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OKAY.[ CITY OF BAYTOWN NOTICE OF MEETING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2024 5:30 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBER, CITY HALL 2401 MARKET STREET, BAYTOWN, TEXAS 77520 AGENDA CALL TO ORDER AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF QUORUM ]
I'LL NOW CALLED, UM, WE'RE NOW CALLED THIS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADVISING COMMITTEE MEETING TO ORDER THE TIME BEING FIVE 30.[1. CITIZEN COMMENTS Notice is hereby given that in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code, Chapter 551, prohibits the Community Development Advisory Committee from discussing, deliberating, or considering, subjects for which public notice has not been given on the agenda. Issues that cannot be referred to the administration for action may be placed on the agenda of a future Community Development Advisory Committee Session.]
THE FIRST ITEM, THE AGENDA IS ITEM ONE, WHICH IS CITIZENS COMMENT.THE PURPOSE OF COMMENT IS TO GIVE ALL INTERESTED CITIZENS THE RIGHT TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS.
EVERYONE DESIRING TO, UM, DESIRING TO SPEAK SHOULD HAVE EITHER SIGNED THE APPROPRIATE LIST IN THE FOYER OR EMAIL THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STAFF PRIOR TO THE POSTED TIME OF THE MEETING.
EACH CITIZEN SHALL GIVE HIS OR HER NAME IN ADDRESS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A PROPER RECORD OF THESE COMICS.
THERE RULE THE RULES, ALLOW EACH PERSON ONE MINUTE TO SPEAK.
A CITIZEN MAY PASS HIS OR HER TIME TO ANOTHER PERSON WHO HAS REQUESTED TO ADDRESS A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADVISING COMMITTEE.
HOWEVER, NO CITIZEN REMARKS SHALL EXCEED THREE MINUTES IN TOTAL.
EITHER THE ONE MINUTE OR THE THREE MINUTES LIMIT MAY BE EXTENDED BY A MAJORITY VOTE OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADVISING COMMITTEE.
I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO BE AS BRIEF AND TO THE POINT AS POSSIBLE.
PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADVISING COMMITTEE CANNOT DISCUSS OR DELIBERATE ON ITEMS FOR WHICH PUBLIC NOTICE HAS NOT BEEN GIVEN ON THIS AGENDA SINCE THERE IS NO ONE DESIRING TO SPEAK.
THIS CONCLUDES THE CITIZENS COMICS PORTION OF THE AGENDA.
[a. Conduct a public hearing regarding the City of Baytown Community Development Block Grant funding for the 2024-2025 program year.]
I WILL NOW MOVE ON TO ITEM TWO, A PUBLIC HEARINGS.I NOW CALL THIS PUBLIC HEARING CONCERNING THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF BAYTOWN 20 24, 20 25 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM.
ALL PERSONS DESIRE, UM, TO SPEAK SHOULD SIGN THE LIST IN FRONT OF THE ROOM IF THEY NOT HAVE ALREADY DONE SO.
TODAY'S HEARING IS FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECEIVING INPUT WITH REGARD TO THE 20 24, 20 25 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM BUDGET.
EVERYONE DESIRING TO PRESENT INFORMATION AT TODAY'S HEARING WILL BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO.
I WOULD, HOWEVER, LIKE TO ENCOURAGE EACH SPEAKER TO BE AS BRIEF AND TO THE POINT AS POSSIBLE.
THIS IS NOT AN ADVERSARIAL TYPE PROCEEDING.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS HEARING IS TO GIVE ALL INTERESTED PERSONS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS, SUCH QUESTIONS SHALL BE DIRECTED TO ME.
AND WITH THE AID OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SUPERVISOR, MS. SHARON, I SHALL ATTEMPT TO HAVE THESE QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
I WOULD NOW LIKE TO, UH, ASK THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM BAY AREA SCHOOLS.
I WILL NOW ASK THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS TO MAKE THEIR PRESENTATIONS.
AND THAT IS BEING ON TAB EIGHT.
I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS OF BAYTOWN.
AND, UH, JOINING ME TODAY IS ALSO, UH, MICHELLE KERRY REDDICK, AND SHE'S OUR DIRECTOR OF PROGRAM OPERATIONS.
UM, FIRST I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR THIS GRANT AGAIN.
UH, WE ARE APPLYING FOR OUR JOB READINESS TRAINING PROGRAM.
UM, AND SO WE'D JUST LIKE TO GIVE YOU SOME INFORMATION ABOUT OUR JOB READINESS TRAINING PROGRAM AND SOME OF OUR OUTCOMES, UH, FOR THIS YEAR ALREADY.
SO, OUR JOB JOB READINESS TRAINING PROGRAM WAS A VIRTUAL PROGRAM THAT WE LAUNCHED IN, UH, 2021.
UM, AND THAT WAS OF COURSE, RIGHT AFTER COVID.
AND WHEN WE WENT BACK INTO THE SCHOOLS FULL TIME, WE WERE ABLE TO ACTUALLY MAKE IT A IN-PERSON, UH, PROGRAM.
AND SO WE NOW HAVE A FACILITATOR THAT COMES IN AND PROVIDES WORKSHOPS ON ALL 13 CAMPUSES, UH, BECAUSE WE ARE HOUSED ON 13 CAMPUSES THROUGHOUT GOOSE CREEK, ALL OF THE JUNIOR HIGH CAMPUSES AND ALL OF THE HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUSES.
AND, UM, WE MAKE SURE THAT WE CURTAIL ALL OF THE WORKSHOPS SHOPS UNIQUELY DESIGNED FOR EACH CAMPUS.
SO SOME OF THE CAMPUSES, UM, THEY MAY WANNA FOCUS MORE ON RESUME WRITING.
THEY MAY WANT TO FOCUS MORE ON APPLYING FOR COLLEGE.
UM, AND SO THE FACILITATOR, SHE WILL DESIGN THE WORKSHOPS TO BE UNIQUE TO ALL OF THE CAMPUSES.
UM, WE DO COVER, UM, UH, MULTIPLE THINGS LIKE RESUME WRITING, INTERVIEW PREP, UM, COMMUNICATION, TEACHING THEM HOW TO FILL OUT, UH, THE FSFA, UH, TEACHING THEM HOW TO KIND OF GO THROUGH THEIR CHECKLIST IF THEY ARE A JUNIOR OR A SENIOR, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY SHOULD BE, UH, APPLYING FOR, OR IF, IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO SEEK OUT DIFFERENT THINGS THROUGH THE COLLEGES.
WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE AWARE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES
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AND UNDERSTAND HOW TO APPLY FOR THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.AGAIN, WE ARE BASED ON ALL OF THE JUNIOR HIGH HIGH SCHOOLS.
UM, THIS YEAR WAS UNIQUE BECAUSE THIS WAS THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE OPENED IT UP TO EIGHTH GRADERS.
UH, AND SO, UM, IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE OUR EIGHTH GRADERS, UM, EXCITED ABOUT BEING INTRODUCED TO, UH, THE DIFFERENT, UH, AVENUES OF APPLYING FOR COLLEGES.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE FOUND OUT THROUGH OUR EIGHTH GRADERS THAT STOOD OUT THE MOST WAS, UH, THE SCHOLARSHIPS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
UM, A LOT OF THEM, YOU KNOW, FEEL AS THOUGH, WELL, THERE'S, THERE'S NO NEED FOR ME TO LOOK INTO COLLEGE BECAUSE MY PARENTS CAN'T AFFORD FOR ME TO GO TO COLLEGE.
BUT WHEN THEY REALIZE THAT THERE IS MONEY OUT THERE, UH, FOR THEM TO APPLY, UH, THAT WAS A LIGHT BULB THAT KIND OF WENT OUT, WENT OFF FOR THEM, AND THEY WERE REALLY EXCITED TO LEARN ABOUT THAT OPPORTUNITY.
UM, SO WE WERE HAPPY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO JUST KIND OF ENLIGHTEN THEM AND KIND OF GET THE WHEELS TURNING IN EIGHTH GRADE SINCE NEXT YEAR, THEY WILL BE IN HIGH SCHOOL AND THEY WILL BE HEARING MORE ABOUT COLLEGE.
PIVOT FOUNDATION IS THE, UM, IS THE, UH, FACILITATOR THAT WE USE THAT COME THAT WILL COME IN AND PROVIDE THE WORKSHOPS, UH, TO OUR STUDENTS.
UM, THE, UH, CEO, HER NAME IS VERONICA LAWRENCE, AND SHE'S BEEN, SHE'S BEEN WITH US SINCE 2021, SO SHE'S BECOME VERY FAMILIAR WITH OUR ORGANIZATION, UH, AND VERY FAMILIAR WITH OUR STUDENTS AS WELL.
AND, UM, SO WE CONTINUE TO USE HER.
WE CONTINUE TO PARTNER WITH HER.
AND SO WE'RE EXCITED THAT WE WERE ABLE TO BUILD THAT RELATIONSHIP AND CONTINUE THAT PARTNERSHIP WITH, UH, THIS ORGANIZATION, LOCAL BUSINESS CONNECTIONS.
WHEN WE OPENED UP THIS PROGRAM, ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO DO WAS IF OUR STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, IF THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH THE PROGRAM AND COMPLETED IT AND THEY'VE LEARNED NEW SKILLS ON HOW TO APPLY FOR JOBS, WE WANTED TO PARTNER WITH SOME OF THE LOCAL BUSINESSES, UM, AND ASK THEM, WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO EXTEND AN INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STUDENTS? AND SO WE HAVE HAD THAT PARTNERSHIP IN THE PAST.
WE'VE HAD IT WITH, UH, LITTLE CAESARS, UH, WE'VE HAD IT WITH TACO BELL, WE'VE HAD IT WITH EL TORO HERE ON DECKER DRIVE.
UH, AND THIS YEAR, UH, AR DECIDED TO JOIN AND PARTNER WITH US.
AND SO THEY HAVE SOME SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES OPEN FOR OUR STUDENTS.
AND SO WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF COLLECTING RESUMES, UH, TO SUBMIT TO AR FOR OUR STUDENTS TO APPLY FOR JOBS AND TO UTILIZE THE SKILLS THAT THEY LEARNED THROUGH JOB READINESS, UH, INTERVIEWING SKILLS, FILLING OUT THEIR JOB APPLICATIONS, UM, AND THINGS OF THAT SORT.
SO OUR SITE COORDINATORS WILL WORK WITH THEM ONE-ON-ONE, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR RESUME IS COMPLETED AND TO ASSIST THEM WITH APPLYING FOR THE JOB AS WELL.
AS MEL SAID, I'M THE DIRECTOR OF PROGRAM OPERATIONS HERE.
WE HAVE SOME STUDENT IMPACT STATEMENTS, AND THESE ARE JUST TWO OF THE MANY STUDENTS THAT PARTICIPATED WITH OUR JOB READINESS TRAINING PROGRAM.
SO ALLEN, HE'S A STUDENT AT STERLING HIGH SCHOOL, AND THOSE OF YOU WHO ATTENDED THE LUNCHEON HERE HAD A CHANCE TO HEAR FROM ALAN, AND HE'S SUCH A WEALTH OF MOTIVATION AND INSPIRATION.
HIS STORY BRIEFLY IS THAT HE'S A MIGRANT HERE FROM MEXICO, AND HE TALKS ABOUT HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE JOB READINESS TRAINING PROGRAM, HE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO THE INFORMATION THAT LED HIM TO SEEKING EMPLOYMENT.
AND TRACY IS A STUDENT AT ROBERT E. LEE HIGH SCHOOL.
TRACY WAS ALLOWED TO EXPAND HIS IMAGINATION THROUGH THE JOB READINESS TRAINING PROGRAM.
HE PARTICIPATED IN A LEGAL SUMMER ACADEMY THAT WE HAD IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, AND HE DIDN'T THINK THAT HE WOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS TO GO TO COLLEGE.
AND SO HE REALIZED THAT HE TOO WAS ELIGIBLE.
HE JUST HAS TO PUT FORTH THE WORK AND THE MOTIVATION, AND HE DID.
SO HE APPLIED FOR THE LEGAL SUMMER ACADEMY WITH U OF H, AND WE'RE JUST WAITING TO HEAR BACK WHETHER OR NOT HE GOT ACCEPTED.
SO HAVING PERSONALLY OBSERVED THE JOB READINESS TRAINING PROGRAM, I'VE SEEN THE KIDS OVER THE PAST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS DEVELOP SKILLS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL FOR CONTINUING AFTER HIGH SCHOOL WITH SEEKING EMPLOYMENT.
AND, UM, THIS IS, UH, FROM THE CEO, VERONICA LAWRENCE, AND WHEN YOU HAVE TIME, THIS IS JUST, UH, HER FEEDBACK THAT SHE HAD GIVEN US, UM, OF WHAT SHE HAS EXPERIENCED
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WORKING WITH US OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.UM, AND HER THOUGHTS OF, UH, WORKING WITH THE STUDENTS AND HOW SHE'S SEEN THE PROGRAM GROW, AND ALSO HOW SHE'S SEEN, HOW BENEFICIAL IT HAS BEEN FOR THE STUDENTS.
