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[ CITY OF BAYTOWN NOTICE OF MEETING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2026 5:30 P.M. HULLUM CONFERENCE ROOM, CITY HALL 2401 MARKET STREET, BAYTOWN, TEXAS 77520 AGENDA CALL TO ORDER AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF QUORUM ]
THIS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADVISING COMMITTEE MEETING TO ORDER TODAY BEING TUESDAY, MAY 12TH, 2026.TIME BEING 5:31 PM THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA, CITIZENS COMICS.
MS. SHARON, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? NO.
SO THERE BEING NO ONE ELSE DESIRING TO SPEAK.
THIS CONCLUDES THE CITIZENS' COMMENT PORTION OF THE AGENDA.
[a. Conduct a public hearing regarding the City of Baytown Community Development Block Grant funding for the 2026-2027 program year.]
TO ITEM TWO A, CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE CITY OF BAYTOWN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDING FOR THE 20 26 20 27 PROGRAM YEAR.AND ON THE FIRST, UM, ONE TO SPEAK IS, WHO IS IT, RIOS? THAT IS CORRECT.
I'M THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF BAYTOWN MEALS ON WHEELS.
I HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR MEALS ON WHEELS FOR A LITTLE OVER 12 YEARS.
UM, I'LL BE HONEST, I LOVE MY JOB.
I GET PAID FINANCIALLY AND I GET PAID, UM, WITH A FULFILLMENT FEELING OF DOING SOMETHING GOOD IN THIS COMMUNITY.
BUT ALSO BE HONEST, MY JOB IS NOT EASY.
IT'S NOT THE LOGISTICS OF COORDINATING 80,000 MEALS PER YEAR OR MANAGING A STAFF OR KEEPING UP WITH THE RISING COST OF MEALS AND FUEL COSTS.
THE HARDEST PART IS THE EMOTIONAL WEIGHT THAT WE CARRY EVERY SINGLE DAY AT WORK.
IT IS THE STRESS OF BEING THE PRIMARY LIFELINE FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO ONE ELSE.
IT IS A HEARTBREAK OF HAVING TO TELL THE SENIOR IN NEED THAT THEY HAVE TO JOIN A WAIT LIST BECAUSE WE SIMPLY DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO ADD ANOTHER CLIENT AND ALLOW THEM TO STAY HUNGRY.
I'M GONNA BE HONEST WITH YOU, I DIDN'T PREPARE A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION TONIGHT BECAUSE YOU CAN'T PUT THAT KIND OF WEIGHT ON A SLIDE.
SO I WANTED TO TELL YOU IN PERSON ABOUT CLIENTS THAT WE SERVE AND WHY OUR PROGRAM IS IMPORTANT.
FOR OVER 45 YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN QUIETLY SERVING OUR SENIOR COMMUNITY HERE IN BAYTOWN.
AND WITH YOUR HELP, WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO SO.
LET ME TELL YOU A BIT ABOUT OUR, ONE OF OUR OLDEST CLIENTS, MRS. COCHRAN.
SHE TURNS A HUNDRED YEARS OLD THIS JULY.
SHE SPENDS, SHE SPENT HER YOUTH AS A BUTCHER AT RANDALL'S.
WE NO LONGER HAVE RANDALL'S, BUT SHE WORKED THERE AS HER YOUTH AS A BUTCHER, AND SHE USED TO LOVE TO GREET THE NEIGHBORS.
AND SHE HAS THIS BEAUTIFUL SMILE AND SHE HELPED FEED THIS COMMUNITY.
NOW THE ROWS HAVE SHIFTED AND HER WORLD HAS SHRUNK TO HER LIVING ROOM.
LILLIAN IS STILL A PILLAR OF OUR CITY, BUT LIKE SO MANY OTHERS WHO WORK HARD THEIR WHOLE LIVES, SHE DESERVES A COMMUNITY THAT SHOWS UP FOR HER.
NOW, WHEN HER DRIVER KNOCKS AT HER HOME AT 1115, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, THEY'RE NOT ONLY DELIVERING A MEAL TO HER, BUT THEY WITNESS HER LIFE.
SHE WILL LIVE IN A VOICE OUTSIDE OF HER LIVING ROOM WALLS.
NOW IMAGINE, INSTEAD OF RECEIVING A MEAL THAT SHE REALLY NEEDS, SHE'S GIVEN A PLACE ON A WAITING LIST FOR A CENTENARIAN WHO HAS ALREADY OUTLIVED SO MANY TIME IS THE ONE THING THAT SHE DOES NOT HAVE TO SPARE.
WHEN WE TELL A SENIOR, NOT YET, WE'RE ASKING THEM TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THEIR MEDICINE AND THEIR DINNER.
WE ARE LEAVING THEM ALONE IN THE DARK, WONDERING IF HELP WILL ARRIVE BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.
MY JOB IS HARD BECAUSE I KNOW THAT IF A KNOCK DOESN'T HAPPEN, THEN LEGENDS LIKE MS. COCHRAN BECOME INVISIBLE.
I'M HERE TO PRESENT TO YOU OUR PROGRAM TO MAKE SURE THAT SHE STAYS ALONG, SHE STAYS SEEN ALONG WITH THE OTHER 300 SENIORS WE SERVE.
WHILE THE EMOTIONAL SIDE IS HEAVY AND MY TIME IS RUNNING OUT, THE LOGICAL SIDE IS CLEAR.
WE SERVE 18% OF BAYTOWN SENIORS LIVING BELOW THE POVERTY LINE.
PEOPLE THAT SURVIVE ON $900 OR LESS A MONTH, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT Y'ALL, BUT I CAN'T SURVIVE OFF THAT AMOUNT.
ALSO, IT COSTS ROUGHLY THE SAME TO FEED A SENIOR A WHOLE YEAR AS IT DOES TO SPEND ONE DAY IN THE HOSPITAL.
BY HELPING THE MA IN PLACE, WE PREVENT $40,000 OF ANNUAL COST TO NURSING HOME CARE.
THIS IS A SMART, PROACTIVE INVESTMENT THAT THE CITY OF BAYTOWN CAN MAKE.
I WANNA EMPHASIZE TO YOU THAT WE DELIVER MORE THAN BAIL BEFORE MY TIME RUNS OUT.
WE ARE THE ONLY MEAL DELIVERY SERVICE THAT DELIVERS HOT MEALS IN BAYTOWN SIX YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER IN THE COMFORT OF THEIR HOME.
WE FOCUS ON THE HOME BOUND, LOW, LOW TO MODERATE INCOME, EITHER MENTALLY OR PHYSICALLY DISABLED, THAT STRUGGLE TO COOK.
