Hello. >> Hey. How are you? >> Good. >> Everyone's running a little late today. >> Oh, well, I thought I would be and then it ended up being fast. Like I had a five to six thing
and it ended up not being that long. So, hey. Hi. I don't know what happened. Um, well, I'm walking in for my board meeting now, but uh yes, I will call you after.
Okay. All right. Love you. No, no, no, no, no. It's totally fine. And I was going to have to get off anyway, so all good. Okay. Love you. Bye. [sighs] I read through your report. I'm excited
to hear about it. I was sad to see it's not not y'all's doing, but like just that it's getting worse. >> It's just so bad out there in the world.
How are you? How are you? Good. Good. So, I guess Le Lace, is that her name? >> Yeah. >> She's not coming. She her attendance record is a little tough.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Well, I mean, I don't technically >> we're not supposed to miss X however many, >> right? There are rules. I don't know. >> Yeah. >> But I don't I So, I know that that's actual like a thing, but I don't know
what we do about it. If we do any like >> should we just say like it's been noticed. >> Yeah, I'll ask John. I'm actually going to meet with John. I have I have a conversation.
Uh oh, the one our one-on-one. I'll ask John tomorrow. >> Okay. >> It's tomorrow. Yes, tomorrow is Friday. >> Tomorrow's Friday. Yes, that's right. >> It feels like such a It's like that now we're being punished because there was ice and we couldn't get stuff done. Correct.
>> So now everything is all on the same day every day. Just kidding. >> Like Yeah. Every week is interminable. >> Like the meetings, >> the personal stuff. I'm like, "Okay, >> tell me about it. Dear Adam, is everyone else coming?
>> As far as I know. >> Okay, we're going to go to close session, right? >> We are. Okay, I'll just keep everything in my bag. >> Yeah, I think that that's our first thing we open and then go to closed. Michael. Hello.
>> How are you? I'm >> good. You? >> Yeah. Bridge and I are saying like >> it's Thursday. >> You know, it's been it's like okay, here we are in the winter moving through. >> I mean, it is warmer.
>> Yes, thank you. >> Like, it's actually lovely. It was like 60 in Richmond a couple days this week. I'm like, what? What are we doing right now? >> Yeah, that's delightful. >> I just he said he was joining virtually. >> Okay.
>> I don't know how to handle close session virtually. >> I could call him. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Is that how you guys want to do that? Yeah, I mean we could do Zoom. I could just call him.
>> It might be easier that it might be easier if we just call him. >> Yeah, that's what I'm thinking. Given the space where we were for the um what is her name? Lease. Yes.
Clevel. Yeah, like Maline. Yes. Um. Oh my gosh. So, so I thought it was going to be late because my daughter's swearing in for the honor society was right before this, >> but she like wouldn't let me take a
picture. So, the only thing I have is a picture of the screen they projected. It >> says National Honor Society. >> Amazing. And she was very displeased with me. They said dress business casual. And I made her. She's like, I
look like I'm going to my corporate job. And like then we get there and of course 90% of the children are in weird outfits with like sneakers or Birkenstocks and she's like >> just kill me.
>> Oh [laughter] my god. Incredible. >> And then she's like if you cheer >> if you cheer or you draw attention to yourself I'm just I'm going to leave. >> Yeah. Like okay. My other children didn't really do that,
but I guess it was pandemic when they were this age. >> Yeah. So, they didn't. >> But and and now they're just like, >> okay, >> fully embrace all my weirdness and annoyingness and >> and she doesn't mind most of the time. And then there's just like certain
situations she's like, "Please stop. >> No talking." >> A junior and he's very much. >> Yeah. See, I don't I mean, I got really lucky. Like Connor is never like that. >> Yeah.
But yeah, I don't know. Um, do we have do we need to wait for Maria? >> And we don't do we have a quorum. >> I mean, we don't have to vote on Well, we do have to go have a quorum close
session. >> Here she comes. Tippy tappy her fancy. >> That was the other thing. My boots were making too much noise as I was walking. >> Inevitably. Yes. >> A lot of >> Nothing's more embarrassing than a mom with boots, >> right? >> You know,
>> I'm just full on all the things. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. [snorts] >> Thank you. Okay. I'm I'm sure Javier will be here.
He usually tells me if he's not. >> Yeah. >> See, I know. >> Okay. >> Sometimes it's on that team, but >> Yeah. We also could start
with the u do we have enough people to start with enough of us? >> We don't have to have a quorum >> start. Okay. >> Because we don't have to vote on every anything. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Um I just want to be mindful of Kathleen and Tor's
>> time. >> Yeah. It's after hours. I know you guys want to hang out with us all night, but um and it is 6:06. That's probably right there. No. No.
Okay. Well, let's let's do it, friends. >> All right. I call this meeting of the Charlottesville Redevelopment Housing Authority to order. Can I get a roll call, please, Miss Gary? >> Sure. Commissioner Payne >> here. >> Commissioner Oort >> here. >> Commissioner Rosenloo
>> here. All right. >> Oh, there's Javier. Okay. >> So, we should do a Zoom then because we'll have two. >> Yeah. >> Can we let me just confirm um I see Deline that you're on. Uh can we go into
close session if we don't have a quorum in person? Well, I think because the one resident commissioner position is vacant, I think three of us is a quorum >> just because that's a vacancy, but I I could be wrong.
>> That's that's correct. So, how many commissioners do you currently have who have been sworn in and and are currently ser? >> Six. >> Six. >> Okay. So, you do have a quorum physically assembled and you can vote to
go into close session. Okay. [snorts] Um, yeah. How are we gonna Does anybody have a computer? I could do it on my phone. >> Computer. >> Okay. Is there another Zoom that we can use for close session? >> Do we need to have it on CRJ Zoom or I
could just create one. >> It could it can be any Zoom. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Javier, can we send you a Zoom for the close session? >> Yes. Thank you. >> Okay. Um, I approve. So, let me uh let's see. Let me do the
moment of silence, please. Okay. So, we are going uh to move to a brief closed session. Um so, upon the motion, oh uh well, we'll get there.
