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Municipalities partnering with Nonprofits Public Comment from Flathead Warming CenterAimee Brunckhorst From: Flathead Warming Center FWC <flatheadwarmingcenter@gmail.com> Sent: Wednesday, March 29, 2023 4:48 PM To: Kalispell City Council; Doug Russell Subject: EXTERNAL Municipalities partnering with Nonprofits Attachments: PDF Montana local governments assistance 3.27.23 (2).pdf [NOTICE: This message includes an attachment -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you know the content is safe.] Hello Kalispell City and City Council, I am grateful for every conversation and visit to the Warming Center. Thank you. I have no doubt that everyone really does care. I also have no doubt , we can find ways to work together. Together, we are capable of finding a community solution and making a real difference in our homeless crisis. I believe there is a misunderstanding between our local nonprofits and our local municipalities. Local nonprofits believe local government can and should get involved in the solution. However, it seems our City does not believe it should or can partner in a solution with our local non -profits. I believe this is where we find ourselves in a stalemate. I know this has been the case in discussions I have had with a few of you. In our discussions, I was not able to clearly define what it is that government CAN do. Perhaps, no one has a clear idea of how we can partner. As I had promised a few of you, with help from my peers, I went to work to discover what kind of work between municipalities and nonprofits is happening across the state. Please see the attachment. I was surprised about the amount of funding! Here is what I believe about funding. Funding is not about a government solution! Providing funds is about getting behind the private solutions that are doing the work! Adequate homeless services is a key part of a city's framework! Municipalities who provide funding, at one time may have believed they did not have the funds to do so. Through time, they have learned that they cannot afford NOT to. I am not looking for us to be like other communities. We need solutions that work for OUR community! We are capable of finding solutions 1 together! However, we can learn from other cities, just as we did in the most recent ordinances. Please help us think outside the box. How can we partner? New this week.... Please click on the link: https://www.kbzk.com/news/local-news/city-of-bozeman-strikes-deal-with-developer-for-affordable-housing City of Bozeman strikes deal with developer for affordable housing Thank you for your time. PDF attached. Tanya Horn Executive Director Flathead Warming Center (406) 250-8652 m N Montana City/County Government Involvement Reeardine Homelessness Billings o City of Billings passed a safety mill levy to fund the city's low -barrier shelter through the winter months. City Council approved $210,000 in October 2022 to be given to the Yellowstone County Continuum of Care to allow for shelter operations through April 2023. o Mayor of Billings began Mayor's Committee on Homelessness in 2006, and worked with community partners and stakeholders to complete a 10-year Plan to End Homelessness, "Welcome Home Billings". This group later was re-established as the Yellowstone Continuum of Care as HUD programs required. 0 5-Year Consolidated Plan for City of Billings (2020-2024) includes sections: `Housing Needs Assessment: Disproportionately Greater Need NA- 15—NA-35', `Homeless Needs Assessment', `Housing Market Analysis: Public and Assisted Housing', `Housing Market Analysis: Homeless Facilities and Services', `Strategic Plan: Public Housing Accessibility and Involvement', `Strategic Plan: Barriers to Affordable Housing' and `Homeless Strategy'. o Mayor of Billings and City Council are active participants in the local Continuum of Care Mayor proclaimed December 21St, 2022 as Homeless Memorial Day and assisted in leading the vigil ceremony. Celebrated on the same day annually at Depot Park by Collaborative Housing Solutions of NW Montana (NW Montana's local Continuum of Care) • Bozeman o Warming Center • City of Bozeman has contributed approximately $242,000 per year, in grant form, for the past two years. ■ City of Bozeman created a "Community Housing Fund" and committee to develop/implement a strategic plan that assists with traditional and non-traditional solutions to housing issues. Funding is used to fill gaps; such as additional funding needed for operating the local Warming Center. ■ Gallatin County has contributed at least $50,000 per year since 2018 o City of Bozeman adopted Ordinance 1997, known as the "Transitional >t Emergency Housing Text Amendment" ■ littp...://www.�l-.)