OUR DRIVERS ARE OUR EYES AND EARS.
THEY'RE THE ONES THAT DELIVER RAIN OR SHINE TO OUR SENIORS HOME, REGARDLESS OF THE DELIVERY OBSTACLES WE FACE.
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AND TRUST ME, THERE ARE MANY OBSTACLES THEY FACE FOR MANY OF OUR SENIORS.OUR DRIVERS ARE THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT THEY GET TO SEE DAILY.
OUR DRIVERS OFTEN SEE THE CLIENTS MORE THAN THEIR OWN FAMILIES DO.
OUR VISITS ARE VITAL TO OUR CLIENTS.
IF IT WASN'T FOR OUR DELIVERY SERVICES, I COULD GIVE YOU A WHOLE STORY, BUT I DON'T, I'M SHORT ON TIME, BUT WE SAVE MANY PEOPLE'S LIVES WHEN WE DELIVER.
WE'VE HAD DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WHERE WE COME UP TO THEM AND THEY'RE ON THE FLOOR AND THEY NEED HELP.
AND WE'RE THE ONES THAT COME AND SEE THEM AND CALL 9 1 1.
FOR 40% OF OUR CLIENTS OR DRIVERS ARE THE ONLY PERSON THEY SEE ALL DAY.
60 PER 68% OF THEM LIVE ALONE BEYOND THE NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF THE FOOD.
THE PROGRAM ACTS LIKE A LIFELINE FOR SENIORS BY INTEGRATING HEALTH, SAFETY AND SOCIAL SUPPORT IN THEIR EVERY VISIT.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE 45 CLIENTS WHO ARE ON OUR GROWING WAITING LIST.
IF WE RECEIVE THIS MONEY, WE REQUEST, WE CAN REMOVE CLIENTS OFF OF OUR WAITING LIST AND CONTINUE TO SERVE THEM AND, AND TAKE THEM OFF THE WAITING LIST.
PLEASE HELP US END THE WEIGHT.
AGAIN, WE DO NOT JUST DELIVER TRADE FOOD, WE DELIVER A LIFELINE WELLNESS CHECK AND DIGNITY OF BEING SEEN.
UM, FIRST, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND FOR WHAT YOU DO.
UM, MY QUESTION IS, SO THIS FUNDING THAT YOU'RE REQUESTING WOULD BE FOR, TO TAKE SOME OF THE CLIENTS THAT ARE ON THE WAITING LIST.
OFF OF THE WAITING LIST, IT WOULD BE TO TAKE CLIENTS OFF THE WAITING LIST AND TO SUPPORT THE ONES WE CURRENTLY ARE SERVING.
I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T HEAR THAT LAST PART.
TO, TO SUPPORT THE ONES WE'RE CURRENTLY SERVING AS WELL.
SO ON YOUR APPLICATION IT SAYS THAT YOU PROVIDE MEALS DURING A SERVICE YEAR.
WHAT DAYS ARE EXCLUDED? UM, OBVIOUSLY SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS, BUT ARE THERE HOLIDAY DELIVERIES? UM, THE, THE ONLY HOLIDAYS WE TAKE OFF IS CHRISTMAS AND I THINK IT'S MEMORIAL DAY.
ASIDE FROM THAT, WE, WE PROVIDE THEM A MEAL EVEN THOUGH WE MAY NOT DELIVER, WE PROVIDE THEM A MEAL THE DAY BEFORE.
AND HAS THE COST OF MEALS INCREASED AT ALL? I KNOW IT WAS $3 AND 66 CENTS WHEN YOU APPLIED, AND I THINK THE LAST TIME WE FUNDED YOU, HAS THAT INCREASED AT ALL WITH EVERYTHING ELSE? I THINK IT WAS 3 12, 2 YEARS AGO THAT Y'ALL FUNDED US.
IT WENT UP TO 360 6 WHEN I DID THE APPLICATION AND NOW IT'S CURRENTLY THREE 70.
SO IT'S ALL THE PROGRAMS TOGETHER.
UM, IF TOGETHER WE ORDER LESS, IT'S MORE EXPENSIVE.
I'M NOT SURE WHY, BUT THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT WORKS.
AND HOW MANY DRIVERS DO YOU CURRENTLY HAVE? I HAVE SIX PAID DRIVERS AND WE HAVE VOLUNTEERS THAT DELIVER.
SO TO FOLLOW THAT, I WAS GONNA ASK TOO, HOW MANY DR, SO YOU HAVE SIX PAID DRIVERS.
ARE THERE ANY VOLUNTEER DRIVERS? YES, WE HAVE VOLUNTEERS FROM ALL OVER EXXON CHURCHES.
UM, BEFORE COVID WE USED TO HAVE 20 ROUTES, UH, TO BE A LITTLE TRANSPARENT.
UM, WE'VE GONE DOWN TO SEVEN ROUTES.
UM, EXXON USED TO HAVE THEIR OWN, I THINK IT WAS LIKE SIX ROUTES.
AND THEN OTHER CHURCHES DECIDED, 'CAUSE THERE WERE ELDERLY COMMUNITY THAT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO, THEY'RE HIGHLY SUSCEPTIBLE.
THEY DIDN'T WANT VOLUNTEER AT COVID TIME, BUT THEY NEVER CAME BACK.
SO YOU DID MENTION THAT YOU WOULD CONTINUE BE ABLE TO CONTINUE SERVING SOME OF THE CLIENTS THAT YOU SERVE NOW, AS WELL AS SOME AS ON THE WAIT LIST.
SO HOW MANY ADDITIONAL FROM THE WAIT LIST WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO HELP? SO IF WE GET THE 20,000, THAT TRANSLATES TO 21 CLIENTS.
SO MY IDEA IS RIGHT NOW, SINCE WE'RE WE'RE SUSTAINABLE, RIGHT NOW WITH THE INCOME IS TO TAKE 21 OFF THE WAITING LIST.
BUT LET'S SAY, 'CAUSE OUR FISCAL YEAR, WE HAVE FOUR FISCAL YEARS WE TRACK AND IT'S REALLY COMPLICATED.
BUT THE MAIN ONE IS THE STATE FISCAL YEAR, WHICH IS OCTOBER TO SEPTEMBER.
AND WE DON'T GET THE FUNDING NOTIFICATION FROM AAA, WHICH IS OUR MAIN FUNDER UNTIL SEPTEMBER.
SO LET'S SAY SEPTEMBER, THEY DECREASE OUR AMOUNT.
THEN AT THAT POINT IT'S TO SUSTAIN OUR CLIENTS.
BUT IF IT STAYS THE SAME, THEN IT'S TO TAKE 21 OFF OUR LIST.