Uh, be it resolved that the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority will convene in a closed meeting pursuant to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act as amended the act to discuss the following matters which are specifically exempted from
public disclosure by the code section referred to below. Personnel matters involving the assignment, appointment, promotion, demotion, performance, salaries, or resignation of employees of the authority as authorized by section 2.2-3711A
of the act. May I get a motion, please? >> Motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Yes. >> All oppose? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, we will move to close session and we will uh be back as soon as
possible. Are we supposed to go to that same weird place that we can only get to with Michael? Yeah. >> Yeah. >> I don't know what time I look. I knew you would be here. >> I was I I was waiting. I was going to
try and um I came up to the meeting. That's what I was waiting for. I know. Oh yeah. We did our best. All right. Whereas the authority has convened a
closed meeting on the state pursuant to an affirmative recorded vote and in accordance with the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. And whereas section 2.2-3712D of the 1950 code of Virginia as amended
requires a certification by this authority that such closed meeting was conducted in conformity with Virginia law. Now therefore, upon mission duly made and seconded, be a resolved that the authority hereby certifies to you that the best of each commissioner's
knowledge only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements by Virginia law were heard, discussed, or considered in the closed meeting and only such public business matters as were identified in the motion convening the closed meeting were heard, discussed, or considered by the
authority. May I get a motion, please? >> Motion. Second. >> All in favor? >> Yes. >> Yes. All opposed? >> Motion passes. >> All right. Thank you very much everyone. Um Kathleen and Tana, are you guys ready
to give us the eviction diversion update? >> Yes. >> Thank you. I'm liking that we get more gold paper. >> Yeah, I see you. [laughter] >> It brings such joy to the meeting.
Well, um I wanted to start off by just giving a plug to someone that um few people ever see. She's our grants and development coordinator, Katrina Bites, and um she has um really works behind the scenes, but she helped us put
together this report and um we were really grateful for her assistance. We're trying to give a lot of our reports a facelift and um she's been really helpful with that process. Um so back in 2025 um Mr. Sales um asked the
[clears throat] resident service department and um our property management team to come together and work on creating an eviction diversion program. We um you know set up process and we've been to quite a few meetings about I'd say once a quarter to update
everyone on that and this is part of that. Um we're giving more of an overview of where the program's at tonight. Um, a big part of this whole program is making sure that we um the, you know, the property management team
identifies um residents who are having housing instability and are referring them um most often to resident services. We're looking at, you know, what our actions look like when we're following
up to these referrals and um really trying to do a better job of tracking information. Um the collaboration is a big part of this and um I'll talk a little bit more on that in a moment, but I wanted to um
go ahead and turn things over to Miss Banks who can really dig into some of the numbers here. Good evening to the board. Um so we put this together. Um it's pretty
self-explanatory. Um but how we've broken it down is um risk across all sites. We kind of broke out the nonpublic um market rate portfolio. Um, typically the people that really participate in
um, in EDP for the most part are our um, public housing, LIT tech, PBV um, that portfolio. Now, while other people do get some assistance, um, the these are the main people. So,
uh, Mr. sales asked us to break it down by um the dollar band and have how many households in each dollar band. So um under amount owed, you're going to see it by band. Um
thought we had the to Okay. Yes. So 215 families currently at risk um eviction and that just means they're not at the end of the cycle. They are they have been identified and
they have either outstanding rent or other outstanding issues um non-compliance whether that's remittable or nonreitable. Um so you will see those numbers there. Um, we wanted to kind of break it down
to really give a more micro perspective of um, what we are working with each and every day. Um, if you can scroll down just a little bit for me. Thank you. We go back go back go
back to fountains. Sorry. What what was that? >> Sorry, Miss Banks. Um, the non rent. What types of things fall in the non- rent? Okay. So, non-brand can be um it can be a non-compliance for um say
failed housekeeping. Um it can be a non-compliance for um conduct and behavior. Um uh repeated conduct and behavior. It can be
>> So, it's like fines, fees and fines. >> I'm sorry. >> Is it like fees and fines for those those things? No, no. Non- rent is something um rent is if there's delinquent rent. Non- rent is other non-compliance issues like a
violation of the lease. >> Okay, I got it. >> Different violations of the lease if that makes sense. >> Sorry, Miss Banks. And so there's no like financial component to those at all for the residents. >> No, the financial is the rent.
>> Just the rent. Okay. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Um Uh-huh. Uh just for like context like I do like the uh amount owed in households like scale of rent like from
the high I know it depends on your income but like like that to contextualize also the number of households and then the the amount owed like could you give just like a ballpark figure just like you know this could mean from like a monthly uh rent of this
amount to this amount. Um, I don't think I understand the question. I'm sorry. >> Like you have amount owed, but like you could owe X amount of months to get to like 1,500.
>> Got you. Okay. more or less like from from what's the scale by which people are paying monthly that they would accumulate you know rent due owed and be either part of that you know 76,000 there or that 29,000.
>> Um okay I think what you're asking is how like how many months does this cover like what is the span of what they owe? Yeah, that would kind of get at it too. >> Okay. Um, so we have it just it really
depends um on how long the courts take. Like for instance, um we have some people, and I think I've said this at previous board meetings, we have some people that owe
money, um who we've had, and I want to say quote unquote the court process, but we've either delayed it, um continued it or not suited it, and then had to come back and refile. Um, I think it's
important to to kind of throw in there too that a lot of these people that have actually received agency assistance, once that balance is paid, they come right back and start acrewing. Um, i.e.
what Kathleen is going to talk about later with the budgeting and finance. Um, also it depends on courts. It depends on partner involvement, like are we trying to work it out with legal aid? Um, do they have partners that are
trying to help them? Um, so it's kind of hard to uh focus in more on it because there are so many different variables. Does that answer the question?
>> Um, John has his hand up. >> Yes, Mr. Thank you. I'm just going to provide a little bit more context hopefully. Um, so it's very hard to give an answer on
the average. Um, I'll say we know our average rent charge is around $240 a month. Um, we do not move forward with eviction actions on any tenant unless
it's at least 60 days old. Um, so we haven't collected rent in at least 60 days. We move folks into the eviction diversion program after not collecting rent the first month. So when rent is
missed on the 5th, uh, that referral should happen. And so, um, folks are getting into the program faster and earlier, which is important because these, uh, earlier touch points and interventions, um, are important and
what can save families because when large balances do build up, which we do have families in some of our units that pay 1,200, 13, 14, 1,500 bucks a month in rent. And so, um, missing a couple months could be really detrimental, uh,
to getting financial assistance to help that family because a lot of organizations have monthly caps and annual caps and then lifetime caps. And so early intervention is really important. Um, and so it's hard to say
uh the average of the families in here. Um, but you will have families in here that may only owe $35 because that's our minimum rent. But that $35 is important. We need to have that touch point with that family um to make sure that we are
providing whatever services they may need. Uh, and maybe it's filing for a hardship exemption, but it's figuring out what that is and bringing them in and having a touch point conversation. >> Thanks, Miss Banks and Mr. Sales. That's exactly. Yeah. Very informative.
>> Okay. Um Okay. Can you move down just a little bit, Kathleen, to the filings? Okay. So, um we wanted to just provide a little context. Um and these filings I actually should be that should be April 25.
Sorry, I missed that um in looking at the edits. Um so you'll see the number of filings for rent, the number of filings um for non- rent, which could be like
maintenance um damages uh etc. And then the rent and non-ren um the total was 30 there for our um subsidized portfolio affordable. And
then you can see the numbers for the non-public market rate portfolio. Um, of those total 16 evictions were diverted through funds um that were
either obtained by working with our asset collections manager um reaching out for funds as well as resident services working with families to obtain funds. Um, and like I said earlier, a
lot of the families that we are seeing once the balance has been paid, they come right back in. Um, and so we are in our monthly meetings, we are talking about like what is what does followup look like? Um, and we are following up.