(.)zeiimaiii.iiiet/d�epa.IE..I neii ts�e r. ii c�ii n7i ile elr. m�imeint/coirnii n:aii lit I c�:as7iii � ....................p......................................................................................................................................................................................p...........................................................................................................................................................................................� y.......................................................... ir��s7tlfc���-eim !rg p .=y.-. .�; ...i.�:....... 7%.ii .g o Tourism Improvement District pledged $1 million to community impact fund (through United Way of Gallatin County) —Funding comes from $2 per night -per room tax on hotels in Bozeman. • Butte o City -County of Butte -Silver Bow partnered with Action, Inc. (local Human Resource Council) and the local Continuum of Care in 2014, and created a plan called: `Caring for Our Homeless Community' (aka 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness) o 16-413—`Agreement—Butte Silver Bow Assistance Program: Homeless and Indigent Relief Services' Entered into on July 1, 2016 between Butte -Silver Bow County and Human Resources Council District XII (now Action, Inc.), and allows HRC to administer funds and services on behalf of Butte - Silver Bow County to assist homeless and imminently homeless households. • Agreement dates: July 1, 2016—June 30, 2018 0 Agreement funds: 3 Butte -Silver Bow County mils or $152,000.00, which was less. Agreement services provided (not limited to): permanent housing, essential medication provision, medical co -payments for provider visits to Community Health Center, burials for deceased, indigent residents of Butte -Silver Bow County, case management, homeless outreach, etc. o 17-490—`Agreement—City-County of Butte Silver Bow, Montana Assistance Program: Homeless and Indigent Relief Services' Entered into on July 1, 2017 between Butte -Silver Bow County and Action, Inc., and allows Action Inc. to administer funds and services on behalf of Butte -Silver Bow County to assist homeless and imminently homeless households. • Agreement dates: July 1, 2017—June 30, 2018 • Agreement funds: $172,000.00 • Agreement services provided (not limited to): assistance with permanent and transitional housing, burials for deceased, indigent residents of Silver Bow County, homeless prevention, diversion, case management, homeless outreach, etc. ■ Funding is/has been approved annually o 21.027/2022-416—`Subrecipient Agreement Between City -County of Butte -Silver Bow and Action Inc. — Sub -recipient regarding use of American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) Funds to provide assistance or service to disproportionately impacted communities (CFDA)' ■ Entered into on March 11, 2021 between Butte -Silver Bow County and Action, Inc., and allows Action Inc. to administer funds and services on behalf of Butte -Silver Bow County to assist homeless and imminently homeless households. • Agreement funds: $1,000,000.00 ARPA and $100,000.00 SLFRF • $100,000.00 of ARPA funds granted to Butte Rescue Mission for capital improvements/ homeless services infrastructure Summary of Funding source and Services: American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF). Services provided: housing stabilization services, rental and deposit assistance, motel vouchers, and case management • March 2023- City -County is working with Butte Rescue Mission- fund agreement to sustain emergency shelter services- $250,000 a year X 5 years • Great Falls o City of Great Falls established local Continuum of Care to end homelessness in 1997. I11ttjp�.;... . .................... treat all siimt.inet /iDlainiin7na/cointiinuuim-caire- I hoiimelessiness o City of Great Falls' adopted the Consolidated Action Plan (2022) involving CDBG and HOME allocations . ■ 2/15/2022: "In summary, the city's proposal is to allocate the $1,026,477 of HOME -ARP funds as follows: "Because the highest identified need in the planning process was the development of affordable rental housing, the largest allocation of funding is proposed to be devoted to this category;" according to staff. (thee lectricgf. com) • Consultation with community partners included the local Continuum of Care, homeless and domestic violence agencies, veterans' groups, public housing agencies, public agencies that address the needs of the qualifying populations, and public or private organizations that address fair housing, civil rights, and the needs of persons with disabilities is a federal requirement. The survey was distributed to 17 different organizations serving the community, with nine of those organizations providing valuable responses and feedback to assist in outlining priorities for the use of HOME -ARP funds. Funding can be spent in the community until fiscal year 2030. Helena o City of Helena and Tri-County (Lewis Et Clark, Jefferson and Broadwater) formed a Housing Task Force in 2017 to complete Housing Needs Assessment (published in October 2018). Housing Task Force is comprised of city staff, staff from adjacent county Planning Divisions, local non -profits (including Helena Housing Authority), and private sector stakeholders. (helenamt.gov) Following the completion of the Housing Needs Assessment, the City of Helena collaborated with the Housing Task Force to create a Housing Strategy. 