DO Y'ALL PARTNER WITH HEARTS AND HANDS OF BETAN AT ALL? 'CAUSE I KNOW THEY HAVE THEIR DOORSTEP BLESSING PROGRAM.
DO THEY PROVIDE ANY FOOD TO THE PEOPLE THAT YOU SERVE? I KNOW THIS IS LIKE COOKED MEALS, SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT COOKING, BUT SO WE HAVE, UM, THEY DO, WE DO PARTICIPATE IN THAT.
IT'S MAINLY THE CHURCH THAT WE ARE HOUSED IN THAT DOES IT.
BUT THEY USE OUR CLIENTS, UM, FROM WHERE THEY DELIVER TO ON SHILLING CENTENNIAL SQUARE.
NOT SURE IF Y'ALL FAMILIAR WITH THAT.
UM, AND THEY DELIVER, I THINK IT WAS LIKE 28 OF OUR PEOPLE.
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ANYMORE.UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT TO YOU ALL ON THIS EVENING.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT OUR JOB READINESS TRAINING PROGRAM TO YOU ALL.
SO I THINK SOME OF YOU'RE KIND OF FAMILIAR WITH OUR JOB READINESS TRAINING PROGRAM, SO I WON'T SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON THE FIRST TWO SLIDES.
UM, BUT, UH, JUST TO KIND OF JUST SUMMARIZE, OUR JOB READINESS PROGRAM IS A COMPREHENSIVE WORKSHOP THAT WE PROVIDE ON ALL OF THE SECONDARY CAMPUSES IN GOOSE CREEK.
UM, WE PROVIDED STARTING EIGHTH GRADE ALL THE WAY TO 12TH GRADE.
AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE GO OVER IN THE WORKSHOP IS RESUME BUILDING.
WE TALK ABOUT, UM, INTERVIEW SKILLS.
WE GO OVER, UM, COLLEGE, UM, COLLEGE APPLICATION, FSA, TASFA, UM, WHAT THAT PROCESS LOOK LIKE, UM, THE THINGS THAT YOU WILL NEED TO COMPLETE THAT PROCESS.
UM, AND WE ALSO TALK ABOUT POSSIBLE, UM, INTERNSHIPS AND SUMMER EMPLOYMENT WITH OUR STUDENTS.
THE INDIVIDUALS THAT CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM ARE, AGAIN, EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS ALL THE WAY TO 12TH GRADE.
UM, WE INTRODUCE THEM TO, TO, UH, COLLEGE CAREER READINESS, UM, AND TRY TO PREPARE THEM AT AN EARLY AGE SO THEY'RE NOT JUST THINKING ABOUT IT ONCE THEY GET TO HIGH SCHOOL.
SO WE ARE HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO INTRODUCE THAT ON THE EIGHTH GRADE LEVEL.
UM, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, ALL THE, I'M SORRY, JUNIOR HIGH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
AND WE DO FOCUS ON, UM, LOW TO MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES.
AND THE WAY WE CAN IDENTIFY THOSE STUDENTS IS BECAUSE WE HAVE A SCHOOL-BASED SITE COORDINATOR ON ALL OF OUR CAMPUSES, UM, AND IN GOOSE CREEK.
AND SO WE HAVE ACCESS TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THOSE FAMILIES, UM, PRIOR TO THEM, UH, BECOMING A PART OF THE PROGRAM.
ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT IS WHAT MAKES OUR PROGRAM UNIQUE IS THAT WE ARE SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAM.
SO WE DON'T, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO OFFER AFTER SCHOOL.
UM, BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES THAT BECOMES AN ISSUE WITH TRANSPORTATION, GETTING, TRYING TO GET THE STUDENTS TO REMAIN AFTER SCHOOL.
BUT BECAUSE WE'RE ON SCHOOL CAMPUSES, WE CAN, UH, LOCK IN THOSE WORKSHOP DURING SCHOOL SCHOOL HOURS.
UM, A LOT OF TIMES WE'LL, UM, GET WITH THE, UH, CAMPUS ADMINISTRATOR, THE PRINCIPAL, AND IDENTIFY WHAT TIMES, UH, ARE AVAILABLE FOR US TO WORK WITH THE STUDENT AND PROVIDE THESE WORKSHOPS.
SO THAT'S ONE OF THE UNIQUE THINGS, UM, ABOUT US.
UM, WE ALSO ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE A PERSONALIZED, UH, HANDS-ON SUPPORT WITH THE STUDENTS.
SO THERE ARE SOME STUDENTS THAT'LL GO THROUGH THE WORKSHOP, BUT SOME OF THEM MAY BE FIRST GENERATIONAL STUDENTS GOING TO COLLEGE.
PARENTS DON'T HAVE A CLUE OF WHAT THIS TAKES TO FILL OUT APPLICATION.
SO WE CAN WORK ONE-ON-ONE WITH THE STUDENTS TO, UH, GET RESUMES, UH, COMPLETED, GET APPLICATIONS FILLED OUT, WHETHER IT'S JOB APPLICATIONS OR COLLEGE APPLICATIONS, AND ALSO WORK WITH THE PARENTS AS WELL ONE-ON-ONE.
HERE'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY.
WE STARTED THIS PROGRAM IN 2021, UM, RIGHT WHEN COVID WAS ACTIVE, AND WE STARTED IT AS A VIRTUAL PROGRAM.
UM, BUT SINCE THEN WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BRING THIS PROGRAM INTO THE SCHOOL, MAKE IT A SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAM, EXPAND IT TO THE EIGHTH GRADE CAMPUSES.
UM, SINCE RECEIVING THE FUNDING THROUGH CDBG, UH, AGAIN, WE NOW INCLUDE EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS.
THAT HAS, UH, RESULTED IN INCREASED PARTICIPATION.
WE HAVE SERVICED OVER MORE THAN 330 STUDENTS, UM, NOT COUNTING THIS YEAR'S NUMBERS.
UM, AND, UM, WITH, UH, THAT TRACK RECORD, UH, WE LIKE TO SAY THAT WE HAVE, UM, BOOST THE PROBABILITY OF STUDENTS GOING TO SCHOOL OR OBTAINING, UH, EMPLOYMENT.
HOW DOES OUR PROGRAM ALIGN WITH, UM, THE COMMUNITY BLOCK DEVELOPMENT? UM, ONE OF THE THINGS IS THAT THE JOB READINESS PROGRAM WORKS CLOSELY, UM, ALIGNED WITH, UH, CDBG FUNDING PRIORITIES.
MEANING THAT WE STRENGTHEN OUR PARTNERSHIPS IN THE COMMUNITY.
OUR PARTNERSHIPS, OF COURSE, IS GOOSE CREEK.
