Membership Council – Agenda
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
10:00-11:30AM
Palm Square 2nd Floor Conference Room
Attendance: Vella Karman (City of Austin); Natalie Metzger-Smit (LifeWorks); Mitchell Gibbs (Front
Steps); Monica Keller (VA); Ben King (Seton); Jeremy Martin (Chamber of Commerce); Michelle
Wilkinson (EasterSeals); Carlos Rivera (City of Austin); Kimberly Pierce (TCCJ); Darilynn Cardona-Beiler
(ATCIC); Marti Bier (NHCD); Jo Kathryn Quinn (Caritas); Ann Howard; Veronica Neville (ECHO); Becky
Casey (ECHO Staff); Irit Umani (Trinity Center); Ann Denton (ECHO Board); Mandy DeMayo (Housing
Works) Lisa Garcia (HACA); Christine Banks; Susan McDowell (LifeWorks)
February Minutes Approved w/ amendments to attendance
Welcome and Introductions
New Business
o
o
o
Carlos Rivera, Chair
By-Law Review: Chair Elect
Ann Howard, ECHO
 First time to have a 2nd meeting (CoC meets twice a year now) – will elect new
Chair at Spring meeting (Wed. April, 29th – 3-5pm)
Funders Together Forum Update
Ann Denton
 “Funders Together to End Homelessness” – National Network of grant-makers
 Interface between private philanthropy acting as catalyst to make changes; Focus
on system changes and coordinated assessment
 Intention: to educate local funders about philanthropy
 Follow-up?
 David W. Mantra (to make coordinated assessment work):
 Client-centered
 Provider-informed
 Funder-directed
 Data-driven
 Include private philanthropy funders in future planning; what are the gaps in the
public safety net? What gaps do we need private funders to fill?
Poverty Simulation-April 7th-call for volunteers
Ann Howard
 Texas State School of Nursing
Program Updates:
Ann Howard and Veronica Neville
o Coordinated Assessment Update
 9 staff members completed CA (4 ECHO, 1 Caritas, 4 Front Steps); plans to
expand to other teams to reach those not in shelters as well
 VA on board with using CA
 Over 1,000 individuals assessed (891 households)
 CA leads to recommended housing (PSH, RRH, or Minimal intervention); next
step is to determine eligibility for referral

o
o
o
o
Necessary ability to show exactly when/where individuals are being housed
 *School of Social Work working closely with ATCIC
Point in Time Count Review (Veronica Neville)
 415 volunteers – 1,877 individuals experiencing homelessness
 667 unsheltered
 1,210 sheltered
 Fewer transitional housing vouchers caused decrease in sheltered
 Total number of individuals experiencing homelessness decreased, yet number
of both chronically homeless (640) and veterans (238) increased from 2014
 Possible cause: more specific/separate questions
 Difficulty counting persons living in a vehicle – may be beneficial to include living
in a vehicle with VI-SPDAT
 Females (36% of population) – 15% unsheltered were female
 Most youth ever counted
 Focus on 3 numbers:
 PIT Count (Smallest number – 1,877)
 AHAR Count (around 6,000)
 HMIS Count
Update on ECHO Listings and upcoming trainings
Update on Street Medicine
 PATH goes out in the mornings to find unsheltered persons who need to see a
doctor; PATH will begin using CA soon
 Restore Rundberg – Goodwill
HUD NOFA-June/July
 Get data to other providers/agencies
Policy Updates
Ann Howard
o Source of Income
 Senator Watson – Business and Commerce Committee – Bill preventing cities
from allowing renters to refuse tenants due to their method of payment
o Tax Increment Financing for PSH
ADJOURN
Carlos Rivera
Next Meeting: Wednesday, April 15th, 10am-11:30AM, Palm Square 2nd Floor Large Conference Room.