2021: Housing Strategy outlined newly created Housing Coordinator Position to provide the City of Helena more capacity for housing related projects. o February 2022: Lewis and Clark County Commissioners allocated $25,000 of Disaster and Emergency Services and the Elkhorn Community Active in Disaster to support sheltering efforts for homeless individuals who test positive for the COVID-19. o 9/25/2019: City of Helena and Lewis and Clark County partnered to create a $60,000 fund with the purpose of reducing the homeless population in the community. Solicited Requests for Proposals for a Housing Navigator position. (kxlh.com) ■ Housing Navigator is a position that helps individuals or households experiencing housing instability connect with resources, benefits and housing programs that appropriately address immediate basic needs and long-term stabilization. o "City of Helena established the Affordable Housing Trust Fund in 2020 The purpose of the fund is to provide gap financing to organizations, both non-profit and for - profit, that serve beneficiaries of low to moderate income. The Fund was initially created through several investments from the City Commission and will receive $100,000 each year from the City's General Fund. Since the fund was created, staff have been working with a seven -member advisory board that will provide recommendations to the City Commission, which makes the final decision concerning which projects receive support." (helenamt.gov) • February 27, 2023: City of Helena announces it is accepting applications for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund after City Commission approves $2,043,000 to be available for proposed projects. (II I�s:��wwwmll eleii � ii ntm r y ll-INews/ Jt -to-Accept-A��oircil��lk:ale-�� oc s7l11-.�1'!rust- a �,d1...-..1�.i:�..!7%t atio �,s.) • Missoula o 2011-2020 • City of Missoula organized and coordinated with local partners and stakeholders to form the local Continuum of Care. Mayor of Missoula proposed that a community plan be developed and implemented. • `Reaching Home: Missoula's 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness' • 2 full-time city staff hired to implement plan o `Reaching Home' Program Manager/Housing Initiatives Program Manager o `Reaching Home' Program Specialist/Coordinated Entry Specialist ■ Created and Lead Missoula's Coordinated Entry System • Coordinated Entry System ■ In July 2020, the City of Missoula entered into a contract with Missoula County to use grant funds from the Addictive and Mental Disorders Division at the Montana Department of Health and Human Services to hire a full-time Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Program Manager to support a community led CIT Program that ensures all CIT Memphis Model Core Elements are implemented in order to transform our community's response to behavioral health crises. • CIT is a community partnership of law enforcement, medical and first responders, emergency dispatchers, mental health and substance use treatment providers, hospital systems, consumers of mental health services, attorneys, advocacy groups, homeless service providers, and others. • Mobile Support Team (MST) is a partnership between the Missoula Fire Department (MFD) and Partnership Health Center (PHC) to respond to behavioral health crisis calls in the community in a therapeutic manner. Mitt.�s:��wwwmcimiin7issc��al�miintm�as�J�M7issc��al� iris7is Iiiiteirveiiit7ioiii-']I'c�aiirrn- I'1f. ......................................................................................................................................................... ■ City of Missoula adopted the Affordable Housing Trust Fund on July 20, 2020. • The Affordable Housing Resident Oversight Committee was created by the City of Missoula Ordinance number 3663 (Ordinance Amendment number 3684) ■ End of 2020, County and City of Missoula partnered and helped fund the opening of the `Temporary Safe Outdoor Space' 0 2021 ■ Please see `City County Homeless Efforts 2021' excerpt from III.ttp...m.../.../www.cfi.iinfissouaa.iimt.us/2124/:.. Fiouseless- nflt7lat7ives below CONTINUED below [03 ki MKO12 kvi 1 &1:161111 W2 arilE JCJq]L§J IWAVOI OJ§J hJ ,hJrJ Missoula County, City of Missoula and numerous commiuin,ity partners,, including the Poveirello Center, United' ay of IMissoulla County and Hope IRescue, Mission, have implemented the folllowing programs and initiativesto, help make homelessness, rare, brief and oine-time-only: The Trinity Project: This