ONE OF OUR PARTNERSHIPS IS UNITED WAY, UM, A GREATER BAYTOWN, UH, CHAMBERS, UH, COUNTY.
UM, THEY HAVE WORKED WITH US WITH, UH,
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PROVIDING AN ADDITIONAL COMPONENT TO JOB READINESS, WHICH IS THEIR ADULTING 1 0 1.THEY, UM, THEY CREATED THE CURRICULUM UNDER THE ADULTING 1 0 1, WHICH IS A FINANCIAL LITERACY CURRICULUM WHERE WE NOW INTRODUCE, OKAY, WE'RE GETTING YOU READY FOR COLLEGE, WE'RE GETTING YOU READY FOR THE WORKFORCE, BUT NOW HOW ARE, HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO BALANCE THIS? WHAT IS LIFE GOING TO LOOK LIKE ON THE ADULT SIDE? AND SO HOW ARE YOU GOING TO MANAGE? AND SO THAT'S BEEN ONE OF OUR GREATEST PARTNERSHIPS IS WITH, UH, UNITED WAY ADULTING 1 0 1.
UH, COURSE, UH, WE'VE ALSO, OF COURSE, COLLABORATED WITH PIVOT FOUNDATION, WHO IS OUR NUMBER ONE.
SO PIVOT FOUNDATION IS OUR, UM, FACILITATOR FOR ALL OF THESE WORKSHOPS SO THAT THAT TIME GOES BY FAST.
DON'T YOU MIND? SO I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I DID HAVE A, UM, I DO HAVE A, UH, YOUNG LADY WHO IS A PARTICIPANT OF THE JOB READINESS PROGRAM.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE A FEW MOMENTS TO INTRODUCE.
SO, MS. ALLISON HELM, IF YOU WOULD COME FORWARD AND SHE'LL JUST SHARE BRIEFLY WITH YOU, UH, WAS ONE OF JOB READINESS.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MRS. ROBINSON FOR ALLOWING ME TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE JOB READINESS PROGRAM.
UH, SO BRIEFLY, I JOINED THE, UH, PROGRAM DURING MY SOPHOMORE YEAR, AND IT TRULY BECAME A MAJOR STEPPING STONE.
WITH THE TRANSFORMATIVE, EMPOWERING GUIDANCE ON PROFESSIONALISM, RESUME BUILDING, AND SELF MANAGEMENT SKILLS, I WAS ABLE TO GET MY FIRST JOB.
ALSO, THROUGH THE PARTNERSHIP, CISB HAS MADE IN THE COMMUNITY, IT HAS AFFORDED THE JOB READINESS, PARTI JOB READINESS PROGRAM, PARTICIPANTS LIKE ME, EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, THOSE SKILLS ALSO PREPARED AND ASSISTED ME IN APPLYING FOR THE TERRY SCHOLAR FOUNDATION, WHERE I RECEIVED A FULL ACADEMIC RIDE TO THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, MAJORING IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING.
UM, AND THEN OVERALL, THE PROGRAM MADE A MEANINGFUL IMPACT ON MY LIFE.
THANK YOU FOR THIS PROGRAM TO ASSIST, TO ASSIST HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN PREPARING THEIR FUTURE.
OF THE, OH, FOR ALLISON STUFF
UM, FIRST OF ALL, HOOK 'EM HORNS
UM, SO WHERE ARE YOU NOW IN YOUR COLLEGE CAREER? I AM AN UPCOMING SENIOR.
AND I'M CONTEMPLATING ON GETTING MY PHD OR GOING INTO INDUSTRY AS A BIOPROCESS ENGINEER.
FOR YOU IS NOT FOR YOU FOR MS. ROBINSON.
I DIDN'T, I HAVE MY MIC ON, BUT CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
WILL THERE BE ANY MORE QUESTIONS FOR ME? MM-HMM.
UM, ON THE CONSULTANT FEE HERE THAT WE HAVE 11,000 PLUS, AND THEN YOU HAVE A 5,000 FROM SOMEBODY ELSE, CORRECT? CORRECT.
IS THIS CONSULTANT SERVICE, IS IT A PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANT SERVICE OR IS THIS SOMETHING THAT YOU, UM, IS IT CONSULTING THE STUDENTS OR HOW, HOW IS THAT? OH, IT'S FOR THE STUDENTS.
SO IT'S OUR, IT'S A PROFESSIONAL, UH, SERVICE THAT IS PROVIDED TO US THROUGH PIVOT FOUNDATION.
UM, AND YES, THEY, SO THEY COME IN AND THEY PROVIDE THE WORKSHOPS FOR OUR STUDENTS AND THEY PROVIDE ALL OF THE MATERIALS NEEDED.
SO THAT'S WHAT THE MONEY'S NEEDED FOR.
SO WHO IS THE OTHER 5,000? MAY I ASK THE FUNDER THE OTHER ENBRIDGE? ENBRIDGE? YES.
AND SO ENBRIDGE FUNDING IS, UM, THE FUNDS THAT WE USE TO TAKE OUR STUDENTS, UH, TO COLLEGE FIELD TRIPS.
SO WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE, UM, THERE'S ONE PORTION THAT CAN BE PROVIDED, UM, FOR WHEN WE TAKE THEM ON FIELD TRIPS.
WE LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY EAT, UM, AND THAT, UM, ALL OF THEIR NEEDS ARE MET.
SO ENBRIDGE FUNDS HELP WITH PROVIDING, UH, COLLEGE TOURS.
AND HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN USING THIS? UH, FOR THE FIRST, YEAH, THE FIRST CONSULTING COMPANY.
UM, HOW LONG HAS HAVE YOU ALL BEEN WE'VE BEEN USING HERS, THIS, THIS OUR ORGANIZATION SINCE, I WANNA SAY 2022, I THINK.
WHENEVER THEY APPLY FOR REIMBURSEMENT, THEY ARE AT THE BEGINNING.
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PROVIDE US WITH THE CONTRACT THAT, AND THEIR CREDENTIALS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS, YOU KNOW, A REPUT.IT'S NOT JUST SHARON SAYING SHE'S A CONSULTANT, YOU KNOW, AND GETTING PAID.
SO THEY DO PROVIDE US WITH THAT.
AND I DO BELIEVE, I THINK IT WAS RIGHT AROUND COVID WHEN YOU STARTED WORKING WITH THEM.
BECAUSE WE WANTED TO BRING IT INTO THE SCHOOLS.
AND SO WE WANTED TO FIND A REPUTABLE.
SO IT'S WORKING FOR YOU? THAT'S IT'S WORKING FOR US, YES, MA'AM.
AND THE RESULTS ARE RIGHT THERE, SO.
THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE.
I JUST HAVE ONE MORE QUICK QUESTION.
SO, SINCE THE INCEPTION, YOU GUYS HAVE HELPED THREE OVER 300 STUDENTS.
SO HOW MANY ARE IN THE PROGRAM FOR THIS CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR? WHEN I COUNTED YESTERDAY, WE WERE, WERE UP TO 172.
SO WE HAVE ABOUT FOUR MORE WORKSHOPS LEFT.
WE HAVE ABOUT FOUR MORE WORKSHOPS.
SO WE ARE UP TO 172 JUST FOR THIS YEAR.
I JUST WANNA SAY, I WISH THAT YOU GUYS HAD THAT WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL.
SO WHAT'S THE SUCCESS RATE? BECAUSE I KNOW, I MEAN, EVERYTHING ISN'T ALWAYS GONNA BE GREAT, BUT I MEAN, IS WHAT IS YOUR SUCCESS RATE WITH THE PEOPLE WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM? SO, UM, I WON'T SAY WE HAVE SOLID NUMBERS TO MEASURE THAT BECAUSE WE ARE STILL, AS A ORGANIZATION, TRYING TO BUILD LIKE OUR ALUMNI PROGRAM TO BE ABLE TO TRACK WHERE SOME OF THOSE STUDENTS ARE.
BUT I WILL SAY, UM, MAYBE AT THIS POINT MAYBE 50% OF THE STUDENTS REACH BACK.
AND SO WE'RE ABLE TO MAKE SOME TYPE OF CONTACT WITH THEM.
UM, THEY WILL KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THEIR SITE COORDINATOR.
UM, AND THEN THAT WAY WE, WE KNOW, OKAY, WHAT, WHAT THEY'RE DOING, ARE THEY IN COLLEGE? ARE THEY WORKING? UM, AND SO WE ARE RIGHT NOW TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TYPE OF SYSTEM WE CAN COME UP WITH TO BETTER TRACK ALL OF THE STUDENTS THAT PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM BESIDES GOOSE CREEK.
HOW ABOUT THE CHARTER SCHOOLS? UM, ST.
HAVE YOU REACHED OUT TO THEM AND MAYBE BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE JUNIOR HIGHS? THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING.
SO WE HAVE NOT, BECAUSE WITH COMMUNITY AND SCHOOLS, UM, WE HAVE TO HAVE A CONTRACT WITH ANY SCHOOL OR DISTRICT THAT WE GO IN MM-HMM
WHICH MEANS THEY HAVE TO ALSO FUND A PORTION OF THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE.
UM, SO WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A SITE COORDINATOR BASED ON THOSE CAMPUSES.
THE ONLY CHARTER SCHOOL WE ARE CURRENTLY BASED ON IS BOB HOPE.
UM, AND ALSO, UM, OF COURSE WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING AT THOSE SCHOOLS THAT HAVE LOW TO, UH, MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES AS WELL.
BUT WE'RE NOT OPPOSED, IF THE NEED IS THERE AND THEY'RE WILLING TO ACCEPT US,
UM, FOR YOUR 2,500 THAT YOU'RE REQUESTING FOR TRAINING AND TRAVEL, WHAT EXACTLY IS THAT GOING TO? SO THERE'S, UM, THERE'S, AT TIMES THERE ARE TIMES WHERE OUR SITE COORDINATORS, WE PROVIDE, UH, SOME TRAINING FOR THEM.
UM, THE TRAVEL, IT JUST DEPENDS ON GOING TO THE DIFFERENT CAMPUSES.
SO A LOT OF TIMES WE A LOT THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO PAY FOUR MILEAGE, SO WE INCLUDE THAT IN TERMS OF OUR TRAVEL, OUR TRAVEL COSTS AS WELL.
SO EVEN THOUGH Y'ALL HAVE PEOPLE ON SITE, Y'ALL STILL HAVE TO SEND SOMEBODY ELSE TO TRAVEL TO THAT SCHOOL? SOMETIMES.
SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO SEND OUR, UH, SUPERVISORS.
SO OUR SUPERVISORS, WE HAVE PROGRAM COORDINATORS THAT OVERSEE THE PROGRAM.
AND SO ANYTIME WE'RE INTRODUCING ANY TYPE OF WORKSHOPS ON THE CAMPUSES, THEN WE WILL SEND OUR SUPERVISORS AS WELL TO OVERSEE MM-HMM
AND ALL OF THAT'S GONNA BE TRACKED.
AND IT'S AT THE IRS RATE AND EVERYTHING.
BECAUSE THAT'S PART OF OUR POLICY WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION.
ANYTIME THEY TRAVEL FROM CAMPUS TO CAMPUS OR THEY HAVE TO GO, ALL OF THAT IS TRACKED.
SO YES, WE GO ACCORDING TO IRS RATES.
I WILL NOW CALL UNITED RAY OF GREATER BAYTOWN AREA IN CHAMBERS COUNTY.
OH, CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME? BARELY.
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YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO HEAR OUR PROPOSAL.I AM THE COMMUNITY IMPACT AND ENGAGEMENT MANAGER AT UNITED WAY OF GREATER BAYTOWN AREA IN CHAMBERS COUNTY.
AND WITH ME TODAY IS KATHY QUINTANA, WHO IS OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR, WHO OVERSEES OUR CLOTHING FOR KIDS CLOSET PROGRAM.
SO JUST TO GIVE Y'ALL A BRIEF OVERVIEW, THE MISSION OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH BRAND NEW CLOTHING, SHOES, AND HYGIENE PRODUCTS SUITABLE FOR SCHOOL AT THE TIME OF THE STUDENT'S NEEDS.
THIS IN RETURN HELPS REMOVE THE BARRIERS TO EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS IN BAYTOWN, ALLOWING THEM TO GET TO SCHOOL PREPARED, CONFIDENT, AND READY TO LEARN.
WE EVERY DAY SEE THE NEED IN BAYTOWN.
BAYTOWN HAS OVER 30,000 HOUSEHOLDS AND 16% OF THOSE HOUSEHOLDS LIVE AT OR BELOW THE POVERTY LINE WITH ANOTHER 35% OF THOSE HOUSEHOLDS LIVING IN WHAT WE CALL ALICE.
THIS IS YOUR COMMUNITY THAT LIVE ABOVE THE POVERTY LINE, BUT BELOW THE SURVIVAL BUDGET.
THEY WORK EVERY DAY, BUT STILL STRUGGLE TO MEET THOSE BASIC NEEDS.
FAMILIES ARE FOCUSING ON HOW TO GET FOOD ON THE TABLE AND UPCOMING MEDICAL BILLS, AND THEY'RE NOT FOCUSING ON GETTING NEW CLOTHES FOR THEIR STUDENTS TO GO TO SCHOOL.