AND THIS IS, THESE ARE JUST SOME PHOTOS OF SOME OF THE JOB READINESS, UH, PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE HAD.
SOME OF OUR STUDENTS, UH, WHEN THE PROGRAM IS COMPLETE AND THEY RECEIVE THEIR CERTIFICATES.
AND THESE ARE OUR, UH, OUTCOMES OF OUR PARTICIPANTS.
UH, THIS YEAR, AS YOU CAN SEE, WE AGAIN HOSTED THE WORKSHOPS ON ALL 13 CAMPUSES, UH, BECAUSE WE EXPANDED INTO THE JUNIOR HIGH, AND WE'VE HAD A TOTAL OF 153 STUDENTS THAT PARTICIPATED THIS YEAR IN THE PROGRAM.
I GOT HOW WE AT TODAY? I DO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE, UH, THE PIVOT FOUNDATION.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING, JUST A LITTLE MORE EXPLANATION.
EXPLANATION ABOUT WHAT THEY, DO THEY SET THE CURRICULUMS OR WHAT YOU GUYS, UH, PER CAMPUS OR HOW DOES THAT WORK WITH THEM? YES, THEY PROVIDE THE CURRICULUM.
UM, SHE, SHE HAS A, SHE HAS A BASIC CURRICULUM THAT WILL COVER ALL AREAS OF THE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS, BUT IF THE SCHOOLS DON'T, DO NOT NEED ALL OF THE COMPONENTS AT THAT TIME, SHE'LL EITHER SHORTEN THE WORKSHOP, IT'S JUST BASED ON THE NEED OF THE CAMPUS.
BUT YES, THEY PROVIDE THE CURRICULUM MM-HMM
HOW DO Y'ALL CHOOSE WHAT STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO ATTEND THE PROGRAM? SO WE MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT.
ALL OF THE SCHOOLS, THEY WILL MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT ON CAMPUS.
THE SITE COORDINATORS THAT ARE BASED ON THE CAMPUS, THEY POST FLYERS IN THEIR OFFICE AND AROUND THE SCHOOL.
UM, SO IT IS OPEN, UH, TO THE SCHOOLS, TO, TO THE ENTIRE SCHOOL.
UM, AND THEN THE STUDENTS THAT THEY WORK WITH PERSONALLY ON THEIR CASELOAD, UH, THEY WILL TARGET, UH, A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF STUDENTS ON THEIR CASELOAD AS WELL.
HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE THAT THE CHILDREN THAT YOU'RE SERVING ARE LOW INCOME? HOW DO YOU DETERMINE THAT SINCE THAT IS ONE OF THE PREREQUISITES FOR CDBG? SO WE DO PRE AND POST SURVEYS, UM, AND THEN, UH, WE HAVE THE STUDENTS FILL OUT THE PRE-SURVEYS.
OUR SITE COORDINATORS HAVE ACCESS TO THE SCHOOL'S DATABASE, SO WE'RE ABLE TO ACCESS WHEN THE STUDENT, UM, APPLIES OR WANT TO REGISTER FOR THE PROGRAM.
SO THE SITE COORDINATOR HAS ACCESS TO PULL UP THE DEMOGRAPHICS TO BE ABLE TO SEE IF THE STUDENT IS MEETS THAT CRITERIA, THAT INCOME CRITERIA.
SO DO THEY CHECK TO SEE IF THEY RECEIVE, LIKE FOR YOUR REDUCED LUNCH OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? YES.
IT AUTOMATICALLY TELLS US THAT WHEN WE ACCESS THE STUDENT'S INFORMATION, THEY'RE, UM, THERE ARE CODES.
AND SO THE CODES TELL US IF THEY ARE FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH STUDENTS IN THE PAST.
UM, HOW MANY OF YOUR, WHAT PERCENTAGE WOULD YOU SAY OF, OF THE STUDENTS ARE ONIC? OH, PROBABLY WHAT, 90? PROBABLY 90%? YES.
AND THE STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT, IT'S BECAUSE THEY'VE HEARD OF HOW GREAT OF A PROGRAM IT IS AND THEY WANT TO PARTICIPATE.
UH, UM, WHEN YOUR STUDENTS START, LIKE NOW YOU'RE STARTING IN, IN, IN THE EIGHTH.
FROM THE EIGHTH GRADE, RIGHT? YES.
AND GOING TO THE NINTH, UH, HOW LONG DO YOU KEEP 'EM, I MEAN, FROM, DO, DO THEY USUALLY LAST THROUGH THE WHOLE SESSION OF THE FOUR YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL? OR WHAT IS A DROPOUT RATE? MAYBE THAT'S THE, THE, FOR IF THEY'RE ON OUR CASELOAD? YES, MA, HOW LONG DO WE HAVE THEM ON OUR CASELOAD? YES, MA'AM.
THERE ARE SOME STUDENTS THAT WILL REMAIN ON OUR CASELOAD, UH, GOING INTO THE NEXT YEAR.
IT DEPENDS, BECAUSE WE HAVE A CRITERIA BASED OFF OF TEA.
SO TA HAS GIVES US A CRITERIA LIST IN ORDER FOR US TO PULL A STUDENT ON CASELOAD.
THERE ARE SOME STUDENTS THAT WE CAN CLOSE OUT.
UH, THERE ARE SOME STUDENTS THAT WILL ROLL OVER.
ANY MORE QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, MA'AM.
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AREA REHABILITATION CENTER OPPORTUNITY CENTER PROGRAM THAT IS TAB NUMBER SIX READERS ON, SO I CAN SEE WHAT I'M ACTUALLY DOING HERE.UH, JERRY PAGE, BAY REHABILITATION CENTER.
I'VE SEEN YOU ON THE PAST FOR OUR PLAYGROUND THIS YEAR.
WE'RE COMING TO YOU FOR A LITTLE BIT, UH, DIFFERENT PURPOSE.
OUR OPPORTUNITY CENTER PROGRAM AND PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION FOR OUR CLIENTS TO, UH, COME TO AND FROM THE CENTER, UH, AND ALSO TO AND FROM TRAINING SITES WHERE THEY, UH, RECEIVED, UH, EMPLOYMENT TRAINING AND THINGS ALONG THAT LINE.
THE OPPORTUNITY CENTER PROGRAM MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING A SAFE HAVEN FOR ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES.
WHEN DECIDING WHETHER TO HIRE A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY, THE EMPLOYER WANTS TO FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THE INDIVIDUAL ALREADY UNDERSTANDS THE JOB OR WILL HAVE THE CAPACITY TO LEARN WHAT IS REQUIRED OF THAT POSITION.
THE OPPORTUNITY CENTER PROGRAM PROVIDES VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND PLACEMENT SERVICES FOR ADULTS WITH AUDIO AND OR VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS, INTELLECTUAL, MENTAL, OR PHYSICAL DISABILITIES TO HELP THEM PREPARE FOR, RETAIN, REGAIN, OR ADVANCE IN EMPLOYMENT.
THE PROGRAM PROVIDES HANDS ON OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTICIPANTS TO LEARN THE NECESSARY SKILLS TO THRIVE IN THE WORKPLACE.
PARTICIPANTS WORK AT VARIOUS COMMUNITY WORK SITES PROVIDING REAL WORK EXPERIENCE.
IN 2023, THE OPPORTUNITY CENTER PROGRAM PROVIDED SERVICES TO 234 UNDUPLICATED UNDUPLICATED ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES.
THESE ADULTS PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES TO GAIN SOCIAL AND VOCATIONAL SKILLS, AND THE PROGRAM TEACHES AND REINFORCES ACCEPTABLE SOCIAL WORK BEHAVIOR AND WORK SKILLS SO THAT EACH PARTICIPANT CAN BECOME MORE SELF-SUFFICIENT.
THE PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE THE NECESSARY TOOLS TO GAIN VOCATIONAL SKILLS APPROPRIATE IN THE WORKPLACE, INCLUDING APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR, WORK, RELATIONSHIPS, AND WORK PERFORMANCE, QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF WORK.
THE OPPORTUNITY CENTER PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING SERVICES DAY HABILITATION, WHERE PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE INDIVIDUAL SOCIAL AND EMPLOYMENT SKILLS TRAINING TO ENHANCE THEIR ABILITY TO INTERACT AND PARTICIPATE IN THE COMMUNITY VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND JOB PLACEMENT.
COMPETITIVE PAID EMPLOYMENT IS AVAILABLE THROUGH SPECIFIC CONTRACTS WITH AREA, AREA EMPLOYERS, PROGRAM STAFF TRANSPORTS AND SUPERVISES PARTICIPANTS IN THESE SETTINGS.
JOB READINESS TRAINING, CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION EDUCATES PARTICIPANTS ON PROPER BEHAVIOR AND NORMS FOR THE WORKPLACE.
THE SERVICE ENSURES THAT THE EMPLOYER RECEIVES A WELL ADJUSTED CONFIDENT EMPLOYEE.
WE ALSO PROVIDE HOME COMMUNITY SERVICES, TEXAS HOME LIVING SERVICES.
THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES QUALIFIED PARTICIPANTS AN ALTERNATIVE TO MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH AN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY OR RELATED CONDITION.
WE ALSO PROVIDE WORK ADJUSTMENT TRAINING WHERE PARTICIPANTS LEARN TO BECOME PRODUCTIVE AND SELF-RELIANT, AND THE PARTICIPANTS LEARN TO RELATE WELL TO THEIR COWORKERS AND SUPERVISORS.
WE ALSO PROVIDE VOCATIONAL ADJUSTMENT TRAINING.
PARTICIPANTS REHEARSE VOCATIONAL SKILLS IN A SIMULATED WORK SETTING TO CULTIVATE DESIRED WORKER TRAITS AND ATTITUDES.
THESE SKILLS ARE NECESSARY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WORKPLACE, AND WE ALSO HAVE A YOUTH TRANSITION TO ADULT PROGRAM THAT ASSISTS TRANSITION AGE STUDENTS 16 TO 22 YEARS OF AGE TO LEARN VOCATIONAL SKILLS TO EASE THE TRANSITION FROM SCHOOL TO WORK.
I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU A SHORT, UH, LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM ONE OF OUR AREA EMPLOYERS.
WITH MY COMPANY, WE HAVE A STRONG COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING THE OPPORTUNITY CENTER.
THROUGH OUR PARTICIPATION WITH BAY AREA REHABILITATION CENTER.
THE ORGANIZATION WORKS TO PLACE THEIR CLIENTS IN VARIOUS WORKPLACES, PROVIDING THEM WITH A VALUABLE JOB, TRAINING AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONAL GROWTH.
I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE OPPORTUNITY CENTER THROUGH TWO STORE, THROUGH MY TWO STORES, PLATO'S CLOSET.
AND ONCE UPON A CHILD AS A DONOR AND A SUPPORTER OF THE OPPORTUNITY CENTER, I'VE WITNESSED FIRSTHAND POSITIVE IMPACT THAT THEIR PROGRAMS HAVE ON INDIVIDUALS LOOKING TO GAIN VALUABLE WORK EXPERIENCE.
BY OFFERING THESE CLIENTS THE CHANCE TO WORK IN OUR STORES, WE ARE NOT ONLY HELPING THEM DEVELOP IMPORTANT SKILLS, BUT ALSO CREATING A SUPPORTIVE
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AND INCLUSIVE WORKING ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY FEEL VALUED AND RESPECTED.I'M PROUD TO BE A PART OF THE COM COMPANY THAT PRIORITIZES GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AND SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY CENTER.
THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP, WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THOSE SEEKING TO IMPROVE, IMPROVE THEIR EMPLOYMENT PROSPECTS, AND BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR THEMSELVES.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT ALMOST ALL OF OUR PARTICIPANTS IN THE OPPORTUNITY CENTER PROGRAM ARE BELOW POVERTY, THE POVERTY THRESHOLD, AND RECEIVE A SMALL MONTHLY SOCIAL SECURITY PAYMENT.
GOVERNMENT FUNDING IS AVAILABLE FOR PROGRAMS PROVIDED BY THE OPPORTUNITY CENTER PROGRAM.
HOWEVER, THE WAIT TO ACQUIRE THIS AFTER APPLYING IS 10 TO 12 YEARS.
IF A GUARDIAN OF THE ADULT WITH SPECIAL NEEDS DID NOT APPLY FOR THE FUNDING BY AGE 10, IT IS LIKELY FUNDING WILL BE UNABLE, UNAVAILABLE FOR THEM TO ATTEND AS THEY EXIT THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AS SUCH, THE OPPORTUNITY CENTER PROGRAM DOES HAVE A SLIDING SKILL FEE FOR THOSE WITHOUT THIS FUNDING, EVEN WITH THE SLIDING SCALE FEE, MANY STILL CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY.
THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT REFUSED SERVICES DUE TO THE LACK OF ABILITY TO PAY.