It's just, you know, the reality is once a lot of people get that rent paid off, they kind of check out until it's time to check in the next time. Um, if that makes sense. So, we're trying to follow up. We're trying to evolve our um our
response to kind of meet that need. Um unfortunately, it's easier to get people to take money than to kind of dig in and get to the root of the problem, but we are trying to work on creative ways to um do that. So, um any other questions
on my part before I move on? >> Yes. Sorry. Uh one quick question just of those 16 do you have that broken between the two portfolios? >> Yes. So the uh believe the numbers were
hold on just a second. I have another document I can um 15 were affordable and one was um non-public market rate. >> Okay. Thank you. >> You're welcome. And uh one quick second
Toronto in the you scroll back up and I will say that one non market actually became a public housing. >> Correct. >> Because there was a subsidy issue like that person was severely rent burdened. They were paying way more than they
could actually afford. And once they actually got in the subsidized program, their rent was cutting, I think it was less than half of what they were actually being charged when they were in the nonpublic market rate portfolio. They were living in the unit before we bought it. Um, but they were severely
rent burdened. Uh, and I just also want to point out, um, the eviction diverted is really, really big and important. Yes, these are filing numbers are big. Uh, and we need to get them a lot lower. Uh, these filings are really costly. The
money you see owed, nine times out of 10, we would never collect it. And so, we've lost essentially $100,000 there. And then we've had to spend probably another 25 to 50,000 between turning
units and legal fees. And so, uh, it's a really a lost loss situation. Uh, we have families that could not afford to live anywhere else. Uh, and we've also, uh, have debt that we're never going to
receive anyway. Um, but we really had no other interventions after trying and going through this program. >> Thank you, Mr. Sales. >> Okay. Um, and I do just want to clarify that we it's not typical that we take
somebody from a nonpublic market rate. It just so happened that the stars aligned and this person's name came up on the list for a unit right when they needed it. And so we were able to work with agencies and get the balance paid
off and they were able to move into a subsidized unit. Um, so I just want to clarify that. Um, can you move down please Kathleen? Thank you. So um eviction EDP participation all sites 106
families are currently enrolled in EDP um 98% of those families were deferred for non-payment of rent or referred sorry not deferred it's been a long day u referred for non-payment of rent um
and so the other 2% obviously would be for other issues um non-rant issues Um 88 participants have exited the program since August. Uh those who have exited were in EDP for an average of 76 days.
Um 18 new participants per month on average. Um and and and then 82% carried over from the previous month. And those again are just the people that pay rent late every single month who are who are
referred standard and we call them carryovers. Um and although we are trying to work with them, everyone doesn't accept the help. Um and uh so we're working still working on trying to evolve that. Um
and then we have broken down I don't need to read everything verbatim but we've broken down the month um and then the numbers in EDP and every month when we meet um we are pushing our teams to
be diligent and be vigilant. Um, if you identify anything, not just money, but any needs that a family may have or come to you and speak about, let's get them in the eviction diversion program. Um, let's find resources. And sometimes it's
not a reactive, it's a proactive, right? We want to just try to recognize any issues that may become a future barrier. So, um, from August to January, referrals increased by 55%.
>> Miss Banks, we've got a Yes, we've got a couple questions. Go ahead. >> Um, so I just wanted to ask, so when we say that they exit the program, so how are we I guess how are we distinguishing? So, does that mean they
they cured and they completed the program, but we don't count them as a diverted eviction? I just want to make sure I'm thinking about the numbers the right way. So, can you like graduate and and never get that close? And it has to we have to actually be get to the eviction proceedings for us to say the
eviction was diverted. Is that >> Well, no. Sometime some people graduate um and I saw you Mr. Sales. You can you can uh you can piggyback on me. Um just real quick, some people graduate and they get out of the program and then you know they move forward and do what they
need to do. Um, you also have people who we've tried for a few months to um, resident services, Kathleen's team have reached out, PM has reached out multiple times and they've either refused to help um, or they're just nonresponsed. Um, so
that could be a reason for exiting them. Um, it doesn't mean they won't come back in. It just means we've behind and you know, did you want to say something, Mr. Sales? So sorry just just one thing just to clarify on that. So like so they exit
the program that doesn't mean that they diverted that their eviction was diverted. It just means they stopped participating. >> Correct. For one reason or another. Yes. >> Okay. Okay. Thank you. >> Be success. We'll try to break it down a little bit more next time.
>> Um we were just trying to get the information out, but I >> No, this is I'm really glad to see this. Really appreciate it. And I think we'll continue we'll we'll probably continue to ask you >> too many questions and and we'll all get there. But I think you know especially when I see the increase in referrals and
like >> like this is just something that we're all going to have continue to like deal with. Uh certainly the current economy like I don't I'd be shocked if it wasn't getting worse. That's a terrible thing.
But um you know so I'm we're just trying to make sure we fully understand what you're telling us. So sorry about that. >> So [clears throat] then and then are the 16 who were diverted they're not the 106 that's currently like that means that
you've served other people you know that they were like it would be 122 totally. Is that correct for the for the six? I'm like where how does the 106 >> go back up a little bit >> and the 30 is that just the ones that
were f like I'm I'm confused by that. So were this the 30 were they not part of the EDP? I I'm confused by that. >> What 30? >> Sorry. Oh, sorry. The I sorry I was looking at the 42 the 42 filings >> f filing is is actually filing in court.
It's okay. >> Yeah. No, the evictions diverted are the ones that have been those were actually filed cases, right? Got it. Fing court. Um, we came together as a team to try to figure out how do we like nine five
alarm fire. How do we intervene in this pending eviction to save this family? >> Gotcha. Okay. So that's what those 16 convictions diverted because there were actually filings in the court for those 16 families. >> And then theoretically then the 106
number is the ones that we are currently attempting to divert. >> Correct. They're currently in the program. We have not done a filing on them. We're trying to keep them keep a filing from happening on them. That's why we're intervening at the first month like day number six.
>> Okay. >> Because we can't file at day number six. Right. Yes. >> Uh but we want to intervene at day number six um to have as many intervention opportunities as possible before we get to the point where we have to file. >> Okay, that's really helpful. Thank you.
Um my other question was, you know, you said um some folks are are denying like any attempts to um receive help or are non-responsive and do you have insight as to why that may be the case? Um,
I I just think it's life, you know. Some people don't want help. Some people don't want people in their business. Some people never answer the door, never respond to a notice. Um, we've done phone calls, we've knocked on doors, we
have um Kathleen's team, she can speak more into this. Um, they are reaching out um every month when we meet. there's always a handful of people or more that just simply will not participate and
will not respond. And I just think that's people in general. >> Everyone is not going to respond. Um, everyone is not going to want to participate. Um, so that's also something that we
talk about constantly and try to um, you know, see how we can get around that. Go ahead, Mr. Sales. Yeah, I I think it's a little bit of everything. So like uh these are families who in a lot of cases haven't
paid rent in in months and so there's a little bit of anxiety there. >> Yes. >> That the response of from CRJ is going to be we're going to evict you. We're not going we're not here to help you. >> And so it's trying to change that norm.
