Activities and Opinions

Mike Davis, head of the mayor’s homeless commission (Home Again St Johns) welcomed about 30 people to the meeting at the Record at 9AM.

The new printed street card was passed out for edit/approval. No changes were made. If unlisted organizations want to be listed, information needs to be emailed to David Hoak davidhoak@firstcoastunitedway.org  who will include in the next run. The Record formatted and printed a run of 500 and David will provide the .pdf file for distribution to any related website for download.

The point in time homeless survey (required by HUD) will be conducted on January 25, 2011 from 530AM to 8PM. A general overview will be presented at the ESHC meeting on September 16, 2010 at noon at the First United Methodist Church, corner of King and Riberia. The first training will be conducted on January 20, 2011 at First United Methodist at noon with another scheduled for 530PM for volunteers who work. UNF will send volunteers and do the final report as in the past. It was noted by several agencies that the homeless count has only varied by one the past two years.

It was suggested that organizations serving food to the homeless generate a data chart of numbers fed over time to gain insight into ebb and flow of homeless in and out of St Augustine. This could be a topic for the next PUSH, Feed the People, JustFaith or FNB meeting as it will require coordination among multiple groups. Ellen Walden researched several social services databases and noted a 7% increase in services to homeless over the last year. It’ll be interesting to see if the point in time notes only one more homeless person again this year.

Mike Davis noted the need for a committee to organize the homeless services outreach event scheduled for January or February 2011.

Heather Williams invited everyone to the Veterans’ Outreach at the Elks Lodge on August 28th from 9AM to 2PM for a sample of what this entails. Mary Lawrence noted that the US Interagency Council on Homelessness presented the template for this activity 2 years ago at the big meeting at Flagler auditorium and that at that time, Mr Michael German was offering assistance to the community. Mary did not see any reason to re invent the wheel and David Hoak will contact him for support.

Mike Davis noted only four civic groups attended the business committee meeting 8/18/10 and that he is experiencing difficulty getting local business involved.

 Heather Williams offered table space at the Veterans Day event on 11/11/10 at Francis Field. Email David Hoak if your organization would like space here. It’s free. Group decided to observe the stand down on 8/28 before moving forward. .

SIFE from Flagler was aptly represented by the president, co-president and project specialist. These are students who have taken on the project of converting shipping containers into low income housing and have secured a site on Record property and are working with Home Depot for furnishing supplies. Estimated cost: 13k. Their advisor noted they are also seeking a 250k Pepisco grant, the award is based on voting via a website. (info to be forwarded later) Ben Coney offered support on zoning issues. Group indicated a location in West Augustine as a possible factory site with employment for that community. For more information or to offer assistance: sifepresident@flagler.edu.

Jerry Cameron, Assistant county administrator, described the outcome of the ad hoc group to determine best entry point for homeless people entering our community. The group agreed on a single entry point for services and that the county social services department would be the best choice. He noted some changes need to be made within the department and then went further to indicate his excitement and confidence that this current homeless providers group will come up with a solution, albeit not everyone will get everything they want.

Any group doing fundraisers in the near future should email the information to David Hoak for inclusion on the agenda for the next meeting: September 16, 2010 at 9AM. Ron Davidson, Record publisher, noted they have multiple opportunities for event notification and will bring a list to the next meeting.

Meeting adjourned around 1030AM. These are not minutes; they are for information for PUSH members.

Mike Davis, head of Home Again St Johns (the mayor’s commission on ending homelessness) welcomed everyone.

A discussion and review of the sample street card/brochure handout ensued, with minor changes made. Mary noted the public servings were not listed and location may be subject to change in coming weeks. Committee may be able to include, depending on time needed for the city to respond with an alternate site. Mike suggested also posting location, dates and times on appropriate sites like PUSH, Feed the People and FNB St Augustine. Jackie Rude, ESHC, suggested a separate page listing in local phone books. Heather Andrews, VA, said an insert in the Record would be helpful. Mike Davis also wants the finalized street card/brochure in .pdf format for all agency websites.

Other members noted there were several labor pools still operating and not listed. David Hoak requested this information be emailed to him. The Record will design and print for free.