BAY AREA REHABILITATION CENTER IS REQUESTING A-C-D-B-G GRANT OF $5,000 TO PROVIDE TRAVEL FOR ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES THAT RESIDE IN THE BAYTOWN CITY LIMITS.
THIS WOULD PROVIDE TRAVEL TO AND FROM SERVICES AT THE OPPORTUNITY CENTER PROGRAM, AND ADDITIONALLY, TRAVEL WOULD INCLUDE TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM TRAINING SITES.
THE COST FOR TRAVEL FOR THOSE RESIDING IN BAYTOWN IS 200 PER MONTH AND 2024 BAY AREA REHABILITATION IS RECEIVED FUNDING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY CENTER PROGRAM FROM THE STANDARD INSURANCE, $3,000 HEB $5,000, AND THE GEORGE AND MARY JOSEPHINE HAMMOND FOUNDATION.
$10,000 A-C-D-B-G GRANT FROM THE CITY OF BAYTOWN WOULD PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN ASSISTING BAY AREA REHABILITATION AND MAKING DISABILITIES BECOME POSSIBILITIES FOR ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES IN THE BAYTOWN COMMUNITY.
ONE FINAL LITTLE SHORT LETTER FROM ONE OF OUR CLIENT PARENTS.
I AM THE PARENT GUARDIAN OF JT.
JT IS ALWAYS NEEDED EXTRA HELP ALL THROUGHOUT SCHOOL, AND UP TO THIS DAY.
JT HAS BEEN GOING TO THE BAYER OPPORTUNITY CENTER PROGRAM SINCE APPROXIMATELY OCTOBER, NOVEMBER OF 2007.
THE OPPORTUNITY CENTER PROGRAM HAS BEEN A GODSEND IN OUR LIVES.
THE OPPORTUNITY CENTER HAS GIVEN HIM A PURPOSE, A REASON TO WAKE UP IN THE MORNING AND GET MOVING.
THEY'VE TAUGHT HIM LIFE SKILLS, WORK SKILLS, AND PROVIDED ACTUAL WORK.
HE'S WORKED IN THEIR WORKSHOP WITH WOOD, WORKED WITH THEIR MAINTENANCE CREW, WORKING IN THE YARD AND AROUND THE BUILDINGS, AND IN THE PAST HAS WORKED IN CREWS CLEANING UP MANY OF THE CITY'S PARKS.
AS A PARENT OF A SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD, I'M SO GRATEFUL AND FEEL BLESSED TO HAVE THIS SPECIAL PROGRAM FOR THOSE WHO ARE NEEDING A SAFE PLACE TO GO DAILY, BE PRODUCTIVE, AND SOCIALIZE WITH OTHERS SIMILARLY SITUATED.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? I KNOW YOU MENTIONED ONE OF THE, UH, BUSINESSES THAT, UH, YOU GUYS WORK WITH.
WHAT ARE THE, WHAT ARE SOME OTHER BUSINESSES LOCALLY? UH, I'M NOT SURE OF ALL OF 'EM.
I KNOW WE'VE DONE IT WITH, UH, CARINO.
I DON'T ACTUALLY RUN THAT PROGRAM, SO I'M NOT SURE OF ALL OF 'EM.
I KNOW CARINA'S IS ONE OF 'EM WE'VE WORKED WITH IN THE PAST.
UH, WE'VE WORKED WITH, UH, WALMART.
WE HAD, UH, CHRISTINA DOWLING, WHO WAS A GREETER THERE AT THE WALMART UP FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS.
I, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER HER.
SHE'S, SHE'S PASSED AWAY, BUT FOR THE LONGEST TIME, SHE HAD A PICTURE OF HERSELF AND THEY, UH, TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HER CAREER THERE AT WALMART.
SO WE'VE DONE WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT BUSINESSES WE'RE, WE'VE STRUGGLED TO BUILD BACK A LITTLE BIT AFTER COVID, OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE THAT PUT A SEVERE C CRI INTO IT.
BUT WE'RE STILL, WE'RE WORKING IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING BACK THOSE ORGANIZATIONS, UH, FOR THESE, UH, CLIENTS TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN.
AND THE FUNDS YOU'RE REQUESTING IS FOR TRANSPORTATION? IT'S FOR TRANSPORTATION TO THE BUSINESSES OR TO YOUR FACILITY? UH, TO AND FROM THE CENTER AND TO AND FROM BUSINESSES WHERE WE DO TRAINING SITES.
SO WHAT WILL THE FUNDS BE USED FOR? UH, GAS, UH, THAT TYPE OF THINGS TO BE ABLE TO TRANSPORT 'EM.
AND HOW WILL YOU BE ABLE TO TRACK THAT, THE GAS THAT'S PURCHASED? BECAUSE I'M SURE THE VAN ISN'T ONLY FOR THIS.
IS IT USED FOR OTHER PURPOSES? IT'S USED FOR OTHER PEOPLE, BUT WE HAVE THE CHARGE, LIKE I RICK SAID AT THE BEGINNING, THE CHARGE OF 200 PER CLIENT.
SO THAT WOULD BE BASED ANYTHING BASED SPECIFICALLY ON THOSE CLIENTS FROM BAYTOWN.
UH, AND THEY'RE ALL, LIKE I SAID, THEY'RE ALL, UH, BELOW THE POVERTY THRESHOLD.
THEY'RE ALL ON SOCIAL SECURITY,
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UH, IS ADULT CLIENTS WITH DISABILITIES.ANY MORE QUESTION? HOW DO YOU CURRENTLY PROVIDE THE, HOW DO YOU PAY FOR THE TRAVEL AT THIS TIME PRIOR TO YOU RECEIVING ANY CDBG DOLLARS? I KNOW YOU DID MENTION ABOUT 15.
WE'VE GOTTEN SOME FUNDING IN, UH, FROM UNITED WAY.
I, I MENTIONED A FEW OF THE GRANTS, BUT THOSE ARE USED FOR ALL THE SERVICES.
THEY'RE NOT SPECIFIC TO THE TRAVEL.
SO IF YOU DIDN'T RECEIVE THIS FUNDING, WOULD YOU STILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE THAT ATTEND THIS PROGRAM? WE WOULD PROVIDE THE SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE.
WE'RE NOT GONNA LET THE CLIENTS HANG WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO RECEIVE THEIR SERVICES.
I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT YOUR HOME FOR WORK FOR, FOR HE GOES WHERE AND WHAT TIME? UH, THAT, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I WOULD HAVE TO EMAIL BACK.
LIKE I SAID, I DON'T RUN THAT PROGRAM, SO I'M NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT SURE ON HOW THEY DO ALL THE SPECIFICS ON THE, AS FAR AS, UH, SCHEDULING THE WORK TYPE THINGS.
I CAN CERTAINLY ASK THAT AND HAVE THEM RESPOND TOMORROW.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS, UM, MEALS ON RAILS, BAYTOWN, MEALS ON RAILS.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING BAYTOWN MEALS ON WHEELS TO PRESENT A GRANT.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT, UH, MEALS ON WHEELS DELIVERS A HOT LUNCH MEAL, UM, AROUND NOON TO, UH, LOW INCOME PEOPLE.
OUR APPLICATION STARTS THAT YOU MUST BE 60 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER.
SO WE'RE KIND OF THE END OF LIFE SUPPORT FOR THESE PEOPLE.
UH, WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 46 YEARS, SO WE HAVE QUITE A TRACK RECORD, UH, TO GIVE YOU AN ESTIMATE OF THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WE'RE SERVING IN BAYTOWN ALONE.
AND THE LAST THREE MONTHS, WE SERVED 17,622 MEALS.
AND WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE BAYTOWN, UH, CDBG, WE WOULD EXPECT TO DO MORE AS WE HAVE A CONTINUAL WAITING LIST OF SENIORS WHO NEED OUR SERVICE.
UH, WE, UH, AS I SAID, WE'VE, WE'VE DONE THIS FOR 46 YEARS.
UH, WE HAVE, UH, UM, OTHER GRANTS GIVING, UH, HARRIS COUNTY HEALTH GIVES US A GRANT.
UH, OUR MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR IS THE AREA AGENCY ON AGING.
UH, ALSO WE HAVE A GRANT FROM, UH, THE STATE OF TEXAS, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
UH, WE HAD AN EVENT JUST RECENTLY TO RAISE FUNDS.
UM, AND WE CALL UPON THE PUBLIC TO DO WHAT THEY CAN DO.
UM, MOST OF OUR PEOPLE, UH, I SHOULD HAVE INTRODUCED RUBY TORRES AS THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR.
AND, UH, SHE WILL ANSWER A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS OR EVEN TELL YOU EXACTLY HOW THE PROGRAM A PERSON QUALIFIES FOR THAT.
UH, BUT LIKE I SAY, WE'VE, UH, WE'VE DONE THIS FOR A LOT OF YEARS, A LOT OF PEOPLE.
WE ARE NOW DOING ABOUT 306 INDIVIDUALS A DAY, AND WE DO THAT FIVE DAYS A WEEK.
WE ALSO DO A SHELF STABLE MEAL THAT IS NOT A HOT MEAL, LIKE WE DELIVER NORMALLY ON HOLIDAYS, UH, AS JUST SO THAT THEY'LL HAVE SOMETHING ON THAT DAY.
UH, AND I'D LIKE TO HAVE RUBY HERE EXPLAIN TO YOU HOW A PERSON QUALIFIES FOR THAT SERVICE.
I'M THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF MEALS ON WHEELS.
UM, SO BASICALLY, LIKE HE SAID, WE FOCUS ON THE HOME BOUND SENIORS, UH, THAT STRUGGLE TO COOK OR TO GET
[00:30:01]
TO ACCESS FOOD FROM GROCERY STORE.THEY CAN'T NO LONGER DRIVE, UM, LOAD THEM MODERATE INCOME.
UM, OUR PROCESS IS PRETTY SIMPLE ON HOW TO QUALIFY.
A PERSON MAKES AN INITIAL REQUEST THAT THEY NEED OUR SERVICES.
WE SEND OUT AN ASSESSOR TO GO TO AN IN-HOME ASSESSMENT TO QUALIFY THEM.
WE HAVE A STATE FORM THAT WE HAVE TO FILL OUT, UH, WITHIN THAT STATE FORM.
THEY HAVE TO MEET A SCORING OF 20 TO BE CONSIDERED A HOME BOUND RECIPIENT.
UM, ONCE THEY DO MEET THAT SCORING, THEN WE PUT THEM ON A ROUTE AND OUR DELIVERY DRIVERS DELIVER.
WE HAVE SIX DELIVERY DRIVERS THAT DELIVER THEIR MEALS TO THEIR HOME.
IT'S WAY DIFFERENT THAN, UH, UBER EATS OR DOORDASH.
UM, THEY HAVE TO MAKE COMMUNICATION.
SO MOST OF THE TIME WE'RE THE ONLY PERSON THAT THE PEOPLE THAT WE DELIVER TO SEE ON A DAILY BASIS.
UM, IT'S, LIKE I SAID, IT'S A PRETTY SIMPLE, UH, PROCESS, BUT IT MAKES A BIG IMPACT ON THESE SENIORS LIVES.
THEY DO HAVE TO BE 60 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER.
UM, AND LIKE I SAID, MEET THE SCORING.
THAT'S THE MAIN THING, IS TO MEET THE SCORING BECAUSE IT IS A STATE FORM.
ALSO, I'D LIKE TO EXPLAIN THAT THIS IS TOTALLY FREE.
THERE'S NO CHARGE AT ALL TO THE RECIPIENT.
WE NOT ONLY DELIVER THE MEAL, BUT OUR DRIVERS OBSERVE THE CONDITION OF THE INDIVIDUAL, WHETHER THEY ARE SLIPPING PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY, WHATEVER IT MAY BE.
BUT SO MANY OF OUR PEOPLE ARE, HAVE A DISABILITY OF SOME TYPE.
UH, AND IT'S JUST, UH, IT'S JUST THAT SOMEBODY IS THERE TO WATCH THEM BECAUSE A GREAT DEAL OF THEM HAVE NO FAMILY LEFT.
UH, AND THEY, THEY COUNT ON US.
AND, AND LIKE I SAY, IF WE FIND SITUATIONS WHERE THEY ARE INJURED WHEN WE ARRIVE, THEN WE CALL 9 1 1, GET THEIR CONTACT THAT THEY HAVE LEFT ON THE INFORMATION THAT THEY HAVE GIVEN TO THE STATE.
AND THEREFORE WE CONTACT THE NEXT OF CONTACT NEXT OF, OF, UH, KEN, KEN TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO IF THEY'D LIKE TO GET INVOLVED.
AND IN A LOT OF CASES THEY WON'T.
SO THAT IS, THE MEAL IS ONE THING.
BUT, UH, SOCIALIZATION, THE IMPACT WE HAVE OR COULD HAVE ON, ON THEIR PHYSICAL CONDITION.
AND THEY REACH A, A MENTAL STATE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE TRY TO DO EVERYTHING WE, WE CAN DO, BUT, UH, THE EVERYTHING WE DO FOR THEM, UH, IS TOTALLY FREE.