And residents may have the right to feel that way because that is traditionally the case and that may have been the case in the past, >> but this program was created to be the opposite of that. >> And so, uh, it will probably take some
time. >> Yeah. >> Those 16 diversions happened after months of trying to intervene >> before we ever got to a foul. Mhm. >> Like the scenario with the the family
switching like there were multiple interventions at several different points. Uh and yes, sometimes it takes over a year to process an eviction because of those several interventions because sometimes we'll say, "Hey, we'll give you a chance, but you need to get to this point."
>> Or, "Hey, you make this payment and we'll make this payment." So, uh, last year I think we got $16,000 and so we created a program where we incentivize payments. So, if a resident came to a table and made a portion of a payment that we matched it, >> right? Okay. So,
>> and so, um, it's going to be things that we're going to have to continue trying. The interventions don't stop because we vowed. Like if residents are coming to the table, we are at the table ready to do a repayment agreement, ready to call
every agency that has funding available or that we may think have a funding available and work with them. And now we have a new part of this program that Kathleen is going to highlight later on uh that's going to also help. And so the interventions don't stop once the filing
happens. Uh but um we are now filing now which we did not do in the past and that's getting community members word and so uh this we have to make sure folks know about this program that we're educating folks about this program and
all the interventions uh that we have already in the process and now we're creating these additional interventions um all the way up until um the actual writ is filed and the sheriff is coming
to the to the unit, we have the ability and we have work with families. >> Okay, that's great to hear. I feel like that maybe I just misunderstood what you had said maybe a couple months ago. Sorry, I'm I'm apologize for taking so much time. It just feels like this is really important. Um, and I'm new and
I'm trying to get my head around everything. Um, but I had I guess I had understood previously that if if something had been filed in court that it was kind of hard to stop that ball rolling once it once it got rolling like once those those funds had been
allocated toward eviction proceedings. Um, and so I'm very heartened to hear that that is not entirely the case and that there is there's more actions happening and more touches happening to try to come to the table with, you know, residents who probably don't have
anywhere else where they can live. >> That that is almost absolutely never the case. I think Deline as our attorney can [clears throat] tell you that that is the process uh because of how long we have some of these cases. Gotcha. I
mean, she's probably still billing us for cases at the beginning of the year of last year, right? >> Because we work with families for so long. >> Okay, that's awesome. >> Yeah. And to I mean to the extent the board needs reassurance and we could certainly schedule a separate u meeting
to go back over the process, which I think we've done in the past, but John is absolutely correct. It takes a long time because first and foremost the staff and John make efforts to work with
the family to see if there are alternatives. We go through payment plans. We go through repayment agreements. We work with the families to see if there are obstacles in their lives and things that we could help with
to prevent an eviction. So, it it takes many many months before we actually get to the point of an unlawful detainer. It's a really lengthy process. And I have to say that the housing authority really does a great job of working with
residents and trying to find ways to prevent eviction from happening. But what the board needs to keep in mind as well is that some families simply don't want to work with us at all. Mhm. >> And so at some point it becomes also an
issue of fairness as to making sure we enforce the lease and we give everybody the same opportunity to comply with the rules and to work with us. If a household simply has no interest in
working with staff or answering the correspondence or meeting with us, then eventually it's just not fair to those who are paying their rent. if we let other families not pay their rent or otherwise violate their lease >> and then you have the issue of families
who are not in compliance because they have criminal activity and of course we have to take action. >> Yes, that >> we have to we have to protect the interests of the community as a whole and the safety of other residents as well. So,
>> please keep that keep that in mind, but know that there is a process and it's actually a pretty lengthy process from the moment of a violation of the lease and the actual moment of termination of the lease and eviction. Many months go
by with multiple opportunities for the family to meet with the staff and work on the situation to remedy it and keep the lease intact, so to speak. Great. Thank you all for your thoughtful
responses and for this. >> Okay. Is this me too, Kathleen? >> Yes, I believe so. Or is this >> um >> Yes, it's the last one for you. >> Okay. Um so, let's see. Um so, we
continue to collect data obviously. Um we will continually be refining this internally at our meetings, at our team meetings as we um go through strategies to improve. We take what we've learned
and kind of pivot um as we improve the program. Um and so I won't read you all the numbers. um the early result. The only thing I did want to say is this 8,500
plus um that number is higher than that. Um actually last year considering the economy and everything um agencies were a tremendous tremendous help to our non-ren
EDP participants. Um, we had one family in particular, I think that over the last year and or maybe 12 or 13 months came up with um 8,000 in one account and
then maybe 10,000 or 11,000 the second time. Um, so agencies really came through for our residents last year. I know this year will be tighter due to the change in government. So again, we
are continuing to work through and see what that looks like since there will not be as much money available for um just the non-ren issues by themselves. Um so it looks like they throw in a median amount of background owed across
the sites um of $732. Um [gasps and sighs] and um looking at the patterns of mispayments, late payments, and debt of acral, as as stated, we there's a clear need for budgeting and financial
education. Um and as we've all talked about tonight, it's not the easiest thing once the debt is paid to get people to buy into um helping themselves really just to understand budget and finance. And so that's something we're still working on.
um immediate efforts to provide more information and technical assistance um and auto payment. Um I know and Mr. Sales may be able to speak to this. Our finance department has been working um a lot on that trying to get it set up for
the sites that don't have it. Um because some people do want to use those automatic payments. And then we also have people who are just, you know, they like to go get their monthly orders and bring them in. So we like to have that um some diverse forms of payment
um chronic nonpayment having an earlier intervention and so we have um every move in um in 2026 is required between my team and Kathleen's team almost every
single time to be a warm handoff and introduction to the family so that they can speak to many either any issues that they may have maybe something that we recognized on a landlord reference that we didn't necessarily deny them for, but
we want to kind of get ahead of it. Maybe it was, you know, some housekeeping issues. Uh maybe it was some issues with the children. I'm just throwing those things out there. So, we kind of want to get ahead of that. And so, um warm handoffs for new movements
so that we are meeting the family. Kathleen's team is having a chance just to have an initial conversation and kind of catch anything that could be an issue early and then if it's a non-issue just to build that rapport and relationship.
um outreach. I think Kathleen's team is also working on um some more uh like brochures and things that we can have just to make sure that everybody knows that these services and these programs
are available to them through CRA. Um and we continue to um you know look at how do we educate people on lease? How do we get people to show up so that we can educate them? Um, and just break
things down for them so that it's truly understandable uh for them. Um, and that's all I have. Um, are there any questions on that? Went through kind of quit.
