March 17, 2009 minutes

Porter County Coalition for Affordable Housing
March 17, 2009
Porter County United Way

Present: Brenda Sheetz, Porter County Community Foundation; Caroline Shook, Housing Opportunities; Erin Woike, The Caring Place; Mike Yohe, Christian Community Action/Valparaiso University; Linda Stack, Horizon Bank; Jim Armstrong, Porter; Karen Gilmore, Porter-Starke Services; RG Skadberg, Christian Community Action; Erin Miller, Christian Community Action; Bruce Lindner, Porter County Council on Aging and Community Services; Sharon Kish, United Way of Porter County; Bob Franko, Porter-Starke Services; Carol Nordstrom, Nordstrom Non-Profits; Diane Chilian, Alice’s House.

Group discussed best ways to share information with each other. A small group has already gotten together to find ways of sharing. What it found was there are systems out there already doing what we wanted. Christian Community Action, Porter-Starke, and HealthLinc are developing a system to share information. It was suggested that we all put our intake sheets together to develop a pilot program. Intake forms are probably 75% the same for all providers. We should bring other organizations in with us including the Porter County Community Foundation, United Way, banks and realtors. What role would they play as people look for affordable housing? It was mentioned that we should keep the mayors of Valparaiso and Portage in the loop.

Christian Community Action has a new “Front Door” project geared to help people link with a variety of resources in one location.

It was suggested that Chris Peters assist us in developing our website. He created nwilifelines.info.

2-1-1 is the information referral program that United Way national hopes to have fully operational by 2012. Minnesota is an example of state with a good 2-1-1 at this time. Each

HMIS has homelessness data; fed into by Housing Opportunities, Porter-Starke Services and Christian Community Action.

Discussed a web resource for CAH that would have data and information for local legislators on housing and homelessness issues; as well as resource information for individuals/providers looking for affordable housing and shelter. Could also have an online intake sheet that an individual can fill out and send to the provider they need.

Horizon Bank has a “Fresh Start Checking” program to help people understand how to establish and maintain a checking account.

Community Economic Development money is being released in May; Carol Nordstrom to have more information.

Porter-Starke Services received $144,000 in HUD money to repair its Vale Park Apartments; it will help the residents have a healthier and safer environment.

Next meeting, May 19, 8:30 a.m. – United Way of Porter County.

Respectfully submitted,

Diane Chilian
Recording Secretary