WE HAVE A WAITING LIST AND WE ARE ASKING FOR CBDG FUNDS TO HELP ADD TO OUR ROSTER THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WE COULD AFFORD TO ADD WITH THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE ASKED FOR.
UH, DO, ARE THE DRIVERS VOLUNTEERS, OR THEY'RE PAID? NO, WE HAD VOLUNTEERS IN THE BEGINNING, UH, WHEN I TOOK OVER IN, IN 2006, BUT AT THAT TIME WE ONLY SERVED 78 PEOPLE.
AND EXXON WAS BIG INTO COMMUNITY SERVICE AND HAD A VOLUNTEER LIST OF 140 PEOPLE WE COULD CALL UPON.
A LOT OF THINGS HAVE CHANGED SINCE THEN.
COVID, A LOT OF 'EM DROPPED OUT.
EXXON, MOVING TO WOODLANDS IS THE BIGGEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO US.
WE HAVE TO GO OUT, WE HAVE 300 PEOPLE AND WE GOT SIX DRIVERS.
THEY HAVE TO AVERAGE BETWEEN 40 AND 50.
UH, THEY ARE MAINLY, UH, CHURCH RELATED.
WE USED TO HAVE A COUPLE OF CHURCHES THAT WOULD ORGANIZE A GROUP TO COME AND DO IT.
UH, WE HAD ROTARY CLUB DOING IT.
SHOULD HAVE SHUT THAT OFF BEFORE.
BUT, UH, WE'VE JUST HAD TO GO TO PAID DRIVERS.
AND AGAIN, THAT COST IS WHAT'S DRIVEN US TO THE POSITION TO WHERE WE'VE HAD TO CREATE A WAITING LIST.
BACK IN THE DAYS WHEN WE HAD THE VOLUNTEERS, WE COULD JUST START ANOTHER ROUTE.
WE COULD DO A LOT OF THINGS WE CAN'T DO NOW.
WE ARE IN A POSITION TO WHERE VOLUNTEERISM, UH, IS DOWN NATIONWIDE.
[00:35:01]
INFORMATION FROM MULES ON WHEELS AMERICA, WHICH I GET A REPORT EVERY MONTH FROM THEM.UH, AND IT'S A DIFFICULT TIME BECAUSE WE DELIVER FROM THE STATE RULES IS 10 30 TO ONE 30.
SO THAT INTERRUPTS ANYBODY WHO WOULD HAVE A MORNING JOB OR AN AFTERNOON JOB SO THAT THOSE THAT MAY HAVE THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING A VOLUNTEER, IT FALLS, FALLS IN A BAD TIME FOR THEM.
WHAT IS THE TIMELINE FOR WHEN A SENIOR APPLIES TO BE PART OF THE MEALS ON WHEELS? DURING ACTUAL MEAL BEING, UM, DROPPED OFF AT HIS OR HERS, UM, DOORSTEP.
SO WE GO BASED ON THE NEED, UM, AND THE AVAILABILITY, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, WHEN I GO, BECAUSE I, I'M AN ASSESSOR ALSO MM-HMM
SO WHEN I GO OUT TO THE PERSON'S HOUSE TO QUALIFY THEM ONCE THEY GOT THE INITIAL REQUEST, ONCE WE SET UP AN APPOINTMENT TO GO TO THEIR HOUSE.
'CAUSE SOMETIMES THEY CAN'T SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.
SO WE HAVE TO COORDINATE WITH THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE AVAILABLE THERE TO ANSWER THE APPLICATION SINCE IT IS A STATE FORM.
AND THEN, UH, AS SOON AS WE DO THE APPLICATION, SO LET'S SAY THEY CALL TODAY BEING TUESDAY, WE SET UP AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE NEXT DAY.
IF THEY QUALIFY, WE'LL START THE MAIL THE DAY AFTER.
DO YOU QUALIFY THEM OVER THE PHONE OR YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO GO IN PERSON.
IT HAS TO BE AN IN-HOUSE ASSESSMENT ACCORDING TO STATE REGULATIONS.
AND HOW MANY MEALS ARE YOU, UM, DROPPING OFF OR? SO WE HAVE SIX PAID DRIVERS.
UH, THEY, UM, AND A FEW VOLUNTEERS, LIKE HE SAID, DAILY, WE'RE DELIVERING ABOUT 300 TO 3 0 5 MEALS PER DAY.
UM, THE GRANT THAT WE'RE ASKING FROM Y'ALL WILL COVER ABOUT 17 PEOPLE.
SO IF, IF A SENIOR, IF ONE OF THE DRIVERS IS TO DROP OFF A MEAL OR MEALS TO OH, ONE MEAL PER DAY, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, ONE MEAL? YES.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ON THE WAITING LIST RIGHT NOW? WE HAVE A CURRENT WAITING LIST OF ABOUT, ROUGHLY ABOUT 25.
UM, WE'RE KIND OF LIKE A STANDSTILL OF ADDING PEOPLE DUE TO THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.
SO IN YOUR REQUEST ON YOUR BUDGET, YOU LISTED $6,660 FOR MEALS.
HOW MANY WILL THAT COVER? HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD THAT BE ABLE TO COVER? 17 MEALS, 17 TOTAL.
AND THEN THE REQUEST FOR $8,340 FOR SALARIES, WHAT EXACTLY IS THAT FOR? SO THE WAY THAT WE WORKED, THAT WAS A WHOLE RATE, UM, COST.
I MEAN, HE'S THE, OUR BUDGET GUY HERE, SO HE COULD PROBABLY BREAK IT DOWN A LITTLE MORE.
UH, OUR TWO MAJOR CATEGORIES FOR COST IS OBVIOUSLY THE MEALS WE PURCHASED FROM THE COMMISSARY AND THE COST OF THE DRIVER'S SALARY AND THE GASOLINE COST BECAUSE WE, WE HAVE TO PAY THE 65 CENTS A MILE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RATE.
SO THOSE ARE THE TWO CATEGORIES THAT WOULD, UH, ALLOW US TO ADD THESE PEOPLE.
AND THEN, LIKE I SAY, WE USE OTHER FUNDING FOR THE ESSENTIALS OF SERVICE TO THEIR ORGANIZATION.
SO YOU GIVE ONE MEAL A DAY? YES.
IS IT A SMALL, A SMALL MEAL OR A BIG MEAL? IS IT A WARM MEAL OR A COLD MEAL OR WHAT IT IT'S A, IF YOU CAN PICTURE, AND I USE THIS TERM, A SWANSON DINNER IS WHAT I FIGURED.
IT'S A HOT MEAL, UHHUH WITH AN ENTREE AND TWO VEGETABLES OR A VEGETABLE AND A HOT DESSERT.
AND IT ALSO COMES WITH MILK, BREAD AND SOME SORT OF A DESSERT COOKIE OR PROTEIN BAR OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT WITH IT.
BUT ALL THE MEALS ARE DESIGNED, UH, IN AUSTIN, TEXAS BY A DIETICIAN.
SHE SENDS WHAT IS AVAILABLE TO SEND OUT TO THAT PERSON AND WE GET A ROSTER.
AND IT'S GOOD FOR THREE MONTHS.
IT USED TO BE THREE MONTHS, BUT NOW THEY DO IT MONTHLY, ON A MONTHLY SCALE.
TELL US WHAT THAT MEAL IS AND IT HAS TO MEET ONE THIRD RDA.
AND, AND SO THAT MEAL, WE GO TO A MENU MEETING WHERE WE ARE ALLOWED TO SAY, I THINK THAT'S TOO MANY CHICKEN MEALS IN A ROW.
AND WE CAN SUBSTITUTE SOMETHING ELSE IN THERE PROVIDING IT MEETS THE SAME QUALIFICATION SODIUM WISE AND, UH, CALORIE WISE.
CALORIE WISE ON THE, UH, ON WHAT COMES OUT OF AUSTIN.
[00:40:02]
AND THAT'S FIVE DAYS A WEEK ONLY.AND THOSE SAME PEOPLE CAN APPLY FOR GROCERIES.
FOR OTHER HELP THAT THEY, THAT THEY CAN GET FROM THE FACILITY AS WELL.
I THINK SHE'D TALK ABOUT FOOD STAMPS.
CAN THEY STILL QUALIFY FOR FOOD STAMPS? UHHUH? WELL, NOT, UM, OUR OTHER PROGRAM THAT THEY GIVE THEM, DO YOU PARTNER WITH DOORSTEP BLESSINGS FROM HEARTS AND HANDS OF A TOWN? NO.
I MEAN IT'S A POTENTIAL COLLABORATION.
UH, WE'RE HOPING TO WORK WITH THAT, BUT AT THE MOMENT WE STAND ALONE WITH MILLS AND WHEELS AND WITH THE HELP OF UNITED WAY AND TDA AND AAA AND ALL THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WE RECEIVE GRANTS FROM.
THE REASON IS BECAUSE HEARTS AND HANDS IS A, UH, THEY HAND OUT RAW PRODUCE, RIGHT.
AND WE ARE RESTRICTED TO DEAL WITH A COMMISSARY ONLY.
AND THAT'S THE ONLY COMMISSARY IN THE AREA.
IF YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE AREA AGENCY ON AGING, YOU ARE RESTRICTED TO BUY THAT MEAL FROM THAT COMMISSARY PERIOD.
IT'S 'CAUSE I KEEP THINKING ABOUT IT.
SO THE SALARY, WAGES AND BENEFITS, THE 8,340, I KNOW MS. SHARON ASKED, AND YOU MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, TRAVEL AND PERCENT, YOU KNOW, PER MILEAGE AND SO FORTH.
BUT THAT DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN THAT Y'ALL ARE TRYING TO HIRE INDIVIDUAL DRIVERS TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER TO THESE ADDITIONAL 17 PEOPLE FOR THE $6,660.
UH, THE POSITION IS THAT THERE YOU CAN ONLY GIVE SO MANY MEALS TO A DRIVER.
IF WE ADD THESE 17, WOULD THAT PUT US OVER TO WHERE WE HAD TO HIRE ANOTHER DRIVER? THE QUESTION, THE ANSWER TO THAT IS YES, WE WILL HAVE TO DO THAT.
WE'VE ALREADY CUT A DRIVER THIS YEAR.
WE'VE ALSO HAVE AN ASSESSOR THAT WE'VE CUT A HALF A DAY.
SO WE TRY TO KEEP OUR EXPENSES, EXPENSES AS LOW AS POSSIBLE, BUT IT MAY DRIVE US INTO THAT NEXT POSITION.
IT'S VERY CLOSE NOW BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE ARE DRIVING.
YOU GOT TO UNDERSTAND THAT IN A THREE HOUR PERIOD OF TIME, THEY HAVE TO MAKE AN AVERAGE OF 50 TO 55 STOPS.
AND HOW MUCH TIME DOES THAT GIVE THEM TO SOCIALIZE? BECAUSE WE HAVE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO DON'T SEE ANYBODY AND THEY WANT TO TALK, THEY WANT TO BE TALKED TO.
YOU KNOW, ISOLATION IS, IS TERRIBLE AND WE SEE IT.
I MEAN IT'S JUST A LOT OF OUR PEOPLE ARE SINGLE LIVING ALONE.
SO IF YOU WERE TO RECEIVE FUNDING JUST FOR THE FOOD, BUT NOT FOR THE SALARY PORTION, WOULD THIS PROGRAM STILL BE ABLE TO ADD ON THE ADDITIONAL 17 PEOPLE? YES.
MIGHT HURT, BUT YEAH, WE COULD.
I WILL NOW CALL UNITED RAY OF GREATER BAYTOWN AREA AND CHAMBERS COUNTY CLOTHING FOR KIDS'S CLOSET.
I AM THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DIRECTOR AT UNITED WAY, GREATER BAYTOWN AREA IN CHAMBERS COUNTY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US TODAY.
I'M EXCITED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT OUR CLOTHING FOR KIDS CLOSETS PROGRAM.
THIS MARKS THE THIRD SCHOOL YEAR THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE CLOTHING FOR STUDENTS IN ALL OF THE SCHOOLS IN OUR SERVICE AREA.
AND ALTHOUGH WE REPRESENT ALL FOUR LOCAL DISTRICTS, UM, OUT THROUGH WINNIE, WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TODAY WOULD PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS IN THE BAYTOWN COMMUNITY WITHIN THE GOOSE CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT SPECIFICALLY.
SO THE CLOTHING FOR KIDS CLOSETS PROGRAM WAS ADOPTED BY UNITED WAY AFTER THE SUN SETTING OF THE BAYTOWN RESOURCE AND ASSISTANCE CENTER, WHICH SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW THAT NAME.
THEY PROVIDED A SIMILAR PROGRAM THAT WAS REALLY BASED ON VOUCHERS AND A SHOE PROGRAM THAT WAS SUPPORTED THROUGH CDBG FUNDS IN THE PAST.
