Western Massachusetts Network to End Homelessness Leadership Council

Western Massachusetts Network to End Homelessness

Leadership Council Data & Performance Measurement Service Coordination Families Community Engagement Individuals Network Diagram Fiscal Sponsor PVRVC

Affiliated Committees & Workgroups • • Western Mass Interagency Council Three Continua of Care Regional Faith-Based Action Initiative Supportive Housing Development Committee

Western Region ICHH Funding 18 month pilot project 310 Families 38 Individuals

Innovations for serving families • Assistance at multiple front door entry points (DTA/DHCD offices, Housing Court) • Virtual and site-specific intake • Integrated assessment process to ensure that the right resources are targeted to homeless and at-risk families as quickly and efficiently as possible • Collaborative agency review of homeless families, maximizing use and distribution of available resources • Working with housing authorities to support at-risk families

Family Service Providers • Hampden County ▫ Hap. Housing, Inc. (also serving Hampshire County): 155 families ▫ 80 Tier 1, 58 Tier 2, 17 Tier 3 and Tier 4 ▫ Valley Opportunity Council: 40 families ▫ 20 Tier 1, 20 Tier 2 ▫ New England Farm Workers’ Council: 35 families ▫ 20 Tier 1, 15 Tier 2

Family Service Providers • Hampshire and Franklin County ▫ Community Action: 18 families ▫ 10 Tier 1, 8 Tier 2 • Franklin County ▫ Franklin County Regional Housing and Redevelopment Authority: 22 families ▫ 10 Tier 1, 8 Tier 2, 4 Tier 3 and 4 • Berkshire County ▫ Berkshire Housing Development Corporation (via HAP as fiscal agent): 40 families ▫ 10 Tier 1, 8 Tier 2, 4 Tier 3 and 4

Innovations for serving individuals • Expanded REACH (Regional Engagement and Assessment for Chronically Homeless) program • HUD Shelter Plus Care subsidies for permanent affordable housing to assist hard-to-serve homeless persons with disabilities • Project based program offering greater control and flexibility for lower threshold housing • Increased case management offering greater coverage and flexibility including after hours coverage

Individual Service Providers • Hampden County ▫ Mental Health Association: 11 individuals ▫ In Springfield, all Tier 4 • Hampshire and Franklin County ▫ Service. Net: 12 individuals ▫ 6 in Hampshire, 6 in Franklin; 8 Tier 3, 4 Tier 4 ▫ Center for Human Development: 4 individuals ▫ In Amherst, 1 Tier 3, 3 Tier 4 • Berkshire County ▫ The Brien Center: 6 individuals ▫ 3 tier 3, 3 Tier 4

Leadership Council Chair: Dr. Evan Dobelle, President, Westfield State College Vice-Chair: Lynne Wallace, Principal, Dietz & Co. Architects Fr. Stan Aksamit, Our Lady of Peace Paul Bailey, Springfield Partners for Comm. Action Jane Banks, Center for Human Development Andrew Baker, Hilltown CDC Tim Brennan, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission Rebecca Caplice, Greenfield Savings Bank Martin Chaisson, INOE Technologies Dave Christopolis, Berkshire Comm. Action Steve Como, Soldier On Kathy Damon, The Carson Center for Human Services Senator Ben Downing Linda Dunlavy, Franklin CR Council of Govts Judge Robert Fields, W. Div. Housing Court Bob Fleischner, Center for Public Representation Davod Gadaire, Career. Point Peter Gagliardi, HAPHousing Joanne Glier, Franklin County Regional Housing and Redevelopment Authority Brad Gordon, Berkshire County Regional Housing Authority Chris Haley, The Brien Center Steve Huntley, Valley Opportunity Council Lori Ingraham, Easthampton Savings Bank Peg Keller, City of Northampton John Klenakis, UMASS Donohue Institute Charlie Knight Gerry Mc. Cafferty, City of Springfield Betty Medina Lichtenstein, Enlace de Familias Andrea Miller, Service. Net Andrew Morehouse, Food Bank of W Mass Rebecca Muller, Grants. Work Yasmin Otero, Dept. of Transitional Assistance Joe Peters, Universal Plastics Jerry Ray, Mental Health Association Tom Salter, New England Farm Workers’ Council Jane Sanders, Community Action Linda Stacy, United Way of Franklin County Liz Sullivan, Dept. of Mental Health Mayor Mike Sullivan, City of Holyoke

Service Coordination: to maximize the effective and efficient delivery of services to homeless families and individuals Family Services Individual Services Meets 2 nd Tuesday of the month, 1 -3 pm DTA Office, Holyoke Monthly meetings on a county basis, coordinated by David Modzelewski of DMH. All providers serving families welcome. All providers serving individuals welcome.

Data and Performance Measurement: to oversee data collection and evaluation systems Has not yet convened. Applications for Data Analyst position due 9/14. Current members (based on previous LC meeting): • • • Tim Brennan, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission Dave Christopolis, Berkshire Community Action Lori Ingraham, Easthampton Savings Bank Charlie Knight Others?

Community Engagement: to market and expand Network’s reach and impact Has not yet convened. Current members (based on previous LC meeting): • • Paul Bailey, Springfield Partners for Community Action Andrew Baker, Hilltown CDC Bob Fleishner, Center for Public Representation David Gadaire, Career. Point Charlie Knight Mayor Mike Sullivan, City of Holyoke Lynne Wallace, Dietz &Co. Architects Others?

Leadership Council Membership Workgroup: to review and decide upon LC composition “Convened” once by email to determine addition of ICHH funded providers to Council. Current members (based on previous LC meeting): • Martin Chaisson, INOE Technologies • Steve Como, Soldier On • Dr. Evan Dobelle, Westfield State College • Peg Keller, City of Northampton • Michael Konig, Westfield State College • Jane Sanders, Community Action • Lynne Wallace, Dietz & Co. Architects Recommendation: subsume into Steering Committee duties.

Steering Committee: to provide overall guidance to the Leadership Council, Coordinator and Network as a whole Relevant criteria to consider: • Geographical diversity • Continua of Care representation • Committee representation (e. g. , by chairs of LC Committees, also accomplishes balance of community/provide representation) • Manageable number • Available for additional meetings, emails, quick turnaround time

Contact Information To express interest in a Committee, provide feedback or ask questions, please contact: Pamela Schwartz Director of Regional Coordination Western Mass. Network to End Homelessness pschwartz 77@gmail. com 413 -219 -5658