July 22, 2008 minutes

Porter County Coalition for Affordable Housing
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
United Way of Porter County

Present: Bob Franko (Chair), Porter-Starke Services; Linda Stack, Horizon Bank; Brenda Sheetz, Porter County Community Foundation; R.G. Skadberg, Christian Community Action; Erin Miller, Christian Community Action; Samantha Grooms, Christian Community Action; Tom Isakson, New Creation Business Associates; Diane Chilian, Alice’s House; Mike Yohe, Christian Community Action; John Siebert, Housing Opportunities; Caroline Shook, Housing Opportunities; Madge Whickar, United Way of Porter County; Bruce Lindner, Porter County Aging and Community Services; Jim Henderson, First United Methodist Church

The meeting was called to order at 8:35 a.m.

Caroline Shook briefed the group on current HUD and Indiana Coalition on Housing and Homeless Issues (ICHHI) projects. Ms. Shook reminded members about the importance of HUD grant applicant groups attending Coalition for Affordable Housing meetings as HUD will deduct points on applications if CAH minutes do not indicate attendance/participation.

The group had a larger discussion on having more of regional approach instead of a county approach. Ms. Shook agreed to forward information about other community initiatives she is involved with in other communities, including a tour of a housing program in Chicago on September 25.

The group discussed the status of the Porter County 10-Year-Plan to end homelessness. Mr. Franko said that he will contact Dr. Carol Nordstrom to check on the status and to get some feedback. Mr. Franko noted that Dr. Nordstrom is not included on the group’s distribution list for some reason, but that he would rectify that situation.

The group discussed increasing our group size and scope to include domestic violence shelters, jail representatives, local Ministerial Associations, township/municipal officials, township trustees, health clinics and hospital representatives. Mr. Franko and Ms. Chilian agreed to identify some individuals to approach.

Mr. Yohe discussed the local utilization of the HMIS information system. Would like to see if all groups that are eligible to use the system are using it.

Ms. Whickar asked Mr. Lindner about the status of Section-8 Housing in Porter County. Mr. Lindner was not optimistic that the situation would improve anytime soon as there remains little funding to reopen the application process. Mr. Lindner proposed a new approach in partnering with local mobile home parks to purchase modular homes/mobile homes to place on their vacant lots via a Project-Based Section 8 program. He estimated there are probably 200 empty slabs in Porter County alone that could be utilized, and that the Federal Government is still holding hundreds of “Katrina Cottages” that sit unused. The group agreed this is an idea worth pursuing and agreed to bring it back up with at our next meeting with more individuals in attendance.

In the roundtable announcement time. Ms. Shook announced that Housing Opportunities is moving soon to a facility near the United Way of Porter County.

Mr. Lindner discussed the Porter County Aging and Community Services NAP credits, stating that the funds will help purchase fuel for the buses.

Mr. Isakson introduced his new endeavor, New Creation Business Associates at 653 Axe Avenue. It will help support the men’s shelter currently housed in a rotation of local churches October 1 through April 1. NCBA will also provide business services, hygiene products/showers, mail service, and job opportunities for the men.

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned. The next meeting will be Tuesday, September 16 at 8:30 a.m.


Respectfully submitted,

Bob Franko
Coalition Chair