OUR PROGRAM IS REALLY CENTERED
[00:45:01]
AROUND A POINT IN TIME DELIVERY SERVICE THAT MEETS STUDENT NEEDS WHEN THEY HAVE THEM, BUT ALSO SUPPORTS TEACHERS AND STAFF WITHIN THE DISTRICT AS WELL AS THE STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITHIN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE CLOTHING FOR AT LEAST ONE STUDENT IN EVERY SCHOOL BUILDING WITHIN THE DISTRICT SO FAR THIS YEAR.
AND WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO EXPANDING AND INTO MORE SO WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
THE ROLE OF UNITED WAY IS REALLY TO IDENTIFY COMMUNITY NEEDS AND TO FIND RESOURCES TO HELP FIX THOSE NEEDS AND, AND REALLY HELP PEOPLE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
ONE OF THE NEEDS THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED, WE HAVE NAMED ALICE AND THAT STANDS FOR ASSET LIMITED AND INCOME CONSTRAINED AND EMPLOYED.
THIS IS A DEMOGRAPHIC OF PEOPLE THAT REALLY FALL IN THE MIDDLE WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INCOME IN OUR ECONOMIC CLIMATE.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING, A LOT OF THEM WORKING MORE THAN ONE JOB, A LOT OF THEM UNDEREMPLOYED.
THEY STILL FALL ABOVE THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL MANDATED BY THE STATE.
BUT THEN THEY DON'T ALWAYS MAKE ENOUGH TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS, IS YOU HAVE A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS EVERY DAY ABOUT DO I TAKE MY KID TO THE DOCTOR OR DO WE HAVE FOOD TONIGHT OR DO I PAY RENT? OR CAN MY KID PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS THIS, THIS YEAR.
THERE'S A LOT OF THOSE TOUGH DECISIONS AND WE FIND THAT THERE'S A LARGE MAJORITY OF INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT FALL IN THIS POPULATION.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE GOOSE CREEK DISTRICT, UM, THEIR DATA IS DEMONSTRATING THAT 76% OF STUDENTS ARE IDENTIFIED AS ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED BY THEY QUALIFY FOR REDUCED OR FREE LUNCH WITHIN THE SCHOOL PROGRAMS. THAT'S A HUGE NUMBER OF STUDENTS.
IF I DID THE MATH CORRECTLY, THAT'S ABOUT 18,000 STUDENTS IN THIS DISTRICT ALONE.
THAT'S A LOT OF FAMILIES IN NEED.
RESEARCH TELLS US ALSO THAT STUDENTS WHO GO TO SCHOOL HUNGRY CAN'T FOCUS ON LEARNING.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT STUDENTS WHO CAN'T COME TO SCHOOL WITH ADEQUATE CLOTHING OR SHOES OR CAN'T PARTICIPATE IN SCHOOL CLUBS, ALSO HAVE A HUGE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL DISADVANTAGE, ALSO HINDERING THEIR LEARNING PROCESS WITHIN THE SCHOOL BUILDING.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ALICE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MOMS AND DADS THAT MAYBE WORK PART-TIME JOBS OR CAN'T EASILY GET AWAY FROM THEIR WORK.
WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS FOR AT SCHOOL, MAYBE THERE'S AN ACCIDENT, A STUDENT NEEDS A NEW SHIRT OR THEY HAVE A DRESS CODE VIOLATION.
MOM AND DAD CAN'T ALWAYS LEAVE TO BRING THEM WHAT THEY NEED.
AND THAT INTERRUPTS A COUPLE OF THINGS.
THEIR WORK INCOME, THEY'RE THREATENING THEIR JOB, BUT ALSO STUDENTS ARE MISSING CLASS TIME BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO BE IN THE CLASSROOM.
THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO HELP MEET THOSE NEEDS WHEN THEY HAPPEN.
SO HOW DOES OUR PROGRAM WORK? THERE'S A COUPLE OF WAYS, A COUPLE OF OPTIONS THAT SCHOOLS HAVE.
THIS PROGRAM IS MEANT TO ELIMINATE JUST SOME OF THE BARRIERS THAT STUDENTS FACE EACH DAY, BUT IT ALSO SUPPORTS TEACHERS AND STUDENTS.
WHEN WE WERE LOOKING INTO TAKING THIS PROGRAM ON, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LEARNED IS THAT MANY TEACHERS OR STAFF ARE PULLING MONEY OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKET TO PROVIDE FOR STUDENTS.
THEY'RE BUYING STUFF, WHICH IS AN EXTRA STRAIN ON PEOPLE THAT ARE ALREADY PROVIDING SO MANY RESOURCES FOR OUR STUDENTS.
SO THIS PROGRAM IS MEANT TO GIVE THEM AN EXTRA RESOURCE IN THE SCHOOL BUILDING TO HELP POINT IN TIME WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS.
IN ADDITION, WE KNOW MANY PROGRAMS THAT DO PROVIDE CLOTHING OR SHOES OR RESOURCES, BUT ONLY IN THE BACK TO SCHOOL TIME.
WE SEE A HUGE INFLUX OF MATERIALS COMING IN IN THE FALL.
BUT WHAT HAPPENS IN JANUARY WHEN A KID NEEDS A NEW BACKPACK? THERE AREN'T MANY RESOURCES THAT ARE PROVIDING THAT.
AND THIS PROGRAM IS MEANT TO HELP STUDENTS ALL YEAR LONG, INCLUDING IN THE SUMMER MONTHS.
SO THERE ARE THREE OPTIONS THAT SCHOOLS CAN OPT INTO.
SCHOOLS HAVE, CAN REQUEST CLOTHING ON DEMAND.
THEY CAN HAVE A SMALL INVENTORY HUB WITHIN THE BUILDING THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP, OR THEY CAN HAVE A FULL CLOSET BUILD OUT.
THE ON DEMAND OPTION IS OPEN FOR OUR SCHOOL PARTNERS AND THEY CAN REQUEST CLOTHING THAT'S MANAGED BY OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PROGRAMS MANAGER IN OUR OFFICE, WE HAVE A HUB THAT HAS A MARD OF CLOTHING, DIFFERENT SIZES RANGING FROM LITTLES.
WE'RE TALKING THREE AND FOUR YEAR OLDS ALL THE WAY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS.
WE HAVE A CLOTHING FOR ALL OF THEM.
WE HAVE BASIC ESSENTIALS, WE HAVE HYGIENE ITEMS AND WE'RE ABLE TO PULL FROM THAT.
WE ALSO ARE ABLE TO PURCHASE ITEMS THAT ARE ON VERY SPECIFIC TERMS FOR STUDENTS THAT MEET THEIR SPECIFIC NEED.
WE TRIAGE OUR REQUESTS THAT COME IN AND MANY TIMES WE GET URGENT REQUESTS.
SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED AND WE ARE ABLE TO MEET THOSE MOST OF THE TIME WITHIN A 24 HOUR TURNAROUND PERIOD.
SO STUDENTS AREN'T LEFT WITH NOTHING.
UM, AS LONG AS WE HAVE SOMETHING, WE'RE GONNA GET IT TO THEM AS SOON AS WE CAN.
THE NEXT OPTION, HAVING A SMALL STOCKPILE INVENTORY IS REALLY ABOUT HAVING FREQUENTLY SEEN ITEMS OR FREQUENT NEED ITEMS IN THE BUILDING SO THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO PULL FROM THOSE WITH A ZERO WAIT TIME.
THESE WOULD BE THINGS LIKE LEGGINGS OR SOCKS OR T-SHIRTS, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR LITTLES OR SWEATSHIRTS AND HOODIES FOR OUR OLDER STUDENTS.
SO THAT WAY THEY CAN PULL FROM THOSE.
BUT THEY ARE ALSO ABLE TO AT ANY POINT REQUEST INDIVIDUAL
[00:50:01]
ITEMS FROM OUR, UM, INVENTORY HUB THAT TO MEET A SPECIFIC NEED.A LOT OF TIMES WE'RE SEEING, UM, FOR OUR ON-DEMAND NEEDS, THINGS LIKE UNIFORMS TO GO TO SOME OF OUR ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS.
ONE THING THAT WE LEARNED IS STUDENTS ARE NOT ABLE TO ATTEND UNLESS THEY HAVE A SPECIFIC UNIFORM AND MANY OF THEM CAN'T AFFORD IT.
SO WE'RE ABLE TO ACTUALLY PURCHASE THOSE SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO, UM, WAIT AND MISS THE TURNAROUND TIME TO GET INTO SCHOOL.
FOR OUR LITTLES, WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF ACCIDENTS OR THINGS LIKE THAT WHERE MOM AND DAD CAN'T COME HELP THEM.
THE HIGHEST FORM OF THIS PROGRAM IS THE FULL CLOTHING CLOSET BUILT OUT BUILD OUT.
AND THIS IS WHERE THE SCHOOL PROVIDES A SPACE AND UNITED WAY FULLY STOCKS AND BUILDS OUT A CLOTHING CLOSET WITHIN A ROOM THERE.
WE PROVIDE SHELVING RACKS FULL STOCK OF INVENTORY WITH AGE APPROPRIATE CLOTHING FOR THE SCHOOL.
SO WE'RE NOT GONNA GIVE AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL A BUNCH OF HIGH SCHOOL SIZED CLOTHING OR SHOES.
WE'RE GONNA TAILOR IT TO THE NEEDS OF THAT SCHOOL AND OUR PARTNERS HELP US IDENTIFY WHAT IS ESSENTIAL FOR THAT SCHOOL TO HAVE.
IN ADDITION, ALL OF OUR PARTNERS ARE ABLE TO ACCESS HYGIENE ITEMS. WE'RE TALK ABOUT LIKE SHAMPOO, CONDITIONER, SOAP, FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS, THINGS THAT WERE OFTEN OVERLOOKED, BUT HELP BUILD OUT THE HOLISTIC SCOPE OF NEEDS THAT A STUDENT MAY HAVE.
WHILE WE SEE A LOT OF INDIVIDUAL REQUESTS FOR THE ONE-ON-ONE THINGS, WE ALSO ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE CLOTHING IN THE CASE OF STUDENT EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR IF THERE'S A DISASTER SUCH AS A FLOOD OR THEIR HOME BURNT DOWN, WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE A WEEK'S WORTH OF CLOTHING AND SHOES TO GET THEM THROUGH AS WELL AS SUPPORT CLOTHING FOR ANY STUDENTS THAT ARE ENROLLED IN THE DISTRICT.
AND THAT ALSO GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE ANY RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT COULD HELP THE FAMILY AT LARGE IN THAT MOMENT.
SO OUR ASK TODAY, WHILE WE PROVIDE SERVICE TO ALL OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN OUR SERVICE AREA, CDBG FUNDING WILL HELP EXPAND UNITED WAY'S CAPACITY TO SUPPORT SCHOOLS IN THE GOOSE CREEK SYSTEM.
SO THE CDBG GRANT WOULD HELP US EXPAND AND INCREASE THE CLOTHING AND HYGIENE RESOURCES THAT ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS IN THIS DISTRICT, ESPECIALLY IN OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
WE ARE IN EVERY ONE OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND HIGH SCHOOLS DUE TO OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS.
BUT THIS FUNDING WOULD HELP US EXPAND AND BE ABLE TO PROVIDE MORE RESOURCES FOR OUR LITTLES, UM, AND, AND HAVE MORE RESOURCES AVAILABLE.
WE WOULD ALSO BE ABLE TO BUILD TWO ADDITIONAL CLOTHING CLOSETS WITHIN THE DISTRICT.
THIS WILL PUT EACH SCHOOL BUILDING WITHIN A GEOGRAPHIC DISTANCE TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS ANOTHER CLOTHING CLOSET IN CASE THERE IS AN EMERGENCY.
WE WORK WITH PARTNERS SO THEY'RE ABLE TO GO TO ANOTHER SCHOOL BUILDING IF THEY HAVE SOMETHING OFFHAND THAT THEY NEED RIGHT NOW.
BUT THEY ALWAYS HAVE ACCESS TO OUR CLOTHING CLOSET AS WELL.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL ASPECT OF SCHOOL AND LEARNING AND THIS GRANT WOULD HELP US TO EXPAND OUR PROGRAM TO PROVIDE UNIFORMS OR RESOURCES THAT WOULD HELP STUDENTS IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES SUCH AS UNIFORMS FOR SPORTS OR CLUBS THAT THEY'RE A PART OF IN THE SCHOOL TO HELP WITH A WELL-ROUNDED EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY.
AND LASTLY, THIS FUNDING WOULD HELP US SERVE 800 STUDENTS JUST WITHIN THE GOOSE CREEK SYSTEM.
AND AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ALMOST 18,000 STUDENTS THAT ARE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED.
THIS IS ONLY A SMALL PART OF THAT, BUT IT IS ONE STEP CLOSER TO HELPING EVERY STUDENT THAT WE POSSIBLY CAN.
WHAT QUESTIONS DO YOU HAVE FOR ME? I HAVE A QUESTION, MA'AM.