UH, THIS DIRECTLY IMPACTS ATTENDANCE, ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, AND STUDENT CONFIDENCE.
THIS IS HIGHLIGHTED WITH A 31% INCREASE THAT WE HAVE SEEN THIS SCHOOL YEAR VERSUS LAST YEAR.
SO, UM, THIS PROGRAM, UM, IT HAS A VERY, UM, IT OPERATES QUITE SIMPLE.
WE HAVE, WE, WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH C-I-S-C-Y-S AND SCHOOL STAFF TO IDENTIFY SOME OF THESE STUDENTS.
SO COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY YOUTH SERVICES, UM, TEACHERS AND COUNSELORS THAT CAN IDENTIFY THESE STUDENTS.
AND THEN THEY REACH OUT TO US THROUGH A REQUEST FORM THAT WE'VE CREATED, UM, THAT IS VERY SIMPLE FOR THEM TO FILL OUT THAT CONTAINS THE SIZING AND THE ITEMS THAT THEY'RE REQUESTING FOR THESE STUDENTS.
UM, AND SO THROUGH THAT, UH, WE ARE ABLE TO HELP STUDENTS THAT YOU WOULD NEVER THINK WOULD FIND THEMSELVES IN A LOT OF THESE SITUATIONS, GOING THROUGH HOUSE FIRES, RUNNING AWAY FROM DOMESTIC SITUATIONS, HAVING TO START ALL OVER AS WELL AS PARENTS NOW GOING INTO HOSPICE CARE.
AND SO THESE ARE ALL SITUATIONS THAT I'VE ENCOUNTERED WHEN READING THESE REQUESTS AND WHY THE NEED IS URGENT.
UM, AND I'LL MOVE ON TO THE, OUR NEXT STEP.
SO THE REQUEST IS SUBMITTED ON BEHALF OF STUDENTS THROUGH, UM, THESE AMAZING C-I-S-C-Y-S STAFF AND COUNSELORS FROM SCHOOLS.
UM, BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES WITH STUDENTS EVERY DAY AND THEY SEE SOMETHING'S GOING ON WITH THIS STUDENT, HOW CAN WE HELP THEM? AND THAT THEN THEY REACH OUT TO US AND WE CAN PREPARE THAT ORDER WITH THE HUB THAT WE HAVE AT UNITED WAY.
UM, WE HAVE CLOSETS THERE WHERE WE PUT THE ITEMS TOGETHER FOR THEM AND PUT 'EM ON A SHELF FOR TE FOR THE CIS TEACHERS OR STAFF MEMBER TO COME AND PICK UP TO THEN GIVE TO THE STUDENTS IMMEDIATELY.
UM, SO THIS IS HOW THE BAG LOOKS.
IF YOU CAN SEE THE NICE PICTURE THEY DO, UM, BASED ON THE STUDENT REQUEST, UM, PROVIDED WITH THE APPROPRIATE ITEMS TO ATTEND SCHOOL.
SO THAT CAN INCLUDE SHIRTS, UM, SOCKS, SHOES, AND HYGIENE ITEMS FOR THEM.
SO COMMUNI COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS, COMMUNITIES WHO SERVICE WORKERS, COUNSELORS AND TEACHERS SUBMIT THE REQUEST ON THEIR BEHALF ALLOWING STUDENTS TO RECEIVE SUPPORT WITH DIGNITY AND WITHOUT EMBARRASSMENT.
AND EVERY REQUEST THAT COMES IN IS DOCUMENTED THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH C-Y-S-C-I-S.
WE ARE ABLE TO VERIFY THE RESIDENCY AND WE ARE ABLE TO FULFILL EACH REQUEST THROUGH THE INVENTORY ONSITE HUB OF THE UNITED WAY CAMPUS OR PURCHASE THE ITEMS TO MEET THE STUDENTS' NEED.
AND SO HERE'S A BIT OF OUR IMPACT RIGHT NOW.
UM, WE SERVICE STUDENTS AND G-C-C-I-S-D, WE'VE SERVICE 509 STUDENTS.
90% OF THE REQUESTS THAT COME IN ARE FROM THE ZIP CODE 7 7 5 2 0, AND 7 7 5 2 1.
27% OF THOSE REQUESTS THAT COME IN ARE URGENT.
SO WE DEFINE, UM, AT UNITED WAY AN URGENT NEED AS THIS STUDENT IS NOT ABLE TO GO TO SCHOOL OR RETURN TO SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE CLOTHING.
UM, AND THAT'S WHERE WE COME IN AND QUICKLY, UH, ARE ABLE TO MEET THE NEED OF THAT STUDENT SO THAT THEN THEY CAN GO TO SCHOOL.
UM, ONE OF THE BEAUTIFUL THINGS ABOUT THIS PROGRAM IS THE STORIES THAT WE HEAR FROM PARENTS AND THAT COME THROUGH C-I-S-C-Y-S AND STAFF MEMBERS.
ONE OF THEM WAS STARTING OVER FROM NOTHING, HAS BEEN VERY DIFFICULT.
AND THIS SUPPORT IS TRULY APPRECIATED FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS.
MY KIDS WERE VERY SAD ABOUT STARTING SCHOOL WITHOUT HAVING ANYTHING
[00:30:01]
TO WEAR.AND THESE CLOTHES REALLY HELP THEM.
AND THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE MANY STORIES THAT WE HEAR.
IS THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME YOU APPLIED WITH US, RIGHT? WE APPLIED, I BELIEVE TWO YEARS AGO.
UM, THREE, THREE YEARS, TWO YEARS AGO.
UM, AND THAT WAS ABOUT A YEAR AFTER WE HAD TAKEN OVER THE PROGRAM.
SO UNFORTUNATELY WE DIDN'T GET ANY FUNDING, BUT WE'VE WORKED OUT A LOT OF THE CASE SINCE THEN.
SO I CAN SAY THAT I KNOW THAT THAT MONEY IS BEING USED PROPERLY.
BECAUSE I WORK WITH THE DISTRICT, SO I I I SEE THE NEED FOR THOSE KIDS AND HOW Y'ALL HELP OUT WITH THAT CLOSE WITH ALL THAT NEW STUFF THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
MY QUESTION TOO IS, UM, WE DO HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DO HOMESCHOOLING MM-HMM
DO THEY HAVE ANY ACCESS TO ANYTHING OUT THERE? UM, IF THEY'RE NOT, BECAUSE YOU DO HAVE TO SHOW THE ID FOR THE KIDS.
