Organizations Attending: Lackawanna Housing, Scranton School District, Scranton Area Ministerium, Community Behavioral Health, Keystone Mission, Islamic Society of Scranton, Catholic Social Services, Amerihealth Caritas, First Presbyterian Clarks Summit, Lackawanna County Department Human Services, Clarks Summit United Methodist, Countryside Community Church
Shannon called us to order.
Tom, from Keystone Mission, welcomed folks
Shannon read from Thomas Merton “New Seeds of Contemplation”
Mark Terwilliger opened with a prayer
Shannon gave a synopsis of the progress of the Coalition up to the present, inviting greater participation.
Bethel decided to not reopen
Shannon met with Scranton Police Chief. Hope to have him at a future meeting.
Areas to focus on
– Grant application went out yesterday to start a program to expunge old criminal records that inhibit people’s employment or educational prospects. This is income based, so includes homeless but not limited to homeless.
– Institute for Public Policy Research – study of legal needs of individuals who are homeless or close to homelessness proceeding in November 2018.
– NeighborWorks is releasing the first blight report for the area on November 29, 2018. Perhaps resources could be leveraged to remedy properties to increase housing prospects.
– Scranton Abingtons Planning Association (SAPA) consisting of nine municipalities will revise zoning ordinances from Dunmore up to Dalton and West Abington. The community will have a voice in this process to ensure housing for all people. Decisions are made per municipality.
– Newly forming Ignatian Volunteer Corps with Teddy Michel as contact. Based at U of Scranton. Folks 50 or older looking for volunteer opportunities. Volunteering at soup kitchen, housing projects. This is not limited to Scranton. It is a national organization, but it is fairly new to our area. See http://ivcusa.org
– Suggestion that housing revitalization may provide synergistic opportunities. Could potentially have folks who need work to work on bringing properties back up to standards. This could help people gain skill sets. What incentives could there be for the business community to hire folks?
– Phil Yevics discussed the Lackawanna County Re-entry Organization: https://www.facebook.com/Lackawanna-County-Reentry-Task-Force-1826480007655828/ or https://sites.google.com/site/reentryprogramlackawannacounty/
Scranton School District Update
Erin Keating (Scranton School District) stated that 98 students experienced homelessness so far this school year. Largest number to date. Erin having a very hard time finding shelter for 16- to 18-year old, unaccompanied youth. Situation more dire as winter approaches. Uptick in unaccompanied youth. Few beds for youth this age. Hard to come up with a bed within a few hours. No guardian. Lackawanna Youth and Family Services has worked with the School District. If 18 years old, Erin tries to get them into coordinated services.
NEPA Youth Shelter. There is a youth drop-in shelter on Wyoming Avenue. Meal and shower. Can go every evening. Clothing is available. It is not an overnight facility.
We need to keep an eye and ear out for opportunities to meet this need.
Mental help, medical care & food are available to the School District but might not be a place to sleep at night.
Understanding Preliminary Role of GSHC
Objective to bring volunteer and faith groups together with professional organizations. Shannon helped us understand the differentiation between Greater Scranton Homeless Coalition and the Lackawanna Country Housing Coalition. We are asset based and bring our strengths to bear on addressing the homeless situation. The onus is on us to educate our organizations and express concern to legislators.
Homeless Emergency Shelter Situation
Melba Fialko questioned what to do with emergency housing now, especially as winter is approaching and as temperatures drop. What are possibilities? There have been discussions with a number of churches and organizations, but no organizations have yet to offer additional emergency shelter. There may be many regulations that must be met. Would the YMCA in Dunmore be an option? This would involve transportation. How much of an additional need will there be beyond what St. Anthony’s Haven can host? Some need is weather dependent.
Not a lot of help for disabled folks or elderly (prior to receiving benefits). Many just don’t know how to do housekeeping. Judy is looking for folks to mentor people.
Volunteers are needed to work with this program. Please solicit helpers from your connections.
Need here is IMMEDIATE as inability to address hoarding and housekeeping issues may lead to eviction and homelessness. Thus, this program would help to prevent homelessness. Housing Authority willing to work on waivers, confidentiality, and information about cleanliness expectations. Housing Authority also screens potential recipients.
Need volunteers to coordinate and head initiative. Current need 5-10 residents.
Raised by attendees. Shannon divided the large group into three discussion groups to brainstorm. Shannon convened the large group again. Each of the three groups presented the highlights of what they came up with. Code Blue and its perceived ramifications in the County again arose (NOTE: Code Blue is a County declaration, but homeless-housing is in City facilities).
Ideas included a potential rotating shelter among volunteer host sites such as houses of worship and perhaps small-scale temporary housing in hotel-like arrangements during emergencies when the existing St. Anthony's Shelter reaches capacity. The need for more analysis of Code Blue and its legislative/emergency role was evident. The group also discussed Red Cross-like arrangements as an option where a site might be a Red Corss site.
Each of the options would require coordination, volunteers, and funding. Attendees indicated that they would check with existing organizations to see if any organization could serve as a donation source if needed.
6. Next Meeting Coordination (location, date and time)
Phil Yevics will host next meeting. Tuesday 11/27? Tuesday 12/4?
7. Discussion
Please fill out and turn in contact info
8. Closing