YEAH, I KNOW BAYTOWN DOES NOT HAVE THAT MANY, BUT HAVE YOU REACHED OUT TO THE CHARTER SCHOOLS LIKE BOB HOPE SCHOOL? THAT IS ON OUR HORIZON.
UM, WE HAVE TALKED TO THEM AND WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT PARTNERSHIP COULD LOOK LIKE THERE.
UM, SINCE THIS IS A RELATIVELY NEW PROGRAM AND THEY'RE A RELATIVELY NEW SCHOOL, WE'RE STILL COLLECTING SOME OF THE DATA, BUT THEY DO KNOW ABOUT OUR PROGRAM AND HAVE ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES IF THEY NEED IT.
UH, YOU TALK ABOUT SLIGHTLY USED CLOTHING.
DO Y'ALL TAKE DONATIONS OR NOT? WE DO.
WE DO KNOW THAT WHEN WE TAKE DONATIONS, THERE'S A LOT OF CLOTHING THAT ISN'T NECESSARILY APPROPRIATE FOR SCHOOL CLOTHING FOR STUDENTS.
SO THERE'S A LOT ON THE BACK END AND WE'VE NOTICED THAT THERE'S A LOT OF WASTE THAT COMES WITH THAT.
SO WE PREFER TO GET NEW CLOTHING OR DONATIONS OF NEW CLOTHING SIMPLY BECAUSE IT HELPS WITH THE OVERHEAD AND IT HELPS MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING QUALITY CLOTHES TO STUDENTS THAT ARE RELEVANT TO THEIR SCHOOL BUILDING.
UM, WE MAY NOT THINK THAT THAT IS AN ESSENTIAL PIECE, BUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BULLYING AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING, THAT IS A HEAVY COMPONENT.
WE WANNA BE ABLE TO PROVIDE RELEVANT QUALITY CLOTHING THAT WILL HELP BUILD OUT THAT JOURNEY FOR THEM.
Y'ALL SHOP FOR YOUR OWN CLOTHES OR LIKE, IS IT TARGET, WALMART, OR WHAT? DO YOU HAVE A CERTAIN STORES THAT YOU BUY THE CLOTHES? YEAH, SO OUR COMMUNITY PRO, OUR UH, OUR PROGRAM MANAGER, I APOLOGIZE.
UM, SHE ACTUALLY SHOPS AT SEVERAL DIFFERENT PLACES.
WALMART AND TARGET ARE DEFINITELY ONES OF PART OF THAT.
UM, BUT WE DO LOOK FOR THE BEST DEAL THAT WE CAN GET.
'CAUSE AGAIN, WE WANNA BE FRUGAL WITH THE DOLLARS THAT WE DO HAVE AND PROVIDE THE MOST THAT WE CAN.
[00:55:01]
A LOT OF, UM, AMAZON, THEY HAVE REALLY GREAT CLOTHING AND GREAT DEALS THAT WE CAN FIND, BUT WE DO PARTNER WITH TARGET AND WALMART.WE DO A LOT OF PURCHASING FROM THERE.
UM, AND I BELIEVE WE'VE LOOKED AT KOHL'S AND OTHER LOCAL RESOURCES AS WELL WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY SO THAT WE HAVE IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO THEM.
SO LOOKING AT YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, YOU PROVIDE FUNDING TO A LOT OF LOCAL NONPROFITS AND SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS.
WHAT KEEPS YOU FROM FUNDING THIS PROGRAM FROM WITHIN? WE DO FUND THIS PROGRAM FROM WITHIN CURRENTLY.
UH, THE FUNDS THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR WOULD ACTUALLY HELP US EXPAND THE PROGRAM.
SO IF WE WEREN'T FUNDED THROUGH THIS, IT WOULD CONTINUE TO OPERATE, BUT AT A LIMITED CAPACITY.
RIGHT NOW, WITH THE FUNDING THAT WE PROVIDE INTERNALLY, WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE ABOUT 400 STUDENTS IS WHERE WE'RE SITTING THIS YEAR ACROSS ALL OF OUR DISTRICTS.
THIS FUNDING WOULD HELP US SPECIFICALLY IN GOOSE CREEK.
'CAUSE ABOUT 90% OF OUR REQUESTS COME FROM HERE BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF THE DISTRICT.
UM, BUT THIS FUNDING WOULD HELP US EXPAND THAT AND THEN ALSO EXPAND OUR ENGAGEMENT IN OUR OTHER DISTRICTS AS WELL USING INTERNAL FUNDS.
AND THE SALARY REQUEST, I'M SEEING THE TOTAL AMOUNT IS A LITTLE BIT OVER $45,000.
SO IS THIS FOR A NEW POSITION OR AN EXISTING POSITION? FOR AN EXISTING POSITION? AND THAT'S FOR AN ENTIRE SALARY PACKAGE THAT INCLUDES BENEFITS, FRINGE, ALL OF THAT.
UM, AND THIS POSITION IS ABOUT 85% DEDICATED TO THIS PROGRAM.
SO THAT'S NOT A FULL SALARY THAT'S COVERING.
UM, BUT PART OF IT, AND I'M SORRY, I MAY HAVE MISSED THIS AGAIN, MY MIND MAY BE GOING BLANK, BUT YOU SAID ON THE SLIDE IT SAYS BUILD TWO ADDITIONAL CLOTHING CLOSETS WITHIN GOOSE CREEK.
CAN YOU SPECIFY ON WHERE THOSE ARE GOING TO BE LOCATED? YES.
UM, WE JUST MET, I BELIEVE IT WAS WITH HARLEM ELEMENTARY.
UM, WE'RE LOOKING TO BUILD THERE IN THE FALL, AND I BELIEVE ALAMO LYLES IS THE OTHER SCHOOL THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO PARTNER WITH IN THE FALL.
THEY'RE THE NEWER ELEMENTARY, I BELIEVE.
UM, SO IT WOULD BE TWO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WHERE WE HAVE THE, UM, LOWEST ENGAGEMENT AT THIS POINT.
LOWEST ENGAGEMENT IN ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED? NO
OUR PARTNERSHIPS STARTED WITH COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS THAT SERVE PRIMARILY SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
UM, SO THAT'S WHERE THE FIRST ITERATION OF THE PROGRAM STARTED.
WE ARE PARTNERING WITH COMMUNITY YOUTH SERVICES IN ALL OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
SO OUR, OUR REACH WITHIN THE SCHOOL WHERE KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROGRAM HAS JUST SLOWLY TRICKLED, BUT WE'RE LOOKING TO EXPAND THAT, UM, AND HAVE AN ACTUAL CLOSET IN THOSE FACILITIES BECAUSE WE DO KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME OF THE LARGEST ECONOMICALLY CHALLENGED AREAS WITHIN THE DISTRICT.
SO DOES THAT MEAN THAT SAN JACINTO ELEMENTARY RIGHT AROUND THIS VICINITY CAN GO WAY OVER THERE TO THAT CLOSET TO PICK UP SOME CLOTHES? THEY CAN CALL US.
SO THEY DO HAVE ACCESS TO BUILDING MM-HMM
EVERY SCHOOL HAS ACCESS TO IT.
IT'S JUST ABOUT THE AWARENESS WITHIN THE SCHOOL, WHICH WE CONTINUE TO, TO GARNER.
WE MEET WITH OUR COMMUNITY YOUTH SERVICE WORKERS QUARTERLY.
UM, BUT OUR, OUR, OUR STAFF PERSON IS IN CONTACT WITH THEM ALMOST DAILY.
AND WHERE IS THE SECOND SCHOOL LOCATED? LYLES, I BELIEVE THAT'S THE ONE THAT'S BACK BY THE, UM, THE BASEBALL FIELD.
AND HAVE YOU CONSIDERED TRYING TO PARTNER WITH SOME OF THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE LOCATED WITHIN THIS AREA SINCE THIS IS A PRIMARILY LOW INCOME MM-HMM
AREA, LIKE SAN JACINTO OR ASHEVILLE OR DAYS OF DAYS STILL EXIST, RIGHT? IT'S CONNECT INTO ASHEVILLE AND BOWIE, ALL THIS AREA.
WE, WE PROVIDED CLOTHING IN ALL OF THE SCHOOLS.
SO WE WANT TO HAVE A CLOTHING CLOSET.
THE GOAL IS IN EVERY BUILDING, BUT NOT EVERY BUILDING HAS SPACE OR CAPACITY FOR US TO HOST ONE.
SO REALLY IT'S ABOUT DO THEY HAVE A ROOM AVAILABLE? AND MANY SCHOOLS HAVE TOLD US NO.
UM, THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THE ROOM AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE DON'T, BUT NOT EVERY SCHOOL HAS THAT, UH, THAT OPPORTUNITY.
'CAUSE I'VE HAD TO PICK UP DONATIONS BIG TIME FROM DONORS AND, YOU KNOW, WHICH THEY'RE VERY GENEROUS AND I GO BUY ALL THE STUFF AND HAVE FUN SHOPPING FOR THE KIDDOS.
BUT, UH, WE ARE LIMITED ON CLOTHES.
THAT'S WHY I, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A NEED, BUT WE ARE JUST LIKE LIMITED BIG TIME.
SO WE WORK WITH YOUR KAI WORKERS OR YOUR, UM, COUNSELORS AND THEY MAKE REFERRALS TO US AND WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT HOW WE CAN GET MORE OF THAT WORD TO YOU GUYS SO YOU HAVE THAT RESOURCE.
UM, BUT WE DO PARTNER WITH AN INDIVIDUAL TO HELP US WITH OUR INVENTORY RECONCILING.
UM, WE DON'T BROADCAST THIS TO PARENTS AND FAMILIES SIMPLY BECAUSE WE WANNA GO THROUGH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
TO BE ABLE TO ACCOUNT FOR THE INCOME LEVEL AND MAKE SURE TO ACCOUNT FOR ANY OF OUR INVENTORY THAT IS WITHIN THE BUILDING, UM, AND HAVE ACCURATE NUMBERS TO REPORT OUT.
[01:00:01]
WITH HARLEM BEING LOCATED OUTSIDE CITY LIMITS AND PROBABLY A LOT OF THE KIDS THAT GO THERE FROM HIGHLANDS OR MCNAIR OR MEADOW LAKE OR SPRINGFIELD OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, HOW WILL YOU BE ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE SERVING ARE BAYTOWN RESIDENTS? SO WE PARTNER, LIKE I SAID, WITH CIS AND CYS AND THAT IS WHAT PART OF OUR REQUIREMENT, WE WILL ASK FOR A ZIP CODE, UM, AND A RESIDENCY INFORMATION THAT WE CAN PULL.SO WE CAN ACCOUNT FOR WHERE EACH STUDENT IS COMING FROM AND APPLY THOSE DOLLARS APPROPRIATELY.
ANY MORE QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.
I WILL NOW CALL UPWARDS INCORPORATED ON BOOST.
CAN YOU HEAR US? YES, I CAN HEAR.
CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME OKAY? MM-HMM
CAN YOU SEE MY SCREEN OKAY? MM-HMM
YES, YOU CAN SEE ME, BUT YOU CAN'T SEE MY PRESENTATION? NO, THAT IS CORRECT.
FELIPE, I COULD PULL UP YOUR PRESENTATION ON THIS END.
IF YOU'RE HAVING A HARD TIME, YOU'LL JUST HAVE TO TELL ME.
WE'RE READY WHENEVER YOU ARE, SIR.
THANK YOU AGAIN, UH, FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
MY NAME IS FELIPE GABO AND I'M A COMMUNITY IMPACT SPECIALIST HERE AT UPWARDS AS A SINGLE DAD OF TWO GIRLS, I KNOW, UM, UH, FIRSTHAND THE STRUGGLES OF FINDING AND HAVING MAINTAINING CHILDCARE, WHICH IS WHY I STRONGLY ADVOCATE FOR, UH, CHILDCARE AND HAPPY TO POTENTIALLY PARTNER WITH BAYTOWN TO IMPLEMENT OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
UPWARDS IS A FULL SERVICE MARKETPLACE THAT CONNECTS FAMILIES AND CAREGIVERS TOGETHER.
WE WORK WITH BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERS ACROSS, UH, NATIONS TO PROVIDE QUALITY CHILDCARE SERVICES.
OUR COMPANY IS PROUD TO BE FEMALE AND MINORITY OWNED.
WE PRIORITIZE, UM, HIRING DIVERSE, UM, CANDIDATES AS WELL.
WE ALSO, UM, PROVIDE A REPORT.
OUR, OUR NETWORK IS COMPOSED OF 98%, UM, FEMALE RAN AND MINORITY, UH, 80% MINORITY, MINORITY OWNED, UM, IN-HOME PROVIDERS.
UH, CURRENTLY WE ARE SERVING WELL OVER 2 MILLION FAMILIES.
WE HAVE OVER 126,000 VETTED CAREGIVERS, AND WE ARE IN, UM, ALL 50 STATES.
UM, THROUGH CDBG FUNDING UPWARDS PROPOSE OUR BOOST PROGRAM, WHICH HELPS PROVIDERS, UM, AND A HEALTHY SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MODEL.