AND IF THEY'RE NOT IN GOOSE CREEK, IS THERE, IS THERE ANYTHING AVAILABLE FOR THEM THAT THEY CAN HAVE FOR WE HAVE A FAMILY, A FRIEND, FA NOT FRIEND, FAMILY, A FAMILY THAT WE KNOW OF THAT HAS NINE KIDS AND THEY'RE HOMESCHOOLING THAN NINE KIDS.
UM, AND SO WE WERE JUST, I WAS JUST WONDERING IF THERE WAS ANYTHING AVAILABLE BECAUSE I TRIED TO, I DON'T THINK WE CAN GET, BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE IDS FROM THE GO GOOSE CREEK.
SO, BUT THEY'RE LIVING IN THIS AREA.
SO THE SCOPE THAT WE DESIGNED, UM, IS TO SERVICE THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE STUDENTS IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
'CAUSE WE HAVE FOUND THAT THEY HAVE THE MOST NEED.
AND ALSO WE'RE ABLE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THEM.
HOWEVER, WE HAVE LIKE, MADE EXCEPTIONS IN THE PAST IF LIKE A CASE WORKER OR LIKE SOCIAL WORKER WITH THE CITY HAS LIKE REACHED OUT TO US MM-HMM
UM, BUT UNFORTUNATELY JUST KIND OF HOW WE'VE BEEN DESIGNED, IT'S TO HELP STUDENTS WITHIN SCHOOL DISTRICT.
AND DALIA, THE WAY THAT IT IS, IS THAT IT'S BY REFERRAL.
THEIR CURRENT PROGRAM IS THROUGH CIS AND CYS COUNSELORS.
SO WHAT YOU CAN ALWAYS DO IS HAVE YOUR FRIEND CALL 2 1 1 OR, UM, THE UNITED WAY NUMBER, WHICH I CAN PROVIDE FOR YOU AFTER THIS MEETING, I HAVE IT ON MY MONITOR IN MY OFFICE.
THAT WAY YOU CAN ALWAYS GIVE THEM A DIRECT LINE TO CONTACT THEM.
AND ALSO IF IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO, ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT UNITED WAY IS WE KNOW WHO WE COULD ALWAYS REFER THEM TO.
IF IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN HANDLE AT THE MOMENT OR NOT WITHIN OUR SCOPE, WE KNOW THE RESOURCES IN THE AREA THAT WE CAN HELP THEM GET WHAT THEY NEED.
IN FACT, THOSE 2 1 1 CARDS GO INSIDE OF EVERY REQUEST THAT INSIDE OF EVERY REQUEST THAT IS FULFILLED, WE ALWAYS PUT A 2 1 1 CARD IN THERE, UM, AS WELL WITH A MEDICAL DISCOUNT LIKE MEDICINE DISCOUNT CARD IN THERE.
UH, JUST FOR THEM TO HAVE IN CASE OF THEY NEED FURTHER ASSISTANCE OF ANYTHING.
SO YOU DID SAY, UM, THAT THE ITEMS ARE NOT STORED AT THE SCHOOL.
WHEN Y'ALL APPLIED LAST TIME, Y'ALL WERE TRYING TO STORE 'EM AT A SCHOOL.
SO WE, ESPECIALLY AT THE FUNDING LEVEL THAT WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW AND HOW MANY ORDERS WE HAVE, WE HAVE FOUND THAT IT'S MUCH EASIER AND FASTER FOR US TO JUST FILL THE ORDERS OURSELVES AND GET IT BACK TO THE UM, C-I-S-C-Y-S WORKERS.
SO Y'ALL DELIVER 'EM AS WELL? OR DOES SOMEBODY HAVE TO COME AND PICK UP TO DISTRIBUTE? THEY'LL, THEY COME PICK UP FOR THE MOST PART.
THE CIS OR CYS WORKER WILL COME PICK IT UP, PICK UP THEIR ORDERS.
EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE WE WILL RUN SOME ORDERS OVER TO A WORKER IF THEY REALLY NEED IT.
BUT FOR THE MOST PART, THEY COME TO US, PICK IT UP.
SO IF THE REQUEST COMES IN ON A DAILY BASE, Y'ALL WILL STORE IN A DAILY, LIKE Y'ALL ARE MOVING IT JUST THAT FAST.
IT'S NOT LIKE THERE'S A WAIT LIST OR SOMETHING.
MOST ORDERS ARE FULFILLED WITHIN 72 HOURS OF THE URGENT REQUESTS.
SO WE HAVE LEVELS OF URGENT, HIGH NEED AND STANDARD.
SO LIKE THE URGENT ONES, WE HAVE A QUICK TURNAROUND, WHICH IS WHY IT'S, IT'S NOT THE BEST TO BUY BOTH BECAUSE IN ORDER TO MEET THE SIZING OF WHAT THEY NEED, UM, WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO GET THOSE ITEMS FOR THEM.
SO WE'LL, WE SET 'EM UP FOR A WEEK'S WORTH OF, OF ITEMS. OKAY.
IS THIS A ONCE A WEEK? I MEAN, ONCE A YEAR, ONE TIME DEAL FOR THE, FOR THE FAMILIES FOR EMAIL, OR IS THIS AT AS IN JANUARY THEY NEED YOU TO RESERVE WHATEVER.
SO WE HAVE IT, SO IT IS ONCE A YEAR.
[00:35:01]
IF WINTER COMES AROUND, A CHILD ASKED FOR CLOTHES IN THE SUMMER AND THEY'RE ASKING FOR A WINTER JACKET, NOW WE HAVE THOSE EXCEPTIONS TO THE RULES, BUT FOR THE MOST PART IT IS THERE FOR THEM TO GET CLOTHING ONCE A YEAR.SO HOW EXACTLY WOULD IT WORK? MM-HMM
SO YOU GO SHOPPING AND THEN ONE OF MEL'S COUNSELORS WILL REACH OUT AND SAY, HEY, I GOT A KID AT EF GREEN THAT NEEDS A PAIR OF SHOES AND A SWEATER.
HOW DO YOU DETERMINE THAT THAT CHILD LIVES WITHIN CITY LIMITS? 'CAUSE EF GREEN SERVICES HIGHLANDS A PORTION OF OF HIGHLANDS.
IT DOES THE ETJ OUTSIDE CITY LIMITS.
HOW ARE Y'ALL GONNA BE ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT? SO WHAT WE DID WAS WE OVERLAID THE SCHOOL ZONING MAP WITH THE BAYTOWN CITY LIMITS MAP AND DETERMINED FIVE SCHOOLS WHERE STUDENTS HAVE TO LIVE IN THE BAYTOWN CITY LIMITS TO GO TO THOSE SCHOOLS.
