Committee as they had to cancel their July 3 meeting.

Denise Valeri reported that the Social and Supportive Services Committee met on July 2 and reviewed various issues involving HMIS, data collection and assessment of needs. A prime focus of the committee at this time is addressing the recommendations in the plan involving the needs of young adults aged 18-24. The committee also discussed proposed awards to be presented at the Celebration Breakfast.

Mr. Schierloh noted that there was no report for the Financial Resources and Fundraising Committee as they were not able to conduct their July 2 meeting.

In the absence of Chair Michael McLachlan, Ms. Valeri also updated the Partnership on the work of the Ad Hoc Celebration Breakfast Committee. The committee held its planning meeting on June 19 and established that the purpose of the breakfast was to raise awareness about efforts to implement the Ten-Year Plan and the work of the Partnership as well as to raise funds for a worthwhile activity. The event is scheduled for October 2, 2008 at Ethan Allen. Ms. Sangut added that the committee is looking to present three awards: one involving efforts regarding permanent supportive housing, one involving supportive services or case management and one involving a business or agency partner award. The committee will be looking for candidates within these categories for their efforts in implementing goals in Danbury’s Ten-Year Plan.

Ms. Sistrunk invited discussion on holding a viewing of the homelessness-themed film “Where God Left His Shoes” in conjunction with the national fund-raising program instituted by America’s Road Home. The possibility of holding the event in November as an additional lead up to Project Homeless Connect had been suggested by the Financial Resources and Fundraising Committee. Ms. Sistrunk formed an ad-hoc committee to study and plan the event. Mark Nolan was appointed chair of the committee. Ms. Valeri also volunteered to serve on the committee. Further committee members will be recruited before the August meeting.

Mr. Schierloh reported that Mr. Nolan had presented the proposal to the HVCEO consultant to undertake the Senior Housing Feasibility Study but had not yet gotten a response. Charlotte Barrows expressed concern over the length of time it was taking to undertake the study and indicated that the Partnership should be devoting more effort to senior housing. Ms. Sistrunk affirmed her interest in pursuing senior housing and indicated that she would follow up between meetings to get an update on the status of the study. She also invited discussion on how the Partnership could best proceed to approach the senior housing issue.

Among the possibilities discussed were to form an ad hoc committee to solely address senior housing, to ask the City to consider initiating a workgroup following the veterans housing model or to designate the Housing and Community Development Committee to take the lead. Ms. Zaborowski recommended that the Housing committee retain the lead role for now noting that the chair is currently preparing an inventory of parcels suitable for affordable housing development. Ms. Sistrunk noted the concurrence of the members present to pursue this course and encouraged the Housing committee to make senior housing a prime focus of their upcoming efforts. Ms. Barrows was also encouraged to invite developers interested in building senior housing to a committee meeting.

With respect to the Veterans Housing Initiative, Mr. Schierloh reported that now that the Vet House application is in, the workgroup will turn its efforts to addressing the permanent housing goals in the Housing For Heroes initiative. The workgroup will also explore alternatives for implementing the Phase I transitional housing piece in the event that the VA does not fund the Per Diem Only grant request for the New Street Shelter submitted by the City.

Ms. Sangut reported on preparations for the Project Homeless Connect event to be held on December 3, 2008 at the Danbury Elks Lodge from 9AM to 4 PM. The Planning Workgroup has been meeting and has developed a time line and budget. The workgroup is also working on a promotional video to create awareness and support for Project Homeless Connect. The workgroup would like to show the video at the Celebration Breakfast and the film event to reach key target audiences of potential supporters and volunteers.

Mr. Schierloh relayed a request from Chair Mark Nolan to inquire as to whether the Partnership was interested in having an information booth at the Taste of Danbury. The cost of the booth is $250.00. The matter was tabled until the August meeting.

Ms. Sistrunk reported that there were no new developments with respect to membership.

Motion to adjourn was made by Sue Zaborowski, seconded by Ms. Sangut and passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 3:57 PM.