12/16/2022 HUMAN SERVICES Minutes

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HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2022 PRESENT. Lynne Barbee (Chair), Sam MacDonald, Heidi McLaughlin, Christine Willander, Gail Wilson, Director ABSENT: David Weeden, Mary Bradbury CALL TO ORDER 11:03 am PUBLIC COMMENT none OLD BUSINESS Review of Minutes from November 18th, 2022 Motion to approve November by Lynne, second by Sam, unanimous vote. NEW BUSINESS Presentation from Housing Assistance Corporation Ann Black and Patty Mitrokostas spoke about a housing program called THRIVE. The program was designed and created by Housing Assistance Corporation to address housing affordability and increase empowerment for households on Cape Cod. Given the long waitlist for housing subsidies, households who rent and are currently unable to afford the cost of housing have the opportunity receive financial assistance over an extended period. Households under 100% AMI will be unable to continue living and working on Cape Cod due to the increasing gap between wages and housing costs. With THRIVE, approved households would have a fixed, shallow monthly rental subsidy, paired with required ongoing appointments with staff through a HUD Certified Housing Counseling Program with the goal of setting goals and working on financial empowerment. The program is available for a 12-24 month period. Households must also: work with a Housing Counselor on financial goals, pay more than 30% of their income towards rent, have a written lease or rental agreement, be living in a unit not currently subsidized through another program or owned by a relative, unless approved through administrative review. The initial program was limited to households with at least one employee who works in childcare or with the developmentally disabled. However, they would like to open the program up to more individuals than only those who work in the aforementioned industries and were seeking funding and partnership from towns in the area. Town Meeting Article The Opioid Settlement funding will not be available until after it passes a Town Meeting.An article has been drafted and must be submitted by this Committee.The Article states that the town will appropriate and transfer the sum of $152,956 from revenue available for appropriation to the Human Services Opioid Settlement Account. There is also an explanation that these funds are a result of the statewide Opioid Settlement Agreement and must be used for the implementation of strategies to assist individuals affected by opioids. If approved, the funds would be transferred to the Human Services Opioid Settlement account. This is distinct from the Mashpee Human Services budget. It will need to go to the Town Manager and then the Select Board by February 1st, in order to be approved to go before Town Meeting. The intent of the Article is to extend the funding deadline of June 30t". Discussion/Food Resources Postponed discussion until January. Director's Report Gail emphasized that there is significant need for emergency shelter that is currently unmet. Situations with domestic violence have programs and facilities such as Independence House. Yet, cases that do not fit into a specific category have fewer resources. Gail also stated that a review on how to best use the funding from the Opioid Settlement Agreement would need to be limited until the Article passes Town Meeting. However, the new Barnstable County Substance Use Assessment will be coming out soon and will be interesting to look at. ADDITIONAL TOPICS Lynne reported that the Mashpee Town Website does not currently list members on the board as seen with other Committees.A separate page with meeting notes, committee members and information on meetings would be ideal. NEXT MEETING SCHEDULE January 20, 2023 All members plan to attend. ADJOURNMENT 12:04 PM, motion by Lynne, second by Heidi. Unanimous.