Rensselaer CoC/ESG Business Meeting
Date/Time: August 19th, 2-3 p.m.
Location: YWCA Troy
Attendance: Pat Dinkerlaker, Tracy Pitcher, Tim Mattice, Sara Ryan, Michelle Abel, Kacie Hull, Tom
Coates, Daquetta Jones, Kevin O’Connor, Wendy Walhberg, Tess Cleary, Kathleen Ide, Claudia Vega.
I.
Committee Updates
Outreach Committee
The committee met. The Rank and Review tool and the appeals process were reviewed. A
process and timeline for R&R was established. All was approved at last CoC meeting.
Next Meeting: September 12th
Coordinated Assessment Committee
The committee met on August 6th. The committee plan outlines a two-stage standardized intake
tool designed for entry into CoC related services. The tool will include a Homeless Triage
Assessment and a Community Placement Assessment Tool. “No wrong Door” process is the
proposed approach, and an electronic (cloud-based) system is recommended by the committee.
Households applying for services should receive thorough Informed Consent and agree to
release information to the various agencies involved in coordinated assessment within the CoC.
The committee discussed confidentiality concerns, and it was proposed that the Health Homes
model for Release of Information Consent be reviewed and potentially utilized as a baseline.
Next Meeting: September 10th
Goals Committee
The Goals committee met. The committee reviewed system performance measures as they
pertain to the whole CoC, as well as the relationship and data sharing amongst the Outreach,
Data and Goals committee and how they will support the creation of a monitoring tool.
Next meeting: August 20th
Ad Hoc Action Plan Committee
Committee has not met yet. They will meet by mid-September.
Data Committee
The Data Quality Plan has been reviewed, and a vote by membership will be casted next
meeting. HMIS/APR memos are being sent out to agencies after being reviewed by the Data
Committee. A letter was sent to the community to understand the process, expectations and
accountability.
Next Meeting: July 22nd
Ten Year Plan Ad Hoc Committee
Committee has been trying to get in touch with Deb Byers. Also, a meeting is being planned to
discuss changes, accomplishments and future plans. Kathy Jimino will hopefully be contacted by
the October semiannual meeting in October.
HMIS Advisory
Committee meets quarterly.
II.
HUD Ranking Reports/Nofa Schedule
Cares presented a document with the CoC individual scores. The scores were slightly lower than
last year. This may be attributed to the tool being a little more stringent. CoC members will
receive their scores by end of day and CARES will offer a debriefing if necessary. Debriefing
meetings have to occur by end of day Tuesday August 26th. The NOFA is expected to be released
to the public by the end of September. HMIS has not been placed yet within the ranking. Last
year HMIS was placed at the bottom of Tier 1. The planning grant will have to be applied for as
a new project (HMIS $16,000 Planning $36,000)
III.
STEHP
The group discussed STEHP process. It was shared that more group discussion prior to submittal
would have been helpful, and that a possible comprehensive chart could be made available for
all applicants regarding CoC STEHP pertinent data.
Rensselaer CoC Community Meeting
Date/Time: August 19th, 3-4 p.m.
Location: YWCA Troy
Attendance: Pat Dinkerlaker, Tracy Pitcher, Tim Mattice, Sara Ryan, Michelle Abel, Tom Coates,
Daquetta Jones, Kevin O’Connor, Wendy Walhberg, Kathleen Ide, Dom Sondrini, Jaime Forero, Geoff
Raiti, Joe Sluszka, Claudia Vega.
I.
II.
III.
IV.
Agency Updates
Agencies shared their current status, upcoming events, and successes.
Data Quality plan
Data Quality Plan was reviewed by the Board at previous meeting. The community will review
and comment next meeting. Due to time concerns, this was not done on this occasion.
Mayor’s Challenge
Six Mayors are taking the challenge to end chronic veteran’s homelessness by the end of 2015.
Troy, Schenectady, Albany, Binghamton, Utica, and Saratoga Springs will be participating in
getting every veteran housed by the end of next year. In collaboration with the VA and utilizing
all resources available, veterans from these cities should be placed in housing. Identifying
partners and getting all available support will be part of the plan, funding opportunities
(H.O.M.E), eligibility criteria, as well as a Point in Time Count to establish the actual challenge. A
task meeting was scheduled for Wednesday the 3rd of September to take place at Troy’s City
Hall, and everyone who wants to collaborate is welcome.
H.O.M.E funds for RRH efforts
Rapid Re-housing funds are available for rental assistance. A meeting will be held Tuesday
September 9th at 2p.m to discuss strategies and potential participants in running these funds as
TBRA.
Next Board Meeting: October 21th, 2014
Next ESG/Community Meeting: September 16thth, 2014
Semi-Annual Membership Meeting: October 21th, 2014
Respectfully Submitted by
Claudia Vega, CoC Associate, CARES, Inc.