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

Minutes of January 8, 2009

Present: Schierloh, Nolan, Barrows, Zaborowski, Scalzo, Lemme, Payton, Shepperd,

Sangut

Absent: Deschenes, Elpern, Lima, McLachlan, Reese, Sistrunk, Sullivan, Valeri,

Yamin

Also Present: Mark Hasskarl, Danbury Public Library

The meeting of the Danbury Housing Partnership was held in City Hall, Common Council Caucus Room, on January 8, 2009. Chairman Mark Nolan called the meeting to order at 3:05pm. The minutes of December 11, 2008 was reviewed by all present members. A motion to accept the minutes was made by G. Lemme, seconded by Rev. Payton, passed unanimously and placed on file.

Under public comments, Mr. Mark Hasskarl, Director of the Danbury Public Library, expressed his concern for the homeless population staying in the library during all open hours. Mr. Hasskarl is attending the Housing Partnership meeting hoping to gain some answers and insight as to how to handle the library becoming a “shelter” for the homeless. There have been problems associated with this population staying in the library at all hours, such as hypodermic needles, bottles of alcohol, fighting, inappropriate language, etc.

Mr. Hasskarl states that his staff is not knowledgeable or trained to handle the situations that are occurring in the library due to the homeless people. The police are contacted for emergency purposes, but the Director is asking for guidance from the Partnership. Mr. Nolan suggests that the appropriate social agencies be called for assistance and that referrals with contact numbers be provided to the homeless to assist them in receiving the proper services.

The shelter is now open during the daytime to assist the homeless and provide the needed services, including a new employment program associated with the Department of Labor One Stop on 152 West Street. This is a 3 phase program hoping that individuals who are tested will eventually pass an 8th grade equivalence including training for ServSafe Qualified Food Operator Certification and enrollment in an internship, workshop and final employment.

The Chairman reported that the Executive Committee met this week to review the revisions to the Ten Year Plan of all subcommittee’s. Two committee reports have been reviewed, short and long term goals have been proposed/changed/suggested. The next two committee reports will be reviewed by the Executive Committee and commented on.

Mr. Nolan made a suggestion to the general membership that the Housing Partnership should meet every two months instead of monthly. The advice is that the subcommittee continues to meet every month for discussion and recommendations to both the Partnership and the other subcommittee’s.

Mr. Nolan will assist the Financial Resources and Fundraising Committee since Mr. Shepperd has added job duties assisting the Mayor. The Housing Partnership website is being addressed to include more articles to increase awareness of housing issues, events, news articles, etc. Information was presented to the Partnership regarding the Housing Authority vouchers for vet housing, training in Florida, the overflow shelter on Maple Avenue by the Jericho Project.

Discussion entailed the need for more emergency housing for families. There is presently a grant from DSS to help families and individuals to permanent housing. There will be more information on this program at the next scheduled meeting.

Committee reports were provided to Partnership members:

  1. Public Relations, Marketing and Education Committee: Mr. Schierloh reported that the committee met on December 18th to discuss the Partnership website. The committee also discussed the Project Homeless Connect event and concluded that the event was excellent, except for the sound system. The committee would like to receive some written information from the homeless person who had a difficult time being heard about her experience as being homeless. Once it is in writing, we can place it on the website. The committee also discussed a mass mailing list that can be utilized for a multitude of functions.

  1. Housing and Community Development Committee: Mr. Scalzo reported that the committee met this afternoon. The Committee discussed the HVECO report, the revision/update to the Ten Year Plan and the possibility of having Mr. David Fink as a guest speaker within the next month or two. The Committee also discussed possible additional members to the committee.

  1. Social and Supportive Services Committee: Reverend Payton stated that the committee met today. The Committee discussed revisions and recommendations to the Ten Year Plan. Karl Meyers gave the Dream Homes report. The Committee also reported to the Partnership that the Greater Danbury Continuum of Care will conduct the annual Point In Time Homeless Count on Wednesday, January 28, 2009 from 7pm – 11pm. Training will take place on January 22nd at Western Connecticut Mental Health Network located at 78 Triangle Street. The Committee also had two guest speakers from Catholic Charities who discussed their agencies duty of case management for the City’s veteran housing. The Committee is also looking into adding members. The Committee also discussed information needed to present to the student population on homelessness to the High School, Westconn, the problems associated with the age group of 18-24 year olds, etc.

  1. Financial Resources and Fundraising Committee: Mr. Schierloh reported that the Committee has not met. Mr. Schierloh provided information on the February 10th at 2:00pm deadline for the City of Danbury’s Community Development Block Grant applications. Anyone interested in applying should contact the City’s Finance Department. Also, the Housing Authority has developed a project based voucher program and is looking for proposals. The Partnership is submitting a proposal for veteran units at Vet Housing but is open to any organization or landlord/developer who wishes to propose vouchers for either an existing facility or new construction/rehab projects. This Saturday is the proposals/application deadline.

Mr. Schierloh reported on some new housing projects in Danbury that may be producing housing. Robert Botelho would like to develop affordable housing on Osborne Street. He is committed to a Phase I which would involve 4 supportive housing units that he will build with the Mental Health Association. He also has the opportunity to develop additional 32-35 units depending on how it is laid out in the property. When Mr. Botelho approached the Partnership, it was recommended that he incorporate veteran, senior and family housing for his housing proposal.

Priority tasks that need to be undertaken by the Committee’s have not been fully addressed by the Executive Committee. The Partnership will continue to re-message Homelessness Initiatives and campaign the community on this effort. A mass e-mail system and capability is being addressed through the City’s IT department.

Ms. Sangut provided information on the Continuum of Care Point in Time Count. New Neighborhoods will be presenting their development at the January meeting.

Mr. Nolan indicated that the Mayor will be contacted to see what direction the property of 120 Main Street will be taking. The annual report to the Common Council will have to be submitted for the April meeting. All information will have to be given by mid March.

It is not too early for each of the Committee’s to review and update the progress made in the past year on tasks of the Ten Year Plan.

The next scheduled Partnership meeting will be on March 5, 2009. Each of the committees should submit their annual report at this meeting and the Partnership will include the revisions to the Ten Year Plan at the same time for the April Council meeting. Notices will be sent out to all members of the Partnership regarding all that was discussed.

A motion to adjourn was made by P. Schierloh, seconded by S. Zaborowski, passed unanimously.