Heather Andrews gave a short presentation on the Veterans Stand Down scheduled for 8/28/10 from 9AM to 2PM at the Elks Lodge on the island. The Veterans Council and other vet organizations are sponsoring and they hope for 100. They will have transportation from VA clinic, Labor Ready (Lewis Speedway and SR 16) and St Francis House. They will have supplies like sleeping bags, hygiene kits, sunscreen, bug spray and application/screening services. There is a flyer and a volunteer sheet which I will scan and provide to anyone interested. I also have several copies to hand out and supposedly local law enforcement will as well. This is a big deal, supported at many levels. I hope PUSH members will find time to come out and support this effort.

New St Francis House complex: Mike reported the HASJ commission is still waiting for a budget from St Francis House and that SFH Board member Jon Benoit is working on this. Ali, from SFH, reported that the application for zoning is being resubmitted to the county for the firehouse property on South Dixie Highway. Asst County Administrator Jerry Cameron noted the planning and zoning hearing for this project is tentatively scheduled for September. Advocates for this move to this location need to plan on turning out in support at this hearing. More information will be sent out when the day/time is set. If it fails, there could be an appeal hearing in November resulting in a final decision. The last option at that point would be a lawsuit. St Francis House also needs to present an actual model of what this facility would look like and comprise. The county needs to see actual plans.

Point in Time survey: David Hoak noted this is a HUD requirement, performed every two years, to ascertain a 24 count of homeless people in the region (in this case, our county). Mike Davis asked Jackie Rude (ESHC and the agency who conducts this count) to provide the plan to the next providers’ meeting in August. Mary (PUSH) suggested longer and better training and setting training meetings at night so working people could volunteer and attend to be trained. The count is scheduled for Jan 25, 2011.

County wide services stand down: Mike Davis spoke of having a “services agencies expo” and numerous site suggestions were offered. Mary (PUSH) suggested early January as possible date as holidays will have passed, volunteers could be solicited for the point in time survey and any homeless attending could be informed of the importance of the upcoming count at the end of January. Committee seemed to agree.

Community/Candidates’ Educational Forum on Housing and Homelessness: Not presented at this meeting, flyers were available and I’m including here because PUSH had tried to sponsor such an event in 08 with only one candidate agreeing to appear. Details:

October 12, 2010
5:30 PM
St Paul AME Church
85 MLK Ave

Sponsored by: ESHC, St Francis House
and Missions Committee, St Paul AME Church

Barbara Dodson, ESHC, is point of contact: 824.6623

These are not official minutes. These are notes to inform PUSH members of activities of the homeless service providers’ component of the overall HASJ commission.

Members representing a coalition of groups dedicated to feeding hungry people in our community met with John Regan to discuss alternative serving sites to the gazebo at the Plaza de Constitucion.

Terry (Food Not Bombs), Becca and Sabrina (Feed the People), Laura (restaurant/business coalition organizer), Spike and JT (houseless), Al and Olivia Deinhart (Just Faith St Anastasia), Regine (Resurrection Episcopal Protestant Church), Mary (PUSH), Janet (individual associated with Anchor Faith) were in attendance.

Terry explained the purpose of the request for the meeting, intending to resolve city issues with use of the plaza for serving before it becomes an expensive litigated issue. John Regan gave his background leading to his familiarity with homelessness: personal and professional, including his position on the board of St Francis House.

The group was in agreement that members of the homeless community are not treated with respect and dignity at St Francis House.

Numbers of servings have increased over the last three years. It was noted most week nights see 40-60 people and Wednesdays and Sundays are especially busy, with some Sundays seeing over 150 hungry people. It was noted there is never any trouble, the group, assisted by the homeless, always clean up, tourists often stop by and are impressed at the activity, sometimes offering money to offset costs.

Al raised the idea of tables and chairs for people to sit and eat. John noted he would look into potential issues with that idea.

Discussion of panhandling ensued. Not really relevant to what this group does.

Mary encouraged Mr Regan to change the narrative with the business committee tasked by the mayor almost 2 years ago to find a solution for homelessness. The positive aspects of feeding hungry people unconditionally reflect well on the community and businesses need to see and appreciate this.

Two sites were suggested by Mr Regan for the group’s consideration:
The north side of the parking garage and behind the Lightner. Members of the group were tasked with surveying both sites and emailing their choice to Mary marylawrence@bellsouth.net. She will then contact John by Friday July 30 with the group’s consensus. He will then research possibilities with his staff and report back to the group as soon as possible.