>> I just want to say thank you very much. We've been um we're very glad to see this and I I know it's just like some pages, but I recognize I want to acknowledge like how much work um and how
um you know persistent you guys have had to be to to keep keep uh pushing on this and and trying to help people. Um and it's it's tricky. Uh so I just want to say thank you. [snorts] >> I'd like to echo that. Thank you so
much, >> Mr. Sales. >> Hey, can you scroll up a little bit, please? >> Uh, so I just wanted to point out that the information in the top of the chart is only for West Haven. >> So, that information is just uh a little
snapshot of what West Haven looks like and what West Haven has dealt with uh for the eviction diversion piece. Uh in the future we we'll be able to break down all of these sites and be able to give snapshots. Um there are some that are too small but we can't because you
we'll be giving out confidential information. Uh but uh for the other sites, the larger sites, we can give this level of detail information on what the site looks like. Um and so as you see, $38 is the lowest. Uh $35 is our
minimum rent. Uh and there's a $3 late fee. And so that's why it's $38 is the lowest. Uh so 10% is the late fee. Um and so that's what we'll have and in the future we'll be able to do that quarterly. Um
maybe highlighting certain sites that we're seeing a lot of activity in. >> Uh and I just want to point out the deeper analysis, the touch points with resident services and property management is really important. Um we have a lot of programs
that are really beneficial to residents financially. So um there's a FSS program where residents can come in and their income is locked in and rate is rent is locked in and as their income increases their rent does not increase. Well it
does but it gets escroed and so they get their money back at the end of the program. Um at West Haven you have the jobs plus program so you have earn disregard. Uh, and so these are really good financial benefiting programs for residents and we need to make sure
residents know about them and they're enrolling in them because for um let's say I think we probably have um in public housing eligible units for FSS
there's probably about a hundred u but we don't have 50 residents in the program >> in public housing and so I think 50 is an easy number because when you think about it, who who doesn't want to get all the money back that they paid in rent that's above what they're make what
they're paying right now over the next 5 years? >> Mhm. >> I think I think people would love to have that benefit. Um and so we need to make sure folks know about it. They're getting signed up and the folks who are currently in housing that have issues
where they can't get in these programs that we'll work with them to get those issues addressed so then they can get in the program. uh it's not benefiting any of us having these programs and not having residents in them. And so these
early touch points with both management, property management, and resident services is going to be really important and key for being able to see this self-sufficiency grow. Uh because we've already started looking at the budget numbers. Uh HUD is cutting what we're
receiving uh pretty large this year. uh it's even larger than what they cut us last year. And so um it's going to be important that we're collecting every dollar and that we are working with our residents uh because we have a re a
large number of families that are paying $35. Uh and if you're in the jobs plus program, yes, you may still end up paying just $35, but the federal government is going to kick in and pay the rest uh while you're in the program.
And so, uh, CRJ gets the financial aid benefit, residents get the financial aid benefit. It's a win-win is that we need to make sure residents are actually signing up. And so, I just wanted to highlight the deeper analysis and those additional touch points. >> Thanks so much, Mr. Sales. I have just a
a like follow-up question, I guess, which is um, in terms of kind of being strategic about how to make sure that residents are learning [snorts] about these opportunities. You know, you all are much better at that and have much more experience on that. And I'm wondering if you're including the tenant
board or far interns or like what is like the outreach look like in order to try to kind of amp up the strategic, you know, um growing of that these programs that are available and are being underutilized. Kathleen, can you talk about uh what
not what conversations uh and opportunities we've engaged with with FAR on the eviction diversion because we do see FAR as being a key partner. >> Yeah. >> The eviction diversion like um just as much as they're our residents, they are
just as much FAR residents. They're FAR participants. Uh they're we are paying FAR to engage with them. Uh and so we need to use FAR as a partner and so we want FAR to be a partner in this like this goes along with educating and
advocating and so um I'll let Kathleen and go a little bit further about our conversations but we agree that FAR needs to be a partner in this and we want them to be a partner in this. >> Thank you. >> Um yes and I also you know see this as
area of continuous improvement that we need to work on. Um we have um you know when we talk about grant programs sometimes we encounter distrust among individuals that um believe they've seen things come and go and they don't if they don't want to do it it's just going
to go away and um and the programs um you know we didn't have a resident services department until about four years ago. So some of these these programs weren't here and um it's been a really long time since something like Ross or FSS was hosted by this housing
authority. So we are having to you know um build trust with our community that this is a long lasting program they can benefit from and you know worth coming and sitting down with us to hear about. We um we have um we had a really great
experience with the annual plan process this year where we talked about some of the grants. Um but we're going to be um looking at more opportunities. Um we're really looking at more of a multiaceted approach um for 2026 because you know we
want to look at the lessons learned. That's not working. We know just sticking flyers out is not going to do it. we know door knocking isn't going to do it. Um it's finding, you know, folks who have magic skills in getting people
to show up and, you know, really focus on getting them to be part of the process. And sometimes it's phone calls, sometimes it's text, um sometimes it's social media, but we've got to use all of those things. We can't just focus on a few things. Um we've been doing a lot
of pivoting this year as we try different things and um just um I try to ask my whole team to be willing to say this is not working. We've got to try something different. >> Um we're looking at different trainings. Um we've got some um two staff that have
been doing mediation training, two staff that did participatory budgeting training. Um we're we have one staff and um some others the whole team soon to follow that's doing um training through um for senior planet with working with
um elderly. Um but we also see some of those trainings could be really helpful with families. Um we're one of the big things that we started in um the end of 2025 and have really rolled out the beginning of this year is roundts and
that is where you have the um the core um staff or community members that are trying to assist an individual in crisis come together with permission from that individual. Um, often it it might be like our Ross coordinator, a property
manager, um, and the resident themselves and maybe a resident service coordinator. Sometimes we've had some scenarios where maybe they bring in someone from, you know, a counselor from region 10 or another agency, but everyone comes together to, you know,
support the resident and see make sure everyone's on the same page. Everyone understands what's going on. And often at these meetings, we're also finding out like a a big ball that was in the air that no one knew about. and um
that's able to make us um realize, you know, what that missing piece was that we weren't addressing. Um unfortunately, many times it's addiction. Um which is really hard. Um but it it it's, you know, it's kind of almost a gift if we
can actually make it to the table so we can talk about it. It's rare. >> Um but domestic abuse is huge on that list. Um very hard to talk about it. you know, you really have to have staff. Um, our property management team puts a lot
of time into this as well on, you know, building that trust so that, you know, the resident will actually confide in them what's going on in the household. Um, lease education is something, um, we've been looking at from many
different, um, perspectives and I think what we're going to do is just try to tackle it a lot of different ways and see what works. So, we've got some PowerPoints we're about to roll out. We're going to see how visual presentations go. Um, conversations. Um,
you know, I maybe see if legal aid and other groups could do some, you know, our stuff doesn't even have to be there while they do it. It's just figuring out what um works for different individuals. Um, we're also looking at um mental
health supports. We've developed a really great relationship through um region 10. I I want to credit the late board member um Alice Washington. She worked tirelessly to talk to UVA and region 10 about, you
know, really showing up and um and the Blue Ridge Center opened and we have um Marie P, someone with lived experience who's coming into our communities and working with all of our staff to um meet with people around some of the
challenges they're facing. Um she's a clinical social worker. We also um we we have not made a lot of movement yet on on substance abuse use and addiction resources, but we're constantly talking about it. You know, Prolific's boxes,
the sexy boxes, those are such a great resource to have. Um we see so many people going to those and we're financial literacy and budgeting. Um I talked to this I talked to city staff about this some too. Um, you know,
this is definitely one size does not fit all. Um, we need to have classes that are um really basic um about money coming in and out and then we've got folks that want to talk about home ownership. So, it's a really wide range
and we just need to do a better job of figuring out um individuals learning styles and um the best way for us to approach them with this information. Um we have so many folks that are working
like several jobs and um are just getting more behind every month. And so building that trust so we can actually get to a point to have some hard conversations. Where is that money going? Um what's happening? Is somebody
in your life using that money? Um is it just that your teenager really wanted a phone? Um you know what what happened? Um and it's hard it's hard to talk about that and it can be very embarrassing. Um it's a vulnerable place to be in. um
funds for rental assistance are just drying up everywhere and I'm going to talk about that a little bit more in a moment. Um just basic needs um for a while there during co it was so easy to find people's stuff.