colllaboration between Homeword, the IMissoulla Housing Authority and BlueLine Development will develop a, 202-home project located on two sites in Missoula. Missoula Couinity contributed the land for the Mulllan site, which will provide 130 low -threshold affordable hoirries, 30 of which will be supportive housing, accompanied by navigation center, for Missoula's long-term unhoused neighbors. Seventy-two affordable homes will be located on the Cooley block and will be buiilt for families and MissoUla's workforce. Villagio: This Missoula Housing Authority housing effort on the Noirthside will iinclude 200 two-, three- and four - bedroom units priced to be affordable to people making at oir below 60% of the area median income. The project, which also will incllude 24 units with project -based vouchers attached, is on track to open in spriinig/summer of 2022. "A Place to Call Home": Ussoula's citywide housing policy proposes a fundlamentall shaft iin how housing is prioritized wiithiin the City of Mlissoula, as well as a commitmienit to long-term fundingi of housiinig initiatives. It proposes over two dozen individual strategies to address increasing housing costs in Missouilla, such, as adoption of the Affordable (Housing Trust IFuind. Affordable IHouis,ing Trust Fund: IRecomimiended in the 2019 houising policy "A Rlace to Call Home," Missoula's Affordable Housing Truist Fund was established in July 2020. Its puiirpose as Kissoula's onilly local funding source for affordable homes is to provide dedicated, flexible funding to support housing activiitjes in Missoula and to provide the consistencyand predictability that enable long-range planning, multi -year Ipirojects and measured risk taking to address the city's severe housing needs. It is a revolving fuinid with a competitive application process intended to allow the leveraging of other outside resources and decrease the need for annual fund -seeking from otheir federal and) private sources. Scattered site community land trust: Missoula County is working with Trust Montana to fund a scattered site community land trust model for homes peo,plie can afford. These funds will be used with, private funds to, acquire the land beneath exiisting homes, reducing the purchase price for iincoime-qualified hoirnebuyers in the present and preserving the affordabElity of these, houses for incorne-qualified homebuyers in the future. Sxwtpqyen (Mullan) Area Master Plain: This joint city -county project, for the area west of Reserve Street between Mullan Road and West (Broadway that is currently receiving siigniificant dev6lopment pressure, will designate Mandl use patterns and put liinto place regulations that are in alignment with the community's values, including prioritizing dlevelopm,ent of affordable (housing that will help prevent people from, experiencing homielessness in the first place. YWCA Meadowlark Family Housing and Domestic Violence Shelter Facility: The YWCA opened a brand new shelter facility in partnership with Missoula Interfaith Collaborative's Family Promise Prograim that significantly expands our coirnmuiniity's albillity to support families whio are houseless and those impacted by domiestiic violence. The 30, 000 -sq uia re -foot building has 38 private sleeping rooms, 178 beds, 50 bathrooms, shared living and dlinung areas, outdoor youth, play spaces, health care and legal clinics and offices for supportive services. The faciliity's three wiings — YWCA's program center, YWCA's domestic violence shelter, and Missoula Familly Housing Center — offer a significant resource to Missoula in ensuring that there is access to dignified, safe housing for families who need it most. Missoula Coordinated Entry System: This system was created in 2017 in an effort to better leverage the array of homelessness and housing resources throughout Missoula. As of ApriI 2021, there are 38 agencies throughout Missoula signed on to this system as either an access point or partner agenicy responsible for 6recty serving or providliing supportive services to our neighbors experiencing hoirnelessness. Representatives from, all of the agencies correspond regularly to coorclllnate services for individuals entering the system, and ensure resources are going to community members with the greatest need. Part of IVICES is the By-Namie-Lost, which is an identified list of the individuals in Kissoula experiencing homeless. Dozens of case workers from across the community come together weekly to review thus list and (plan case coordination for each, of these people individually. At -Risk Housing Coalition: This group comprises multiple agencies throughiouit KissoUla County working to support people who are at rusk or are experiencing homelessness. This membership includes assisting with the coordination of the annual Project Community Connect event and facilitating a service area that helps individuals with, the