Meeting Summary:
The meeting began with the Coalition proposing a save-the-date for a Faith Community meeting event on January 16, 2025, at 6 pm at the SCAF office, acknowledging the busy holiday season that may affect attendance. Participants introduced themselves and shared positive stories, including a notable account from the Community Resource Center. She recounted a heartwarming experience of organizing a wedding for a Ukrainian couple, highlighting the importance of community support and clear communication in mobilizing resources for those in need.
McKinney-Vento Liaison - discussed the increasing number of families that they are approving for services.
The food bank reports a 30-35% rise, which may indicate heightened food insecurity or effective outreach efforts. They outlined improvements in the backpack program for children.
Plans for a convening with the faith community on January 16, are aimed at fostering collaboration. The discussion also touched on the necessity of collecting personal stories from community members to enhance the program's authenticity, with a request for an updated contact list to streamline outreach efforts.
The conversation shifted to the need for a community hub to support the homeless population, addressing the current lack of funding and resources. The Coalition emphasized the importance of collaboration with the faith community and other organizations to establish a model for essential services. They discussed the potential for a respectful and private space for families to access assistance, including health insurance enrollment. Discussion about the potential space provided by the Food Bank to implement a Homeless Resource hub. Then a discussion about services to be provided at this hub. This hub would be an open Business Hours model of support potentially providing crisis services, navigation, basic needs, mailbox, etc. The Community Coalition will follow up with a meeting at the potential space and with the director of the food bank to explore the options, constraints, etc.
The meeting concluded with plans to revisit the discussion next month, focusing on specific needs and legal agreements related to the project, while ensuring transparency and community engagement throughout the process.
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