>> Um but that's really dried up. Um we've had to get really creative. We're trying to every month take a church we never talked to before and reach out and even if it's toilet paper, you know, just something that we can get um to have on hand.
>> Can I Is there like a like could you advertise to local groups? Like is there a place that people could drop off food or or goods or something? Like is there a standing location where people could make donations? Is that something that you all could accept? I don't know if even legally that's something that you
could accept. We have a little bit of that right now. Um sometimes we're really careful because um we have, you know, sometimes our community is the most generous. Yeah. >> But we also sometimes get donations that um you know, we have to be careful that they're in um in a condition that's best
for the family. >> Right. >> And we um >> we also um you know are looking at space. We've got a real space challenge at the moment. This summer is going to be so exciting when you know South Street comes online and um but right now
space is a real challenge. Um but we are still very focused on um food insecurity and Mr. sales had done some research and looked at a program in Flint, Michigan where they part the housing authority there or housing commission partnered
with the food bank >> and um we were really excited about this program because they um set it up so residents could work in the food bank and um work off up to $300 of their debt.
>> And we started digging into this. Um, I met with our local food bank and realized that they're, you know, the size of Flint, Michigan, the size of Charlotte's still very different. >> Um, and they just don't have the capacity. We learned so much though because we learned that, you know, loaves and fishes where the a large
portion of our community goes on a regular basis. >> Um, our food bank isn't even big enough to supply them. They're getting it from um, one of their affiliates. So, but we did find out what we need to do um to become a partner and be able to access
resources to um get shelving um and actually, you know, set up um cold storage and get the thing we want really want is a vehicle and and that is that we need our 501c3
um because they cannot we cannot be a partner without having that. Um, but one of the partners that the food bank has is the Stanton Housing Authority who does have a 501c3 and through that they have set up a food
pantry that we're going to go visit April 1st and um just look at the size of it. Um, so I'm already reaching out to them to get better ideas about space requirements. >> Their model isn't exactly what we want to do. Um, they just have a really big
open house once a month. We're looking at something that can actually deliver to sites and have more of a emergency feel. But um you know in partnership with redevelopment we're going to be really looking at some of the spaces that we might have coming online. Um
initially at South Street phase 2 um but this is really exciting for us because it's an opportunity for individuals to um work on paying off some of their debt. >> Um Mr. sales. Did you want to talk on that?
>> Yes. [clears throat] Uh and I also wanted to give an update on the nonprofit >> that that should be going to the city council. Um maybe on Tuesday, if not on Tuesday,
uh the Monday uh the first is March 2nd. Uh so the first meeting in March uh but it is um it is in the the purview and they're working on it. it is on their agenda uh to be approved by the end of our fiscal year.
>> Do we need to show up to that city council meeting? Because obviously if we do then we got I got to make we got to make sure that some of us are available. >> No, I I I I think we should be good. Um we were able to make a pretty good argument about the um how other housing
authorities this is the norm. Uh, Deline gave us some really good material um that uh the city council uh well the city has not pushed back on. I haven't heard had any questions from them about it. Uh and so I think we're all good.
>> Um we'll be prepared for that. Uh and so I do think we're in a really good position to get that going. uh so we can move forward with this expansion because one thing that we know uh is that there's li very limited rental
assistance funds um a lot of the programs have guidelines um to receive assistance go back up um go back up >> I'll back up okay sorry >> u there are very limited number I just
want to see where the expansion probably is um There are very limited number of resources uh and they are requirements and there are a lot of lifetime restrictions, annual restrictions and so
uh we have to look at other options to address um our issues with uh eviction diversion opportunities. Uh and so the cost of eviction is really high. Uh, and
so the answer is not mass evictions. >> U, number one, we could not afford it and you would just have a bunch of vacant units because there's no way we could afford to turn every one of those vacant units. >> No way we could turn 100 units.
