No preview available
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-09-24 Advisory Committee on Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Human Rights Minutes Advisory Committee of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Human Rights Minutes for the Tuesday, September 24, 2024 Meeting 6:OOp � Council Chambers Members Present: Chair Liana Fellis, Vice Chair Katie Brydon, Member Andre Chasse, Member Kathryn Robinson, Member Melissa Bulcholz, Member Jason Canniff Members not present: Member Julie Davis, Member Gabrielle Wiley, Member Theron Letterlough, Student Rep. Rebecca Jones, Student Rep. Evelyn Marasco, City of Bangor staff and guests present: Assistant City Manager, Courtney 0'Donnell; Homeless Response Manager, Jena Jones; City Clerk, Lisa Goodwin Call to Order Call to order at 6:OOpm Introduction of advisory board members and city members present Minutes Motion to approve by Vice Chair Brydon; seconded by Member Chasse The minutes were unanimously approved at 6:05pm Bangor Homelessness Response Introduction of the new City of Bangor Homelessness Response Manager, Jena Jones • Working with partners to connect unhoused individuals to housing opportunities • Goal: to facilitate a one-stop-shop for individuals in Bangor and provide up to date information on resources • Need: identify who is unhoused in the Bangor region o There is no active data as to who is unhoused, what resources/services they are receiving, what are the gaps that Bangor is missing, etc. o Partners: HUB 7 Coordinator and Maine Housing • Jena is currently creating connections with the individuals who are already doing this work and what new partnerships need to be established o To identify: what housing is available, what does healthcare look like for unhoused, what does transportation, documentation (drivers' licenses, etc.). Goal is to remove the barriers. • Challenges: o Not enough inventory or information on the individuals o Greatest need in the city is at the encampment behind Hope House on Texas Ave. • Removing barriers in further discussion o Jena Jones identifying the fastest route to overcome barriers (ex. working with the state to fast- track the documentation process, etc.) o Thinking creatively about who the city can work with to overcome o Working with Government Assistance and Service Providers • Centralized map of resources? o Working with the city to update the website and improve the ways in which people can find the connectedness of resources o Working with FAM and their Peer Workforce Navigator to jumpstart them into employment • Partners o Outreach Providers in the encampment, shelters, Bangor PD, Bangor Public Library, Food and Medicine, CHCS o Always looking for new partners to collaborate, specifically nonprofit • Goals: o Short term goals: understanding the community of unhoused folks in the community; who are they, what are the demographics, etc. i Advisory Committee of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Human Rights Minutes for the Tuesday, September 24, 2024 Meeting 6:OOp � Council Chambers o The number of older adults who are experiencing homelessness are increasing at an alarming rate; currently experiencing circumstantial homelessness, not chronic homeless because there is a gap in assisted living, etc. o Long term goals: better system mechanisms, reaching quality data (a reliable data set); right now much of what is gathered is self-reported o HUB 7 goal: reach quality data set by January 2025 • Next steps: get folks into space that feels safe and warm to be able to envision themselves being housed, such as the warming centers. During this time, introduce them to resources and service providers to help o Housing First model o Dramatic increase in the number of individuals who are staying in shelter long-term (from 40 days pre-pandemic to one year) so we can't serve more individuals • Maine Housing Grant o Housing Navigation and Stabilization and Eviction Prevention Grant will hopefully provide them the resources to help provide people the resources before and after they experience homelessness • www.youtube.com/cityofbangor—Gov Ops meeting from September 4t" will explain Built for Zero and Public Health response to HIV outbreak in the encampment Education Election Update from the City Clerk, Lisa Goodwin • Polls: 7am —8pm. Free rides on the Community Connector all day • Absentee ballots will be mailed on October 7tn 0 2600 people have already requested early voting o Can request online if voter registration is up to date; a family member can request for you • Starting on October 8t", residents can vote at the City Hall until October 2gtn • October 28— November 2: will be available at the Cross Insurance Center to vote • Same day registration in the state of Maine;just bring ID and proof of residency. If you don't have proof of residency, you can ask to swear an oath of residency • Maine.gov/vote to register beforehand • Accessible voting: online ballots for individuals who cannot handle paper o Can request through the state o Accessible voting machine for everyone to use ■ All polling places are ADA compliant • Updated the place for tabulation to be closer (less walking for individuals) • Clerk goes to all nursing facilities and level 4 housing units; also going to Dorthea Dix for voting • Provisional/challenge ballot for folks who do not have an ID or residence (unhoused); you do not have to have a 'home' to register to vote. You can register where you live, even if it is outside • Poll watchers and petitioners allowed to watch; they cannot impede a voters' right to vote Election numbers • 24 machines, 28 different tallies o State ballot will have rank choice and plurality on the other side 0 3 ballots for each individual ■ City candidates; UTC ballot and city referendums; State candidates and state referendums League of Women Voters Candidates Forum • October 8t", 5:30p—8:OOp z Advisory Committee of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Human Rights Minutes for the Tuesday, September 24, 2024 Meeting 6:OOp � Council Chambers • Will be hosted at (temporary) City Hall for all school committee and city council candidates Policy Naming of City Owned Properties • Policy and purpose was given to the ACREIHR meeting in the September agenda • Comments, questions, suggestions by October 15t" to ACM 0'Donnell Naming of City Street Names • Separate process to evaluate • Share recommendations/ideas for the city to explore, such as best practices for updating names, improving our recognition of Wabanaki land, etc. State of the Committee Review of the ordinance: is there a way to improve the name of the committee • Advisory Committee vs. Committee with city involvement • More emphasis on the subcommittee work and advancing the achievements/outcomes of the work • Is the subcommittee structure working? • Is ACREIHR working or should there be a more recognizable/actionable name? Appropriate structure and improvements to consider: • Do we need to increase the number of individuals on the committee to do the work being done? • Is there a way that we can involve volunteers? • Are committee members charged by the council then allowed to put that charge on others, especially volunteers? • Expectation: if involving volunteers, can't charge the volunteers with the work of the committee that comes from the City Council New Business Applications for new individuals to join the ACREIHR • Four openings for the committee and two student appointments will be open • Encourage citizens to apply Next meeting topic:state of the committee and ordinance change options. Need to invite City Council Chair. New Website Launch • Updated and will launch on October 31 • Feedback and information shared about layout and changes have been made • ADA compliant and accessible • To consider.•ACREIHR page on the new website with resources and information Community Connector will suspend Saturday service temporarily Closing of Meeting Move to adjourn by Vice Chair Brydon, seconded by Member Robinson Next Meeting: October 22 at 6:OOp 3