Greater Danbury Continuum of Care
Meeting Minutes
April 14, 2009
Present: Joe Shea, Danbury Hospital; Rachel Bond Torpey, Interlude; Peg Molina, New Milford Social Services; Michele Conderino, Catholic Charities; Michelle Cook, C.C.O.M; Yeharar Vielot, CDLI; Karl Myers; DHCC; Mark Define, CHD/Ct Outreach West; Milena Sangut, WCMHN
Program Updates
Ten Year Plan: Milena and Karl Myers reported that the Ten Year Plan report was submitted to the Common Council. Recommendation to changes to the plan was sent to an Ad Hoc Committee for public comment. Recommendations were made for the City of Danbury to partially/fully fund Project Homeless Connect and the Partnership breakfast.
Point of Entry: No new reports
HMIS
Reports: Karl Myers distributed Memorandum of Understanding that needs to be signed by each HMIS participating agency including the CoC for CCEH. These will be signed on a yearly basis.
Karl also distributed and reviewed the HMIS report for the month of March.
Data Sharing: Milena and Karl reported that a discussion took place at the Statewide HMIS Steering Committee whether HMIS will be moving from a closed system to an open system of data sharing. More discussion will follow at the statewide level and will be discussed in more detail at the continuum levels.
Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Update: Milena reported that DECD and DSS are in the process of making amendments to their Consolidated plan to submit to HUD by 5/15. They will be holding two meetings for public comment on 4/16 and 4/17. DSS will then issue RFP’s for sub grantees. The National Association to End Homelessness will be holding another audio webcast; Using HPRP to Transform Your Homelessness System - April 16 from 1:00 to 2:30 pm.
Department of Labor
Milena reminded everyone that our next meeting will be held on Thursday 5/14 at 3pm at the Department of Labor office located at 152 West Street. DOL will do a presentation of their programs and give a tour.
Workgroups
Discharge Planning: Milena reported that the group met this morning and reviewed discharge statistics to the shelter from DOC and the hospital and reviewed data on young adults. Group will meet again in the fall and will review the protocol.
NOFA: No updates
Consumer Focus: Last focus group will be meeting on 4/16 at the City Shelter
Point In Time Count: Michelle reported that numbers are not yet available, but that all unsheltered numbers have been submitted. Still waiting on some unsheltered numbers from other programs. Michele also reported that there is discussion to conduct statewide count every two years at the end of January and holding the count on alternate years at a different time i.e. Spring/Summer using the Soup Kitchen methodology.
Project Homeless Connect: Will convene in May.
Other Business:
Michele Conderino reminded everyone that WesConn will be holding a symposium on housing and homelessness on 4/15 at 2:30pm. Speakers will be Michele Conderino, Mark Nolan, Diane Randall and Natalie Mathews.
Next Meeting
The next Continuum meeting will be held on Thursday May 14, 2009 at 3pm at the Department of Labor office, located at 152 West Street, Danbury, CT.