And so we need to look at other options. And so the expansion pilot is an option to get folks in who have [clears throat] $500 or less uh and of old rent or maybe they they
owe a little bit more than 500 and we are working with them on other other interventions like maybe we have uh we're talking to um the Haven about some of their rental assistance funds or we are working with Pathways and Pathways have committed to a certain certain
amount and but we need to get to a zero to keep them from being evicted because they've gotten to the point where we've already filed on them. And so now to to really intervene, we actually need to have
money at the table or if we've gotten to the process unfortunately where we've been awarded the unit, then you have to actually have it down to a $0 balance. And so now we're now we're looking at, hey, how do we intervene when there's very limited resources
um in the community and this family um really has no other options. And so we're looking at this pilot program where individuals can work um in at the food bank or another nonprofit. So, we're going to be looking at other nonprofits
um to see what other opportunities are out there in the community where nonprofits and agencies are going to be able to get really free labor and resources and good resources and labor uh from our community while the resident
also is getting job skills, some additional knowledge. They're building social social skills as well and they're also paying down their balance without having to come up with the money themselves. And so CRA at that point
will we will zero out up to $500 um per the families. And so we're valuing it at $15 per hour, which is what city council I think passed as a liveable wage. Um, and so we're I think uh Flint did at $10 an hour, but we're
doing it at 15. I think their max was 300 and so we've increase our max to 500 um as part of that initial expansion and then we'll see how this works. But right now, we are trying as many things as we
can to help. And so we're constantly researching to see what other agencies are doing across the country to see if it works here. Um we can't stop trying. We have 108 families uh that need us to keep trying.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> And then the last part we had here was just around assistance. Um, you know, we are really struggling now to find um, you know, assistance for families who do
owe rent. Um, there's lifetime limits. There's, um, you know, a lot of our local churches have also, you know, said, "We've we've seen we've seen you before. We need to focus on another family." Um, and they're just they're
just getting so many requests. You know, they're overburdened as well. Um, you know, we hear over and over again that they're going to go back to their congregation and have to have bigger conversations because what they thought was enough for the year was gone, you
know, in months. We um are looking at um the number that we looked at once we um put things together was 274. um that you know going towards rental
assistance for um careers, educational opportunities. Um we're really just looking at um different ways to support people. We have individuals that um want to do some um technical training and sometimes, you know, we have funding for
it. Sometimes we're able to partner with um economic opportunity of the city and cover it, but other times it's not covered. And so, um, whenever possible, we had them, you know, do financial aid, but we just recently did some cooking classes and you had to have a, um,
schoolage child living in your home to qualify for the funding that was available at the moment. And, um, and we had to, you know, pull from some grant funding to cover some of the other interested folks. But we know we could do that class many times and have a lot more people show up, but there is not
funding for it. um financial literacy and education. We are really wanting to get creative here. We want to have um you know, if people are going to come and we're going to do um we've even looked at some fun boot camps other areas are doing where if you come to all
the trainings, you get $500 at the end, but you have to show up at every single one. Um which is a big incentive, you know, to come to all of these. But we we're looking for funds for things like that. Um funds to bring in trainers. We've got people in our community with lived experience that do amazing
trainings, but we need to be able to compensate them um to come um especially as we're we've got a lot of people that experience incarceration or other members of their family did and bringing in trainers that also have this lived experience is a lot more meaningful
often than having our staff do the training. Um barrier navigation. So, something that um you know, I was saying it hit me in the face lately, but it's just so many people we're working with
right now um owe money um for, you know, with the DMV that's causing them not to get their license back. Their license has been suspended. Um insurance costs, just getting a car. Um over and over again we're finding folks
with you know multiple points and you know we we want to be able to start some cohorts around helping people have a valid driver's license. Um it it is a gamecher to actually be able to do that
and have a vehicle. Um we have a lot of people driving vehicles that don't have driver's license and the cars are not registered and they're in danger every day. Um we really worry, you know, some of our families that our English learners fall into that and that's not a
good, you know, they're risking a lot with that. We um we're finding um our self-sufficiency program which um Mr. Sales was just talking about, we um since our program is new and hasn't been
here for decades like most housing authorities, we don't have a pool of money um that's been collected over the years from individuals who might have defaulted that could go to help other residents. We, you know, we're starting from scratch with that program. And we
every, you know, every week we have someone that has a need. It might be um you know something as simple as getting a school transcript that's 20 bucks, but we really just want to have a little bit of funding available to help with that.
Um and you know, all of our um all of our programs, we we want to make it more approachable. If you come to a class, we want you to walk away with something. It doesn't have to be a gift card. It might be a gift bag. Um we um our youth
coordinator has been doing some really fun stuff where he's looking at on a Saturday once he starts his youth council that they won't just get a box lunch. Inside the box lunch are going to be some gifts might might be household stuff. um he's going to mix it up, but
something just to show, you know, that we care and we want to be able to do more of that at our trainings. And um but just at the core of all this, just having some funding to help um you know, incentivize people coming in to talk to
us so we can help them when they're behind on rent. Because um you know, the the two biggest things are number one, people not showing up to talk to us. um even though we've tried many ways to reach out to them. And number two, they
do come and they've maxed out everywhere. And um they've been they've been coming to us on a regular basis. We know them well. And um maybe they're finally at that point where they're ready, but they've maxed out all their
resources. And um we do know, you know, it's often takes several times to um to get someone there. And there's just so many things going on in people's lives we don't know about. But um these these are kind of the numbers we were looking
at. And um Mr. Sales, did you want to say anything about this? >> Yeah. Um I I will say so in the past um and one reason why we developed the eviction diversion program, um when it
got to the housing authority, the housing authority has historically had an issue with not collecting rent. Um and so the pandemic only made it worse. Like you had families who traditionally paid rent but because
there was like this moratorum on evictions and then we had like organizations and foundations paying rent like just out to goodness saying hey we're going to pay rent for families
for 2 months. um you had that happen. And so then it became a snowball effect. And so families who traditionally always paid their rent um who had lived in public housing for 15 years then became a
family who was at risk because they slipped and they could not catch up. Uh and so in the past we've asked the city to wipe wipe off balances and um and then we've gotten back to that same
dollar amount or more the next year. And so last year we said, "Hey, we can't do that." Like that is not fixing the issue. Uh at some point um we have to fix what's going on. Uh, and the only
way we do that is by, hey, we have to get super super super involved. We need to be boots on the ground and we have to have these interventions where everyone's come to coming to the table and we're figuring out what's going on. Um, we've been doing that. I think we
have the numbers to show that we've been doing that. Um, I think we also now uh have we can show that we have families that have come to the table that we can't find assistance for because they've met that lifetime cap or they've
met that annual cap or maybe they're not affiliated with an organization or a certain church and so a church will not provide for that or that family. And so we need to get assistance if we want to
keep families in the program. Um because there are a a large number of families that have relatively large balances. There are families that as you have seen throughout the year that we've taken off
because we've actually moved forward with evictions because I think there was a family at South First Street that had $24,000 worth of just the South First Street balance. Um, which I think was more than half of First South First Street. And so
there wasn't any options and it and so we had to move forward with something else. But we do have families that are engaging with us that have no other means to pay. And so we are looking at
creating um a program where it's similar to the match program that we did in the past where we put families on payment plans and as they make payments we are then making a payment on behalf of them from this balance. The problem is CRA
cannot afford to eat the old balance. Um, it's just financially impossible. Uh, and we can't zero it out like it wasn't there. Uh, because then we're doing a disservice for all the families. They actually paid
rent. Um, and so we need to come up with the mechanism. We think based upon what we've done in the past uh with this $16,000 pilot program that was funded by I believe CDBG last year um that the mix payments
with the match from uh the resident and a match from the program uh works. uh it continues the engagement because the individual is on a payment plan and so they're constantly meeting with us and we're constantly engaging with them. Uh
and we're also going to tie in budgeting and financial literacy. There is a big issue back in the day or maybe just 15 or 20 years ago. Payday loans were the thing. Those are well they probably still are the thing but
the bigger thing now is the um earn the earn while you earn the day of the same day pay >> payday loans. >> They're not even payday loan. Well, I guess they are payday loans, but they're not really because you're getting money
for the money that you're going to get from your paycheck. And so by the time your paycheck hits, most of your paycheck is gone. And so we didn't know that this was such a big issue in the community until we started talking to
the families and analyzing their actual like statements. And as like when you see that, yes, they have their direct deposit hit and then they have a daily pay >> daily >> take out almost all of the funds that they that they should have gotten that
day because they've already spent it. and it's a budgeting financial and a resource issue. And so we are trying to tackle the resource issue with the jobs plus programs. Um looking at other workforce development opportunities. Uh
section 3 CRA has done a lot of hiring of residents. Um we can't hire every resident. I wish we could. Um, but we are trying to do our part and so it's going to be multiple different things, but we have to start with
budgeting and financial literacy because that's that's really the entry level and where where we're seeing folks. We're getting folks who have never rented an apartment before and we have a preference to get folks who have been homeless and so we need to be able to
provide more resources than we've provided. We are doing way more than what we've ever done as a housing authority. And I'm saying that and I've only been here 5 years, but Kathleen, you've been here a while, a couple stints. And so, you know, what was previously done and we've done more than
we've ever done before. And we still have so much more to do because we have taken on the challenge of saying, "Hey, we are going to serve everyone and make sure everyone is safe in housing and trying to protect everyone in their
housing unit." And so, it's a big task. All of us are up to it, but we do need some financial assistance. And so we're going to put in a request with the city, but in the future, this will look like nonprofit funding requests. The same
thing that like PHA puts out. I think they do it once or twice a year. Um where they put out opportunities on like even their LinkedIn cuz connected and so I see it. And so we're we would be essentially doing the same thing. Uh but
initially um we're going to come to the city for a funding request uh to meet this. >> So this >> we wanted to put it in front of you guys so you guys see it and know what what it is and so maybe you all can also usher
in champion this. >> Yep. Great. And so does that like would it be helpful for us to like are we have are you going to have an individual meeting or do you want us to show up to a like city council meeting or what does that look like? What does support look like?