cost of obtaining IMontaina state identification cards, driver licenses and birth, certificates and out-of-state birth, certificates. �Homeword landlord) liiaisoni: This position leads co,mmiunity-wide efforts to effectively imarket Missoula housing support programs to new and exllsting llandlo,rds and Ipirolperty managers, with the goal of exlpaindingi the number of units available to those fa&ingi barriers, such, as little to no rental history. The liaison udentofiies permanent housing units in the rental market throughout Missoula, develops partnerships with landlords to overcome barriers that prevent participating households from obtainilng permanent housing, anid works closely with other community partners to ensure participants can access and sustain housing. FILISE, program manager at RHC: The FUSE program manager at Partnership IHeallth Center works with the City of 114"llssoula and the Missoula Coordinated Entry System,. FUSE, which stands for Frequent Users of System, Engagement, is a housing -first model that identifies individuals who are frequenit users of &Isjs services (i.e., jail, shelter, emergency room, etc.) and provides permanent supportive housing to these individuals. Thus means their housing is affordable and tenants have access to services to assist them. It significantly reduces the costly revolving door of accessing crisis services. PHIC participates in the model because supportive housing is an evidence -based solution that Ileadls to better health and quality of life for people experiencing homelessness. �Housing navigator at PHC: This position at Partnership Health Center supports the MissoUla Coordinated Entry System and works alongside several community partners dedicated to ending chronic homelessiness in Missoula. The housing navigator provides support to individuals who heave been paiired with, a housing resource, such as a permanent supportive housing voucher, and who need help navigating the housiinigi search process from start to finish. The housing navigator works to eliminate barriers and provide advocacy for the in6viduals they serve, ensuirilnig they can secure and maintain housing. �Housing retentiion specialist at Poverello, Center: This position, at the Po,verelllo Center supports the Missoula Coordinated Entry System to ensure that individuals entering permianient supportive housing are successful in their housing siituiatiion. Entering secure housing after living outdoors or in unstable situations can be a challengiing adjustment. The housing retention specia[ist helps individuals rinake that transitiion and imauintaiin access to supportive services as continued ineeds arise, whether that means gaining access to a standard home appliance like a vacuum, finding transportation to medical appointments, or learniinig how to, be a reliiable tenant. This role is critical to helpiing individuals stay in their housing situations and avoid fallling back into the system of hiomielessness crisiis response. Confinuum of Care funding: MissoUla County works with YWCA Missoula to secure annual Continuum of Care fuincllng through the U.S. Department of Housings and Urban Development to provide rental assistance and supportive serviices to families experiencing homelessness. The YWCA is able to support up to 50 families each year with rental assistance. IMllissoula County is a member of the statewide Continuum of Care, wKich strives to, support individuals and farnJifies, experiencing homelessness across that state. Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) & Coordinated Outreach Team (COT'): HOT is a team of staff run through the Poveirello Center whose primary responsibility is to build irelationships and trust With community members experiencing homelessness, with the, ultimate goal of helping connect them to resources and find stable housing. These staff spend many hours a week in the field visiting individuals in the spaces throughout MissoUla where they're living and area primary bridge to services and to the Missoula Coordinated Entry System. HOT is part of the Coordinated Outreach, Team (COT), which, is the urnbirella coalition for allll homelessness outreach workers in Missoula working together to coordinate field visits and response. 0 2022 City and County of Missoula continued all efforts outlined in 2021 report (see above) City and County of Missoula continued to fund, support and coordinate service provision with local faith -based and social service providers to continue the operations of the "Temporary Safe Outdoor Space (TSOS)" • City Council approved use of Affordable Housing Trust Fund to contribute $80,000 to the United Way of Missoula County to help operate the Centralized Housing Solutions Fund (local diversion funds/program) 0 2023 ■ City of Missoula approved giving NeighborWorks Montana $181,000+ in order to help make a mobile home park a Resident Owned Community.