CITY COUNCIL MEETING June 6, 2017 AGENDA
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
CITY COUNCIL MEETING June 6, 2017 The meeting will be called to order at 7:30 P.M. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE & PRAYER ROLL CALL Curran, Chieffalo, M. Esposito, Stanley, Seabury, Levy, Wetmore, Fox, Priola, DiGilio, Cavo, Saadi, Visconti, Palma, Arconti, J. Esposito, Perkins, Chianese, Rotello, Cammisa and Scozzafava PUBLIC SPEAKING MINUTES - Minutes of the Council Meeting held May 2, 2017 CONSENT CALENDAR AGENDA 1. COMMUNICATION – Appointment to the Lake Kenosia Commission 2. COMMUNICATION – E-Commerce Exchange Area(s) 3. COMMUNICATION – Appropriation to Ambulance Fund 4. COMMUNICATION – Annual Suspense List 5. COMMUNICATION – Plumtrees Road-Right of Way & Discontinuance of Road 6. COMMUNICATION – Donation – Bicycle Safety Signs 7. COMMUNICATION – Donation – Police Department 8. RESOLUTION - Application for Funds – Octagon House 9. RESOLUTION - Newtown Savings Bank Grant 10. RESOLUTION - Speed Enforcement Grant – Police Department 11. RESOLUTION - 2017 Responsible Growth and TOD Program 12. RESOLUTION - Food Safety Program 13. RESOLUTION - TB Prevention - Health Department 14. RESOLUTION - Well Testing Program 15. RESOLUTION - Coverage for Director of Health 16. AD HOC REPORT – Women’s Center Property Transfer – 89 Rose Street 17. AD HOC REPORT – Sewer and Water Extension of Time – Great Plain Road 18. DEPARTMENT REPORTS – Police, Fire, Health-Housing & Welfare, Dream Homes, Public Works, UNIT, Elderly, Library, Fire-Statement of Condition ADJOURNMENT Copies of Agenda Items are available in the Legislative Assistant’s Office Dream Homes Community Center To: Mayor Mark Boughton and the City Council From: Elke Sweeney, LCSW, Housing Advocate Re: April 2017 Monthly Report CC: ARC Executive Director & ARC Board of Directors I. Program Synopsis Per the proposal endorsed by Mayor Boughton and the City Council, Dream Homes Community Center (DHCC) was established at ARC to serve as the Point of Entry for people who are homeless or low-income renters, and to facilitate first-time home ownership for people with hard-to-serve backgrounds. Program Updates Dream Homes Community Center continues to persevere in the efforts to assist Danbury’s “Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness”. Through our Coordinated Access Services, Dream Homes Community Center has served 450 people in the city of Danbury alone since July 1, 2016. Point of Entry Since July 1, 2016, DHCC has provided services to 738 people through the Point of Entry at ARC. The following is a breakdown by town: Town This Month Year to Date (April. 1- April 30, 2017) (July 1, 2016 – April 30, 2017) Danbury 41 (17 households) 450 Bethel 0 (households) 36 Brookfield 0 (household) 19 New Fairfield 0 (household) 22 New Milford 19 (4 households) 119 Newtown 3 (2 households) 12 Redding 0 (0 households) 2 Ridgefield 2 (1 households) 13 Sherman 0 (0 households) 4 Other Towns 8 (3 households) 61 Total 73 (27 households) 738 ppl Continued on Next Page April 2017 Outreach Highlights: Dream Homes Housing Advocates attended the following meetings and trainings: 1. Met with landlords & performed inspections for clients’ potential homes. 2. Continuum of Care (COC) meeting to discuss prioritization of Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) Vouchers to be used for housing chronically homeless individuals with a disability in Danbury. 3. Housing First Collaborative to discuss how clients’ chronicity of homelessness and VI- SPDAT scores will be used to select individuals for PSH and learn about program model designed to support newly housed clients. 4. Housing Placement Committee (HPC) to collaborate with other housing providers to determine which clients will receive the PSH Vouchers. 5. Statewide Coordinated Access Network to collaborate with providers from other counties on service models to best fit client needs. 6. Housing sub-committee for the Danbury Housing Partnership assisting with creating and seeking housing for population served. 7. Opening Doors of Fairfield County (ODFC) Key community partners within Opening Doors, meets monthly. ODFC organizes specific deadlines to end homelessness in the Fairfield County area for veterans, families with children and youth, and people who are chronically homeless. 8. Statewide Rapid Re-Housing Meetings 9. Collaborate with CCEH and ODFC for Be Homeful campaign II. Because of the City Grant, the Point of Entry was able to leverage and renew additional funds to help end and prevent homelessness, including: 1. Homeless Educational Grants: Provides costs toward tuition, child care, school supplies, transportation, and/or uniforms while participants are attending school. Clients must meet HUDs definition of homelessness or have proof of homelessness within the last 18 months. Case management is provided for 3 months to implement budgeting & financial planning. 