>> I think sending emails to city council >> because we're going to we're going to put this in I think sending emails is really good when it does come up. I think coming to city council or >> um sending in an email when it does come on the agenda and it's published uh
would also be good. Uh, councelor Payne, what what else would you recommend? >> I think all those things make sense. I mean, I think emailing city council, um, you know, our budget
process is currently underway. Um, I would guess this would be most likely come from last year's year end budget surplus. Um but attending um budget work sessions and you know advocating
uh for this to be a priority emailing again emailing city council speaking at city council meeting public comment just advocating it for it being a big priority is important. Um, I think like all things with the city, um, just
repetition is the most important thing for getting it on the radar of all of city council as a priority. >> And we did recently approve um somewhat similar scale of allocation for Pedmont Housing
Alliance for work that's somewhat similar for on their end. So the issue is at least been on the radar of city council. So, I don't know if that was [laughter] answered the question. >> Yeah, it's good. That was [snorts] a good answer. Thank you. >> Awesome. >> Awesome. Well, thank you guys so much
for this presentation and the thoroughess and I know a lot of work went into this. A lot of work goes into doing the work. So, you have the data. >> Yeah. >> So, appreciate that. >> Thank you. It's really helpful. >> Okay. I will open it up for FAR or public comment.
Hello, my name is Sophia Morero and I'm a community organizer at FAR. Um, so one of the things I wanted to talk about today was uh we put out a campaign to collect supplies previous to the snowstorm that happened a couple weeks ago. Um, Wendy Gal was the lead on that.
um she contacted every single resident that she knew, went to knock on doors, um and asked what they needed, how much of it, all that stuff, water, food, um supplies, all that. Um and it was pretty
successful. We also um put out a campaign. Our our social media person put out a campaign on social media asking for uh donations and that was also pretty successful. I went I personally went door knockocking at
Riverside um and was able to contact some residents who needed who honestly just needed anything of anything. They would just take whatever um because as we all know as and as we all saw there was like nothing left in the grocery stores. So it was a rough time. Um but I
just wanted to bring that to y'all's attention and say that that was a big win. Um, we hope to be able to mobilize um when stuff like this happens um especially for public housing residents and in order to make sure that they have
the supplies that they need. And so um I know I personally I know that the week that the week right after when the snow was everywhere and like every car was like snowed in. I know that that was really difficult for residents as well. So, I want to make sure that we're
talking about, you know, snow clearing, we're talking about um access to roads, we're talking about power, water, all that stuff. Um because that is important for residents. Um and then I wanted to talk a little bit about some upcoming
events that we have. So, interesting conversation today because we are having a financial literacy event on March 2nd at 5:00 p.m. at Crestston Halls. We've had one before at South First Street. Um, and we didn't have like a
like a huge number of people, but the people who did come did state that they found it very very helpful and they did connect. This is done in collaboration with the Pedmont Housing Alliance. Um, and they did say that they found it particularly helpful. Um, and one of them actually reached out to a financial
coach afterwards. So, I thought that was a win. Um, additionally, we'll we'll be giving out some candy for Valentine's Day for kids. um tomorrow and Saturday. Um we also have bingo at West Haven on uh February 18th at 2 PM. Uh
additionally, we have uh the community power lab led by Wendy which is on February 19th at 6 p.m. Um and there will be food and drinks at all these events. Um, and I also wanted to talk through a little bit of the collaboration we're currently working on
doing know your rights and working with the immigrant population and public housing communities. Um, specifically reaching out to uh organizations like IRC, Simba, um, and trying to make collaborations um, trying to get something on the books, trying to figure out what the
best way is for people to know their rights, to know what they should do in these types of situations. Um obviously it's a very tense situation. It's a very stressful and anxietyritten situation um for these people. And so sometimes it can be hard for people to actually come
out because of fear that something might happen to them, fear of you know anything. And so uh we want to make sure we're doing whatever we can and thinking about the best ways um to really think through how we can best help the
community and give them the resources that they need. Um, so we're also working on some youth events. Uh, I know Miss Asia is, uh, currently working on some youth events. Uh, she's also working on a resource fair that'll happen at South First Street
with just a lot of different community organizations in the in the community. Um, and I know they're also looking to do a youth bingo. Uh, bingo is very popular among public among FAR residents. So, we love doing it. Um, but yeah, that's just kind of an overview of what we have going on. We hope to
continue working for public housing residents by public housing residents um and do whatever we can to help and support and uplift the community. >> Awesome. Awesome. Thank you so much. >> Do we have any other I don't know who
else would comment actually based on what I see. >> Okay. Well, that concludes our agenda for this evening. Thank you so much. This is probably our longest meeting in a little while. So, thank you everybody for hanging in there and staying engaged.
>> Can I get a uh motion to adjurnn, please? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Yes. >> All oppose. >> All right. Thank you everybody. Have a great night. >> Thank you. >> Take care everyone. >> Thank you. Good night.
>> Good night. >> Good night. >> Good night. Oh my god.