OUR BOOST STANDS FOR, UH, BUSINESS OPERATIONAL AND OPTIMIZATION TOOL SUPPORT.
IT'S AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS MICRO ENTERPRISE BUSINESSES IN THE CHILDCARE SECTOR.
UM, SPECIFICALLY WITHIN HOME CHILDRE UM, PROVIDERS.
THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO PARTNER WITH CHILDCARE PROVIDERS AND FULLY SUPPORT THE DAILY OPERATIONAL NEEDS OF RUNNING A SUCCESSFUL DAYCARE WITHIN THEIR HOME.
UM, OUR PROGRAM IS, UM, ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE CDBG FUNDINGS PER, UM, HUD METRIC CODE AT AND C FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UM, PROVIDING MICRO ENTERPRISE ASSISTANCE.
[01:05:02]
THIS IS, UM, A, A KIND OF A GLIMPSE OF WHAT OUR TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM IS.IT NOT ONLY SUPPORTS PROVIDERS WITH RUNNING THEIR BUSINESS MORE EFFICIENTLY, IT ALSO HELPS INCREASE THEIR REVENUE WITH USING THE PLATFORM.
DAY ONE OF JOINING UPWARDS, THE PROVIDERS GET A FULL LANDING PAGE WITHIN OUR NETWORK.
SO THEY'LL GET A FULL CUSTOMIZED LANDING PAGE SHOWING THEIR, THEIR, UM, THEIR PROVI, THEIR SYSTEMS, THEIR, THEIR DAYCARE, EXCUSE ME.
UM, THEY CAN DO CUSTOMIZED TOURS, THEY CAN SET TUITION COSTS, THEY CAN SHOW HOURS OF OPERATION, UM, WHATEVER IT IS THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO MARKET THEMSELVES.
THERE'S A FULL, UH, MATCHING ALGORITHM THAT BOTH FAMILIES AND PROVIDERS CAN USE THAT WILL HELP CONNECT FAMILIES WITH, UM, THE PROVIDERS.
THERE'S A FULL CURRICULUM MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE THAT PROVIDERS CAN, UM, USE AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF TO HELP MANAGE THE DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES FOR THE, UM, KIDS THAT THEY'RE WATCHING, AS WELL AS DIGITIZING THE ATTENDANCE.
THEY CAN ALSO COMMUNICATE AND SEND PHOTOS WITH PARENTS WHILE THE KIDS ARE WITHIN THE DAYCARE.
THERE'S MULTIPLE USES WITHIN THE, UH, PLATFORM THAT THE PROVIDERS WILL BE ABLE TO, UM, USE AND HAVE.
THERE'S ALSO A LITTLE TINY, UH, CASE STUDY THAT'S ON THERE THAT SHOWS, UH, WHEN WE PARTNERED AND USED BOOST WITHIN CATHEDRAL CITY.
SO A LOCAL CITY IN, UM, CALIFORNIA, UM, AFTER THREE MONTHS OF USING BOOST, PROVIDERS SAW A 17% INCREASE IN REVENUE, UH, BASED ON, UH, AN ATTENDANCE AND UTILIZING THE PLATFORM.
UH, THIS INFORMATION RIGHT HERE IS BASED ON LOCAL CENSUS DATA.
CURRENTLY, UM, THERE IS 4,539 KIDS, AGES ZERO TO FIVE WITHIN THE CITY OF BAYTOWN.
UM, THERE IS, UH, 960 LICENSED SLOTS AVAILABLE.
THAT MEANS THAT THERE IS A CURRENT GAP OF OVER 3,500, UM, KIDS THAT DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO CHILDCARE.
UH, NOW THE FOCUS IS ONLY ON AGES ZERO TO FIVE, AND THAT'S PRIMARILY BECAUSE, UM, THERE'S, AFTER AGE ZERO TO FIVE, THEY'RE IN SCHOOL.
THERE'S AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS. SO THE, THERE'S A BIG, BIG NEED THAT REALLY SHOWS RIGHT THERE, UM, THAT THERE'S NOT ENOUGH.
THERE'S, IT'S WHAT WE CALL A, A CHILDCARE, UM, DESERT.
THERE'S NOT ENOUGH CHILDCARE PROVIDERS TO PROVIDE CHILDCARE, UM, FOR, FOR THE KIDS.
SO, CURRENTLY THERE IS EIGHT IN-HOME CARE PROVIDERS THAT UPWARDS IS LOOKING TO ASSIST, UM, BASED ON REGULATIONS.
UM, IT LOOKS, THERE IS, UM, SIX KIDS PER PROVIDER.
SO WHAT THE PROGRAM AIMS TO DO IS INCREASE THE NUMBER OF ATTENDANCE BY DOING SO IS WE TRY TO, UM, ASSIST THE PROVIDER IN HIRING A TEACHING ASSISTANT SO THAT WE CAN INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SLOTS AVAILABLE.
UM, BY ALSO DOING THAT, IT CAN REDUCE THE TOTAL COST OF TUITION BECAUSE NOW THERE'S MORE KIDS THAT THE PROVIDERS CAN LEVERAGE THE COST.
SO WE CAN LOWER THE AMOUNT OF, UM, OF THE TUITION.
SO WE'RE ABLE TO REDUCE THAT, UM, THAT GAP.
UM, AND THEN ALSO THE, UM, INCOME WILL INCREASE.
THESE ARE, UH, LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS THAT ALREADY, UM, CURRENTLY USING, UM, BOOST THAT WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED WITH.
UM, I WILL ALSO SAY LAST WEEK, UM, ON A MUCH LARGER SCALE, ACTUALLY MY COLLEAGUE AND I JUST MET WITH, UM, HOUSTON.
I KNOW THAT THE, UM, CDBG, UM, BUDGET IS, IS MUCH MORE, UM, LARGER WITH THEM.
BUT, UH, THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS AND, AND WANTING TO PARTNER UP WITH, UM, WITH UPWARDS.
WE JUST SUBMITTED APPLICATIONS FOR, UM, MC, MCKEAN, MCLEAN, I'M SO SORRY, I FORGOT THE, THE, THE NAME OF IT.
BUT, UM, THE, THESE ARE OTHER CITIES THAT ARE CURRENTLY USING AND HAVE, UM, SUCCESS WITH UPWARDS, UM, SPECIFICALLY WITHIN THIS BOOST PROGRAM.
THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? OH, I DO, GO AHEAD.
UM, DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE STATE AND CITY GUIDELINES ARE FOR THE IN-HOME HEALTHCARE HERE IN THE CITY OF BAYTOWN? I'M SORRY, I ONLY GOT A PART OF THAT.
RYAN, CAN YOU SHOW HER HOW TO TURN HER MICROPHONE ON? OKAY.
[01:10:01]
STATE AND CITY GUIDELINES ARE FOR IN-HOME HEALTHCARE CHILDCARE FOR THE CITY OF BAYTOWN? IN REGARDS TO WHAT SPECIFICALLY? I, I DON'T, I DON'T UNDERSTAND FOR KEEPING A KID IN YOUR, IN YOUR HOUSE, WHAT ARE THE GUIDELINES FOR, FOR, FOR TOTAL NUMBER OF, YEAH.I KNOW THAT THE, THE, THERE'S A MAXIMUM AMOUNT PER, PER PROVIDER.
THERE'S A MAXIMUM NUMBER OF SIX THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO HAVE.
UM, BUT, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, THERE'S NO, AND AND LICENSING REQUIREMENTS, THERE'S INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS AND ALL THAT GETS MONITORED AND, AND
SO YOUR ENTIRE REQUEST IS FOR SALARIES.
SO HOW EXACTLY IS THIS CREATING A NEW POSITION WITHIN YOUR ORGANIZATION TO MANAGE THESE FUNDS HERE IN CITY, IN THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, OR HOW EXACTLY IS THAT WORKING? SO THE, THE RE THE REQUEST FOR THE 64,000 COVERS, UM, SALARIES FOR, UM, STAFF ON OUR SIDE TO PROVIDE THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE PROVIDERS SO THAT ALL, EACH PROVIDER THAT GETS PARTNERED WITH US GETS THEIR FULL, UM, GETS THEIR ONE-ON-ONE, UM, COACHING CARE COACH WITH US.
THEY GET THE TECHNICAL SUPPORT.
SO THE, THE TECHNICAL, LIKE ON THE COACHING SIDE ON OUR SIDE, PARTNERS WITH THE PROVIDER TO HIRE AND TRAIN THE TEACHING ASSISTANTS.
SO ONE, ONE OF THE CONCERNS ABOUT USING CDBG FUNDS FOR SALARIES IS, IS HOW IS IT SUSTAINABLE IN THE FUTURE? UM, IF YOU'RE ASKING FOR SALARY FUNDS THIS YEAR, UM, IS IT GONNA BE ONE OF THESE THINGS THAT YOU ALL WILL BE COMING BACK, UM, REPEATEDLY FOR SALARIES? AND THEN MY SECOND QUESTION IS, UM, ADMITTEDLY THIS, THIS IS A RATHER LARGE REQUEST.
UM, IF YOU WERE ONLY FUNDED FOR PART OF, OF WHAT YOU ALL REQUESTED, COULD YOU ALL STILL DO, UH, THE WORK AND, AND HOW WOULD IT AFFECT YOUR, YOUR PROPOSED PROJECT? YEAH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION.
UM, THE FIRST PART OF YOUR QUESTION IS, UM, THE, THE SALARIES ARE COMING BACK.
UH, IS IT SUSTAINABLE? UM, THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO GET THEIR PROVIDERS TO BE FULLY SUSTAINABLE AND GET THEM OUT OF THE, UM, LMI CATEGORIES AND TO GET THEM FULLY SUSTAINED SO THAT THEY NO LONGER NEED THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND THEY CAN FULLY SUSTAIN, UM, THE BUSINESS.
AND THEY CAN STILL BE ON THE UPWARDS PROGRAM AFTER THE ONE YEAR, UM, C-D-B-C-D-B-G CYCLE.
SO WE DON'T NEED TO APPLY, UM, THE NEXT YEAR OR IF THERE'S A DIFFERENT NEED AND THERE'S MORE.
IF THERE'S MORE CHILDCARE PROVIDERS OR NEW CHILDCARE PROVIDERS THAT NEED THE ASSISTANCE, THEN THAT WOULD BE, UM, A NEW AND EX A NEW, UH, PROVIDER, NOT AN EXISTING ONE.
UM, AND THEN THE, UM, WHAT WAS YOUR SECOND QUESTION? I'M SO SORRY.
UM, WHAT, HOW DOES YOUR PROJECT LOOK IF, LET'S SAY YOU ALL ARE ABLE, ABLE TO BE FUNDED FOR PART OF, OF IT? YES.
SO THE PART, THE, THE, THE AMOUNT CAN BE FULLY ADJUSTED AND SCALED TO WHATEVER THE CITY, UM, IS ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE.
I PUT ON THERE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF AVAILABLE PROVIDERS WAS EIGHT, THINKING THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE FULL EIGHT.
BUT IF WE'RE ONLY ABLE TO WORK WITH, UM, FOUR OF THEM OR TWO OF THEM, THEN WE'RE ABLE TO STILL FULLY UTILIZE THE FULL BENEFITS OF THE WHOLE PROGRAM WITH JUST WORKING TO PARTNERING WITH TWO OF THEM AT FIRST AND THEN ADJUSTING, UM, SEEING HOW THE RESULTS AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS THIS FIRST YEAR AND, UM, SEEING HOW WE WANT TO PROCEED WITH THE NEXT YEAR.
AND THE NUMBERS ACTUALLY SEVEN BECAUSE ONE OF THOSE HOME HEALTH, UH, CHILDCARES ARE OUTSIDE CITY LIMITS.
'CAUSE I LOOKED INTO IT JUST, OH, OKAY.
WHAT IS THE COST TO THE PROVIDERS, UM, FOR YOUR SERVICES? THAT'S A GOOD ONE.
SO WHEN THEY PARTNER WITH US USING, UM, CDBG FUNDING, THERE IS NO COST, WHICH IS WHY WE REQUEST CDBG FUNDING TO SUPPORT THEM.
THEY PAY ABSOLUTELY NO SIGNUP FEES.
THERE'S NO PLATFORM FEES, THERE'S NO TUITION, UM, A PORTION OF THE TUITION FEES TO US.
THEY, THEY DON'T PAY NOTHING TO US.
AND I'M ASSUMING YOU ALREADY HAVE PROVIDERS HERE IN OUR AREA THAT ARE WANTING TO BE ON YOUR PROGRAM, OR IS THIS SOMETHING YOU'LL STILL HAVE TO SOLICIT AND MM-HMM
GET THIS OUT TO THESE PROVIDERS? YES.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO SOLICIT AS OF RIGHT NOW.
UM, OF THOSE SEVEN PROVIDERS, NONE OF THOSE ARE CURRENTLY ON OUR NETWORK.
[01:15:02]
THANK YOU.ARE THEY AWARE THAT YOUR PROGRAM EXISTS? YES.