2. Vouchers 1: Provides rent for chronically homeless, one of which has one member of the household with a disability. 3. Vouchers 2: Provides rent for veterans who were chronically homeless & one of which the majority of rent is paid for a family with a veteran who was chronically homeless per DMHAS contract. III. Program Highlights—Story of one family/individual served by DHCC this month A Point of Entry and Coordinated Access Success Story (Names changed to maintain confidentiality) Liz was connected to ARC through The City of Danbury’s Homeless Point of Entry, 211’s Coordinated Access Program. Liz and her four-year-old daughter were literally homeless, and recently fled a domestic violence situation. Liz and her daughter were experiencing some barriers in achieving safe and secure housing. Liz had steady income however, not enough to sustain monthly rent on her own. Furthermore, Liz has never experienced independent living and was disconnected from resources that could assist with housing stability. ARC’s Housing Advocate assessed Liz and her daughter’s housing and economic needs. The Housing Advocate helped guide Liz to connect with the Department of Social Services and apply for SNAP (financial food assistance) Furthermore, ARC’s Housing Advocate was able to connect Liz to The Community Action Agency for energy assistance. Throughout the Housing Advocate’s assessment, it was identified that Liz had a significant history of domestic violence and trauma. ARC’s Housing Advocate connected Liz and her daughter to the local Domestic Violence Shelter for temporary housing. Due to Liz’s homeless and mental health status, ARC’s Housing Advocate was able to apply for specialized subsidy housing through the Connecticut 811 (CT 811) program which provides subsidized housing for individuals who are homeless and have a mental health diagnosis. Liz and her daughter met the criteria for the CT 811 program, and ARC’s Housing Advocate assisted with the application process. Once Liz qualified and was accepted into the CT 811 program. Furthermore, ARC’s Housing Advocate assisted with budget coaching. ARC’s Housing Advocate served as a guide, and support system in finding safe, secure, and sanitary housing, and connected Liz to an apartment in Brookfield. ARC’s Housing Advocate worked closely with the State of CT Department of Housing, and the Landlord of the Brookfield apartment to explain how CT 811 worked, and assisted with rent. The landlord was happy to know that this program would ensure steady rental income. Liz was able to move in within 3 months of her housing assessment at ARC. ARC’s Housing Advocate met with Liz and her landlord and conducted an inspection to ensure the safety and security of the apartment. On the day of move-in, ARC reviewed Tenant’s Rights/Responsibilities. ARC’s Housing Advocate set-up a care plan for Liz’s housing and case-management needs. Liz was income stable without which she could not have achieved housing. ARC also assisted with 100% of the Security Deposit. Liz is grateful for the support, assistance, and advocacy ARC could provide. She was provided with a Welcome Basket which includes bathroom and kitchen items (valued at $125). Liz and her daughter, Gertrude, are looking forward to their continued support and case management from ARC. CITY OF DANBURY DANBURY, CONNECTICUT 06810 DEPARTMENT OF ELDERLY SERVICES COMMISSION ON AGING ELMWOOD HALL 10 Elmwood Place (203) 797-4686 DATE: May 23, 2017 TO: Honorable Mayor Mark D. Boughton Members of the City Council FROM: Susan M. Tomanio, LCSW Director of Elderly Services RE: Department Report City Council Meeting Reporting Period:(4/24/17 – 5/22/17) Department of Elderly Services - 783 - Call Center (Categories – Health/Wellness - 4, Leisure Time Activities - 10, Lifelong Learning - 5, Benefits/Support - 336, Special Events - 34, Transportation - 51, Membership - 9, Miscellaneous - 334) Elmwood Hall Senior Center – 275 seniors, 1,836 regular programs/services Special Programs: Dr. Susann Varano “All Pain is Not Created Equal”, in partnership with Candlewood Valley Health Care, Your Life Your Legacy: Lunch and Learn in partnership with Green’s Funeral Home, Memories of the Great War: WWI with Navy Veteran Jack Scully, Brain Food in partnership with Maplewood Assisted Living, Spring Nature Series: Spring and Summer Gardening Tips with Dr. Yonghao Li of the CT Agricultural Experiment Station, The Ambassadors Musical performance in partnership with the Danbury Music Center, Senior Center Garden Club – Spring Planting Offered Daily, Bi-Weekly, Weekly, Bi-Monthly or Monthly: Leisure Time Activities: Mah Jongg, Bridge, Pinochle, Quilt Club, Knit and Crochet Club, Art, Sports Talk, Woodcarving, BINGO, Timeless Trivia, Page Turner’s Book Club, Chorus,