The third meeting of the homelessness services providers took place two weeks later than schedule, on June 24 v June 10 at the Record conference room at 9AM.

New Home Again St Johns (mayor’s original commission on homelessness name) leader Mike Davis welcomed everyone and updated the worrisome and meager progress of the parallel business community group. He stated some business leaders have “hung in there” while others no longer attend and he is soliciting new members of the business community to work on this aspect of a community wide, comprehensive solution to homelessness. He feels this business group needs “reconfigured”.

Becky Stringer, from Betty Griffith House, went over a draft of a street card and agency brochure of updated and relevant services to our homeless. It is named “Opening Doors” after the recently released US Interagency Council on Homelessness ten year plan, available on their website: www.usich.gov Good luck with this; it’s 75 pages .pdf. Members of this group provided corrections and suggestions and it’s back to the drawing board, for the second time.

Mary from PUSH noted the scarcity of listed faith based groups serving the homeless on the draft brochure. Mike requested everyone email David Hoak davidhoak@firstcoastunitedway.org with name and contact for any group serving food, providing services from the faith based community. David noted, after three months, we are still in early stages. Darrell Chauncy, when addressed by Mary, admitted Memorial Presbyterian is serving homeless dinners once a month. Ann Breidenstein, UW, noted these organizations should also go on the 211 help line list.

Mike Davis suggested agencies consider being linked to United Way website.

St Augustine Police Department discussed their family reunification program, which provides money for transportation to send people home to a verified family member at the destination. Must have no outstanding warrants and a receiving party. 825.1070

Renee Morris, St Francis House, was asked for an update on the relocation. She noted they were in the permitting process, that Vets 4 Vets were working with them and that county sheriff is considering a substation at the new location. She regaled the group with another success story, although the man is since deceased.

Mary noted the homeless services providers group probably is busy and is doing good work helping people, but with heat indexes in the 100’s, bugs and snakes in the woods, there does not seem to be a sense of urgency in our mission and at our meetings.

Diane Gilbert noted it would be helpful if the structure of any projects was already aligned with the federal guidelines released in the USICH report.

Melissa Strohminger, Betty Griffin House, gave a live presentation of the Homeless Management Information System, an updated and easy to use database to track homeless services. Required by federal and state for funding, she encouraged agencies present to get trained and use the database to facilitate reporting and spur funding opportunities. Several agencies noted they use their own databases and do not have personnel to do double entry.

Bishop Ian Anderson, Resurrection Episcopal Protestant diocese, noted frustration with lack of response to the many different churches he’s contacted for the last 18 months in an effort to coordinate services provided by the faith based community. David Hoak asked again for interested faith based groups to be made aware of and invited to these meetings via an email to him. (see above)

Jerry Cameron, Assistant County Administrator in charge of services, noted the need for a central entry point for services and set up a sub committee to identify the best place for newly homeless arrivals to get help.

Meeting adjourned around 10:15AM.

This is a homeless services providers meeting that works alongside the business community’s parallel committee. Home Again St Johns is the name given to the mayor’s commission to end homelessness, which he formed in November 2008.

The business group went nowhere for over a year, losing its chair, and holding meetings of sub committees where assigned “leaders” did not even bother to show up. Now they have a new chair, Mike Davis, who seems energized and ready to take on the challenge. As posted earlier, when I asked at the last meeting of the services providers, on a scale of 1 to 10, what progress was being made on the business side, Mike didn’t hesitate to say “2”. Not a good sign.

Now, 48 hours in advance of the services providers meeting (only a monthly event anyway), with the promise of a services “street card” and a booklet for providers to distribute, plus a demonstration of the HMIS software by Allie, who is proficient and volunteered to present, the meeting was postponed for TWO WEEKS with no reason given.

I look at everyday that people sleep outside in the heat, with the bugs and the rain and the animals as a crisis. I look at everyday when people are losing their homes, getting out of prison with no prospects or support or just needing food for their families or decent clothes to apply for jobs as a crisis.

Where is the urgency of these commissions, these agencies, these “leaders”? It seems like since they are not affected directly, having jobs and homes and food, it can all wait another two weeks. What’s another two weeks?

This is unacceptable to me and should be unacceptable to anyone with a moral conscience.