Experiences from Work by the Homeless Transitions Action Group HTAG in Douglas County Oregon A Panel Presentation Panelists Homeless Transitions Action Group HTAG Mike Fieldman Executive Director United Community Action Network ID: 684548
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Building Public Support for Meeting the Challenges Faced by Homeless People and the Communities They Live In
Experiences from Work by the Homeless Transitions Action Group (HTAG) in Douglas County Oregon – A Panel PresentationSlide2
PanelistsHomeless Transitions Action Group (HTAG)
Mike Fieldman – Executive Director, United Community Action Network
Mike Taylor – HTAG Volunteer
Ross Banister – Chaplain to the Marginalized, Redeemer’s Fellowship
Support by Jim “Cap” Caplan – HTAG Facilitator and President, Downtown Roseburg Association Slide3
Roseburg Like Many Other Places in oregon
Roseburg is a small town with fewer than 25,000 residents. And Douglas County inhabitants number about 110,000, many in small towns, spread over 4,000,000 acres. We’re an “I-5” county with a rich history of agriculture and timber. So, why do we have so much poverty and why do we have so many homeless people? For example, over 30,000 people in our county qualify for Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid).Slide4
HTAG Background and process
Began in 2015 as a Series Of Concerns Raised By Roseburg Residents and Businesses after Previous Efforts Stalled
August 2015 Survey
Monthly Meetings Beginning in September 2015
Public Forum in November 2015
Homeless Transitions Action Group Goals and Priorities Report Issued February 2016
Established 11 Goals and 14 Programs
Creation of Two Action Groups: Leadership Roundtable and General Meeting
Currently 11 of the 14 Programs Moving Ahead to Some DegreeSlide5
“Offering a Hand Up to Homeless People in Douglas County” – HTAG Motto
Intentions for the HomelessFrom Being Jobless, to Having A Job, and Eventually to Supporting Themselves FullyFrom Living on the Street, to Being Housed and Eventually Paying Market-rate Rent or Owning a Home
From Being Alcohol or Drug Dependent to Being Sober or Clean
From Being Mentally or Emotionally Disabled to Being Capable and Life-skilledSlide6
sponsors
Greater Douglas United WayUnited Community Action NetworkDowntown Roseburg AssociationBP Media
Adapt
NeighborWorks Umpqua
Architrave
Housing Authority of Douglas County
With Support from
City of Roseburg
Douglas County
Douglas County Evangelical Fellowship
And Many OthersSlide7
Currently active Programs Fall into Five
Goal Areas: information and education, crime, sanitation, housing, and services and support
“Arrowhead”
“Clear Word”
“Watch-well”
“Stand Up”
“Different Path”
“Housing First”
“Potty Down”
“Squeaky Clean”
“Suds for Duds”
“Clean Home”
“Home Hub”Slide8
arrowhead -- Connect with the homeless populations
Homeless Folks Were at the Table Throughout the HTAG ProcessLooking for a More Consistent Way to Contact, Record,
and Interpret Information and Data about
Homeless Folks in Douglas CountySlide9
Clear word -- Deliver reliable information about homeless folks and programs to the general public
HTAG Facebook Page with 245 “Likes” Currently [@HTAGDC]Exists to Provide Accurate Information, Promote Civil Conversations, and Dispel Rumors and Myths
Wants More Relevant Content From the General Public and Caring Critics Slide10
Watch well --
Use citizen engagement and information to support responsive and restorative community policingThree “Neighborhood Watch” Style Groups in Downtown Roseburg
Rose Street and Cass Avenue
Main/Jackson Streets and Cass Avenue
Winchester Street
Another in the Largely Residential Historic Mill-Pine AreaSlide11
Stand up -- Confront crimes against people, property, and public order throughout Douglas County and the Roseburg Area
Promote Community Understanding about How to Differentiate Between Criminal Behavior and General Rudeness or Threatening Conduct
Local Public Safety Coordinating Council Working on Criminal Issues Affecting Everyone, Including, but Not Limited to, Homeless Folks
Kind but Firm Policing, Including a Criminal-behavior Exclusion Zone, “Nuisance Business” Control, and Enforcement of State Law about Illegal Possession of Grocery CartsSlide12
Different path --
Criminals with mental health or addiction problems are given a “hand up” and access to stability and recoveryMental Health and Drug Courts
Police Pay Attention to Homeless Folks’ Situations and Transport Them to Appropriate Care When Available
Business People and Citizens Are Encouraged to Call Police to Make Wellness Checks When AppropriateSlide13
Housing first --
PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO ACCESSIBLE HOUSING IN WHATEVER FORM THEY CHOOSE, CAN AFFORD, AND CAN RESPONSIBLY CARE FOR
Greater Douglas United Way – “Healthy Housing Collective Impact” – a Housing Initiative Partnership (A Seven-Year, $90,000/Year Seed-Money Commitment)
Philanthropic, Non-profit, Governmental, and Medical Organizations Coming Together to Address Housing Over the Long Term
Objective: by 2022, Everyone in Douglas County Will Have the Opportunity to Live in Safe, Decent, Affordable Housing
Working on Gathering Accurate Data About What Housing We Have Currently and What We Will Need by 2022 and BeyondSlide14
Potty down -- People have access to toilets
Chemical Toilets in Four Locations in Downtown Roseburg
to Reduce Human Waste Deposits in the
Central Business District
May Add a Fifth One as Funding Allows
Significant Reductions in the Numbers of Complaints from
Businesses and Residents About Waste and Public
ToiletingSlide15
Squeaky clean -- People have access to showers and haircuts
Searching for Partners in Our Communities (Such as the “Y)May be Able to Integrate Squeaky Clean Program into a Home HubSlide16
Suds for duds -- People have access to washers and driers
Currently Have a Once-A-Month “Loads of Love” Project in West RoseburgHoping to Add a Weekly Suds for Duds Program Aimed Principally at Homeless Folks, Possibly at Several Locations
May be Able to Integrate Suds for Duds Program into a Home Hub
Slide17
Clean home -- With the help of the homeless and community, Douglas County and Roseburg area communities get cleaned up and stay so
Formerly Homeless Volunteer Helping to Clean
Downtown Roseburg Streets and Educate
Others about Our Desire and Need
for Clean Streets and Public AreasSlide18
Home hub -- Services for homeless people are provided in a safe, centralized location
Combination Drop-in and Sobering Center
Somewhat Like the Grants Pass Sobering Center
Partial Funding in Place
Mission “to Provide a Setting Where the Homeless People in Our Community Can Go to Access Basic Needs and Other Community Resources…”
Site to Include Sobering with On-Site Addiction Outreach and Follow Up, Daytime Shelter, Some Food Service, Property Storage, Job Opportunities, Mail Drop, Internet Access, Medical and Dental Services, “Squeaky Clean” and “Suds for Duds” OpportunitiesSlide19
Our challenges
Continuing Need for Community Understanding and Collaboration, Bringing in Valued Service Providers Not Currently at the Table (e.g., Roseburg Rescue Mission, Goodwill, Salvation Army)Funding and Volunteer Staffing (Of Course) for Several Short- or Long-term Programs Such as Squeaky Clean and Suds for Duds
Moving the Drop-in/Sobering Center Forward as Soon as Possible With Resources (Financial And Staff) Commitments After Completing Work on a Business Plan
Transportation to Connect Homeless Folks With Needed Services and OpportunitiesSlide20
That’s all folks
Questions?But, More Importantly, Suggestions?
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