UM, I AM NOT SURE IF THEY'RE AWARE THAT WE DO EXIST.
UM, I I, I WOULD HAVE TO GET THAT INFORMATION FOR YOU.
I'M NOT TOO, TOO SURE IF THEY KNOW THAT WE DO EXIST.
SO HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU'RE FILLING A NEED? HOW DO WE KNOW THAT IF WE'RE FILLING A NEED WITHIN THE COMMUNITY? LIKE IF, IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY, THAT THESE PROVIDERS NEED? I MEAN, I, I I, I, I BELIEVE THAT, I MEAN, IF WE'RE, IF WE'RE, LOOK, IF I LOOK AT IN TOTAL NUMBER OF LIKE, LIKE THE SLOTS ARE AVAILABLE OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF KIDS AND, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT A, A CHILDCARE PROVIDER THAT'S, UM, THAT'S AN LMI THAT THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE BELOW POVERTY LINE AND THEY'RE NOT SUSTAINABLE BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH, UM, KIDS, A LOT OF THE, A LOT OF THE FAMILIES THAT THEY'RE SERVICING, LET'S SAY ARE JUST WORD OF MOUTH.
THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO FIND MORE KIDS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO MARKET THEMSELVES.
THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO FIND MORE KIDS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT SURE HOW, MAYBE THEY'RE NOT SURE OF THE SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
THEY'RE NOT SURE THAT THEY CAN GET HELP, WHETHER THAT THERE'S EVEN A PLATFORM THAT'S LIKE THIS THAT'S AVAILABLE TO HELP THEM BE SUSTAINABLE AND HELP THEM RUN AN ACTUAL DAYCARE.
SO IF A SERVICE LIKE THIS COMES INTO PLAY AND HELPS THEM MARKET THE, THE, THE CHILDCARE SERVICES, HELPS THEM FIND CHILDCARE, HELPS 'EM FIND CHILD, AND IT'S JUST GOES ON FROM THERE, I THINK THAT THEY'LL WANT THE SERVICES.
ANY MORE QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.
I WILL NOW CALL, UM, CITY OF BAYTOWN INTERNAL PROGRAMS. MS. SHARON ROSE.
I'M THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SUPERVISOR WITH THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, AND I'M HERE TO DISCUSS OUR INTERNAL PROGRAMS FUNDING REQUESTS.
UM, WE HAVEN'T REALLY MADE ANY CHANGES OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
THE MAIN THING THAT INCREASED WAS OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT HOUSING PROGRAMS BUDGET.
I DID INCREASE THAT BY $70,000 BECAUSE WE ARE LOOKING TO INCREASE THE COST OF THE RECONSTRUCTIONS FOR OUR OWNER OCCUPIED HOUSING, REHABILITATION AND RECONSTRUCTION PROGRAM.
UH, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WILL BE DISCUSSED AT THE NEXT MEETING.
OUR GUIDELINES WERE APPROVED, SO WE, RIGHT NOW THE CURRENT RECONSTRUCTION COST IS A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
IT'S HARD TO BUILD A HOUSE WITH A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
UM, WE DON'T GET AS MANY BIDS AS WE PROBABLY COULD IF WE INCREASED IT.
SO WE'RE GOING TO BE AT THE SAME LEVEL AS THE STATE OF TEXAS AND WE'RE INCREASING THAT TO $135,000 PER HOU PER HOUSE, WHICH IS WHY THAT NUMBER INCREASED.
BUT OUR SUBSTANDARD STRUCTURES ABATEMENT PROGRAM, IT PAYS FOR THE SALARIES AND RELATED PERSONNEL COST FOR OUR DEMOLITION AND HOUSING INSPECTOR WHO OVERSEES CODE ENFORCEMENT CASES WITHIN THE CDBG TARGET AREA AND THE NIP SUBSTANDARD CASES AROUND THE CITY, AS WELL AS THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT OF OUR RECONSTRUCTIONS OR SEWER LINE PROJECTS.
AND THEN WE HAVE OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT HOUSING PROGRAMS, WHICH, UH, ENCOMPASSES OUR OWNER OCCUPIED HOUSING REHABILITATION DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, AS WELL AS A SEWER LINE REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT PROGRAM.
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM IS, UM, FUNDS TO ASSIST WITH GOING INTO LOW INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE SPECIFICALLY STAY IN ONE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.
THIS IS ACTUALLY THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY IN NOW.
THIS WILL BE OUR FINAL YEAR IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THEN WE WILL BE LOOKING TO MOVE SOMEWHERE ELSE.
UM, I KNOW THERE'S BEEN TALK OF TRYING TO SEE IF MAYBE THERE'S SOMETHING IN DISTRICT THREE OR DISTRICT SIX, AN AREA AROUND THERE THAT WE CAN FOCUS OUR FUNDING IN.
MIND YOU, IT DOES HAVE TO BE, UH, 51% OR MORE LOW INCOME AREA.
SO THERE ARE SOME PLACES THAT WE PROBABLY JUST CAN'T GO, BUT, UM, WE ARE LOOKING FOR MAYBE LIKE LANTERN PARK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, OR NOT SURE.
EVA MOD, I BELIEVE IS THE NAME OF IT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OVER THERE IN DISTRICT SIX.
SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT FOR THE FUTURE, BUT THIS WILL BE OUR FINAL YEAR IN THE PELLY NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THEN WE HAVE CDBG ADMINISTRATION, WHICH IS BASICALLY THE OPERATIONAL EXPENSES FOR US TO OVERSEE THE MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS, THE LOCAL NONPROFITS THAT WE PROVIDE FUNDING TO.
AND THE REPORTS THAT WE SUBMIT TO HUD, OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE BUS PASSES AND RIDES CARDS TO
[01:20:01]
LOW INCOME SENIORS AND DISABLED PEOPLE.AND FINALLY, OUR NEW YEAR IN NEW SHOES PROGRAM, WHICH IS WHERE WE ASSIST LOW INCOME CHILDREN WITH A NEW PAIR OF SHOES FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR.
SO THIS IS OUR TOTAL REQUEST RIGHT NOW.
IT CAN BE ADJUSTED AS NEEDED, BUT AT LEAST IN TERMS OF HOUSING, THAT ONE PROBABLY NEEDS TO STAY AROUND THAT NUMBER.
DO Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? I KNOW I'VE, I'VE ALWAYS ASKED THIS EVERY, EVERY YEAR OPERATION PAINTBRUSH, IT'S ROLLED INTO HOUSING THE OWNER OCCUPIED HOUSING REHABILITATION, BECAUSE THAT CAN BE CONSIDERED A REHAB.
IT'S JUST A MINOR REHAB ON A PROPERTY.
AND WE DO HAVE THAT $5,000 CAP ON THAT ONE.
SO WE JUST ROLLED THAT INTO THE OWNER OCCUPIED PROBLEM WITH THAT PROGRAM IS, IS THAT IT PRIMARILY SERVES THE NIP CURRENT AND PREVIOUS.
SO THAT WOULD BE MIDDLETOWN, WEST, BAYTOWN AND PELLY.
A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN THAT PRO UM, PROJECT ARE RENTAL PROPERTIES AND WE DO NOT PROVIDE THAT ASSISTANCE.
IT'S AN OWNER OCCUPIED PROGRAM.
SO WE DON'T APPLY, UH, PROVIDE THAT ASSISTANCE TO RENTAL PROPERTIES.
UM, NUMBER FOUR, THE CDBG ADMINISTRATION SALARY THERE.
UM, IS IT JUST, IS IT BECAUSE YOU, YOU WORK AFTER HOURS LIKE YOU ARE NOW OR, OR IS IT BECAUSE ALL THE FUNDING COMES OUT OF THE THIS? OR CAN YOU OUR SALARIES ARE SPLIT BETWEEN THE SUBSTANDARD PROGRAM.
I'LL TELL YOU LINE ONE, TWO, STEPHANIE SALARY COMES, A PORTION OF HER SALARY COMES OUTTA THREE, FOUR AND FIVE.
OUR SALARIES ARE SPLIT BETWEEN, WE DO A PERCENTAGE OUT OF EACH BUDGET, DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH IT IS THAT WE WORK ON IT.
LIKE LET'S SAY FOR OUR SUBSTANDARD PROGRAM, UH, BELIEVE THE ONLY SALARIES THAT ARE PAID A PORTION ARE MINE AND OUR INSPECTOR.
AND THEN FOR NIP, IT'S ONLY STEPHANIE, MAYBE 10% OF HER SALARY COMES OUT OF THE NIP BUDGET.
AND THEN HOUSING, IT'LL BE THE THREE, ACTUALLY FOUR OF US COME OUT OF HOUSING.
SO OUR SALARIES ARE SPLIT AMONGST THOSE FIVE.
SO IT'S NOT JUST ANY ONE PROGRAM THAT HAS ALL OF OUR SALARIES.
TO BE CLEAR, NONE OF THOSE SALARIES COME OUT OF THE CITY GENERAL.
NONE OF OUR SAL OUR, OUR PAY IS ALL OUT OF THIS GRANT.
NOTHING COMES OUTTA THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND.
IT'D BE NICE IF IT DID, BUT AT THIS TIME IT DOESN'T.
BUT WE ARE LOOKING TO CHANGE THAT
WE CAN DO MORE HOUSES PER YEAR.
WE HAVE ABOUT 48 PEOPLE RIGHT NOW ON OUR WAITING LIST FOR THE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM.
IF WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE MORE FUNDING TO THAT PROGRAM, WE COULD HELP MORE PEOPLE.
'CAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TO DO.
ANYONE ELSE QUESTION? ALRIGHT.
THERE IS NO ONE ELSE DESIRING TO SPEAK.
I WILL NOW CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING CONCERNING THE PROPOSED 20 24, 20 25 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT BUDGET.
[a. Receive the Community Development Manager's Report.]
I'LL MOVE TO ITEM THREE, WHICH IS THE MANAGER'S REPORT, MS. SHARON.ALRIGHT, SO THAT WAS OUR LAST ROUND OF PRESENTATIONS.
SO WE WILL RECONVENE IN TWO WEEKS TO DISCUSS, UM, OUR BUDGET.
WE DID RECEIVE OUR ALLOCATION FROM HUD AND WE ARE ACTUALLY GETTING AN INCREASE IN FUNDING.
AND IF WE HAVE ABOUT 150,000 GIVE OR TAKE IN UNEXPANDED FUNDS, AND THEN WE ESTIMATE ABOUT $5,000 IN PROGRAM INCOME.
THAT PUTS US AT CLOSE TO A MILLION DOLLARS.
THERE IS OF COURSE A CAP ON OUR PUBLIC SERVICE ACTIVITIES OF 15%.
SO WE WOULD BASICALLY IDENTIFY EVERYTHING THAT'S A PUBLIC SERVICE ACTIVITY AND MAKE SURE THAT WE FUND THEM WITHIN THAT CAP PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION.
AND WHAT WE'RE REQUESTING FOR THE 1 35 IS WELL BELOW THAT CAP.
UM, WE TRY NOT TO FUND AT THE CAP AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
I MEAN, HOUSING IS NOT SUBJECT TO A CAP.
BUT WE DO HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT 70% OF OUR FUNDS GO TO LOW INCOME PERSONS OR AREAS, WHICH IS WHY OUR HOUSING BUDGET IS USUALLY THE LARGEST BECAUSE THAT PROVIDES THE MOST FUNDING.
WE SPEND THE MOST MONEY IN THAT ONE.
SO IN OUR NEXT MEETING, UM, WE'RE ALSO GOING TO, UM, PRESENT YOU WITH THE GUIDELINES FOR THE REHAB PROGRAM, THE HOME BUYER PROGRAM AND SEWER LINE.
THE ONLY CHANGE WE MADE TO THE SEWER LINE PROGRAM WAS TO SPECIFY THAT NO DEBT CAN BE OWED TO THE CITY IF YOU APPLY FOR THE PROGRAM BECAUSE IT WAS NOT IN OUR GUIDELINES, BUT IT WAS A INTERNAL GUIDELINE THAT WE HAVE.
THAT IS ACTUALLY IN ALL OF THE GUIDELINES.
WE ARE INCREASING OUR, UM, MAXIMUM SALES PRICE FOR DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE, THE HOMES TO $200,000 AS OPPOSED TO THE 180 THAT IT IS NOW BECAUSE IT'S DIFFICULT TO FIND A HOUSE FOR $108,000.
AND LIKE I SAID, WE ARE INCREASING THE RECONSTRUCTION COST
[01:25:01]
TO $135,000.SO THAT'LL BE IN THE NEXT, UH, AGENDA.
THIS IS THE 24TH, RIGHT? 28TH.
AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR Y'ALL.
DO Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? NOPE.
UM, SINCE THAT CONCLUDES THE MANAGER'S REPORT, I WILL NOW ASK FOR A MOTION DURING A ADJOURN THIS MEETING.
UM, MOTION BY MS. MESS, MESSA.
ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE OR OPPOSED.
THIS MEETING IS NOW CONCLUDED OR ADJOURNED AND.