IT'S, YEAH, IT'S SAN JACINTO, UM, ASHEVILLE SMITH, BOWIE CARVER AND BAYTOWN JUNIOR.
UM, AND SO MOST OF THOSE ARE CYS.
BAYTOWN JUNIOR IS CIS MM-HMM
BUT WE ESTABLISHED THOSE WOULD BE THE FIVE SCHOOLS THAT WE WOULD APPLY THE CDBG MONEY TO WHEN BUYING CLOTHES.
SO WE WOULD BE ABLE TO, THE FUNDS THAT WE HAVE HELP OTHER STUDENTS IN BAYTOWN WITH A LITTLE LESS RESTRICTIONS.
YOU NAME THE SCHOOLS AGAIN, PLEASE.
UH, SAN JACINTO, ASHEVILLE SMITH, BOWIE CARVER AND BAYTOWN JUNIOR.
AND HOW WILL YOU MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE ASSISTING ARE ALSO LOW INCOME? SO WE, ON OUR REQUEST FORM, ASK FOR ZIP CODE, GENDER, AND THEN WE ARE ADDING RACE, ETHNICITY, UH, AND THEN INCOME LEVEL TO OUR REQUEST FORMS. SO, UM, OUR C-I-S-C-Y-S WORKERS OR STAFF MEMBERS WILL HAVE TO ANSWER THOSE FEW QUESTIONS SO WE CAN TRACK AND MAKE SURE, AND THEN WE RECONCILE AT THE END OF EVERY MONTH TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS ABOVE BOARD WELL.
AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, WHEN THEY APPLIED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, IT'S NOT THAT Y'ALL DIDN'T PROVIDE THEM WITH FUNDING, THEIR APPLICATION WAS WITHDRAWN PRIOR TO BUDGET DELIBERATIONS.
SO I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK WHEN WE DO OUR BUDGET DELIBERATIONS NEXT WEEK THAT WE DIDN'T FUND THEM.
WE DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO YES.
SO IT WASN'T ANYTHING BAD ON THEIR PART.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF THAT.
WHAT ELSE IS, WHO ELSE IS, UH, THE FUNDING FOR THIS? SO ACTUALLY OUR BOARD HAS, UM, DESIGNATED FUNDS FOR US.
SO WE, IT'S KIND OF APPLIED LIKE ALL OF OUR OTHER GRANT RECIPIENTS AND OUR BOARD HAS APPROVED, UM, OUR FUNDING.
EXXON IS, UM, I'M PRETTY SURE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR COMING IN AND GOING TO, UM, BE A PART OF SOME OF OUR FUNDING.
BUT I DON'T KNOW ALL OF THE INS AND OUTS OF THAT.
UH, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE.
AND, UH, UH, MY NAME'S BILL ECKARD.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT BAY AREA HOMELESS SERVICES.
AND ONCE AGAIN, WE'RE COMING TO YOU FOR, FOR FUNDING FOR OUR, UH, CHILD CHILDCARE PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR LOW INCOME RESIDENTS AT THE SHELTER.
SO, UH, OUR, I'VE BEEN HERE ALMOST EVERY YEAR SINCE I CAME ABOARD IN 2011.
AND OUR PROGRAM REALLY HASN'T CHANGED A WHOLE LOT THROUGH THE YEARS, SO I'LL TRY TO BE AS BRIEF AS I POSSIBLY CAN IN GOING THROUGH IT, GOING THROUGH THESE SLIDES.
THE CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE AT OUR SHELTER IS THE FACT THAT MOST OF OUR, OF ADULT RESIDENTS COME IN UNEMPLOYED OR UNDEREMPLOYED.
AND AS WE'LL SEE A LITTLE BIT LATER, UH, WE, THEY COME IN WITH CHILDREN.
AND THESE FOLKS NEED SOME ASSISTANCE IN ORDER TO GET FROM THE TRAUMA THAT THEY'RE IN WHEN THEY COME TO THE SHELTER THROUGH OUR STABILIZATION,
[00:40:01]
UH, PROCESS.AND THEN IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO GET A JOB, THEY NEED SOME SUPPORT, UH, IN THE WAY OF CHILDCARE BECAUSE IT'S SO DIFFICULT FOR A PERSON TO GET A JOB NOWADAYS WHEN THEY HAVE TO BE, UH, CONSTANTLY WORRYING ABOUT WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WITH THEIR CHILD WHILE THEY'RE OUT LOOKING FOR A JOB OR WHILE THEY'RE INTERVIEWING FOR A JOB.
UH, CHILDCARE MATTERS IN OUR PARTICULAR SETTING BECAUSE IT GOES BEYOND SUPERVISION, UH, WITH CHILDCARE AT A SHELTER, DIFFERENT FROM HAVING CHILDCARE IN YOUR HOME WHERE THESE FOLKS ARE, ARE IN A, IN A CONDITION WHERE THEY'RE A NUMBER OF OTHER FAMILIES THAT ARE SURROUNDING THEM.
AND A LOT OF TIMES THE PARENT WILL FEEL SOMEWHAT COMFORTABLE, SOMEWHAT SECURE IN SAYING, I'LL LET MY CHILD STAY WITH THIS OTHER FAMILY THAT THEY'RE IN THE SHELTER WHILE I GO OUT AND LOOK FOR WORK, OR WHILE I GO AND INTERVIEW FOR A JOB.
NOT THE SAFEST THING FOR US TO HAVE HAPPEN FOR THAT CHILD.
UH, CHILDCARE ITSELF PROVIDES A STRUCTURED LEARNING.
IT OFFERS CONSISTENCY, SAFETY, AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT FOR THE CHILDREN, REGARDLESS OF THE AGE OF THE CHILD.
UH, WE HAVE BOTH, UH, PROVIDERS WHO PROVIDE BOTH AFTER SCHOOL AND AND FULL-TIME DAYCARE.
AND SO THERE'S A, THERE'S A STABILITY THAT COMES WITH THAT FAMILY BEING, UH, KNOWING THAT THAT CHILD'S BEING CARED FOR PROPERLY AND FOR OUR STUDENTS.
OUR YOUNGER STUDENTS ARE GETTING READY FOR SCHOOL.
UH, IT BUILDS SCHOOL READINESS AND SELF-CONFIDENCE, WHICH IS A GOOD THING.
AS, UH, YOU KNOW, COMING FROM A TRAUMA, TRAUMA ENVIRONMENT, A LOT OF OUR CHILDREN ARE WITHDRAWN.
A LOT OF OUR CHILDREN ARE HESITANT TO MAKE FRIENDS.
THEY'RE HESITANT TO REACH OUT TO OTHERS.
AND SO, BEING IN THE LICENSED CHILDCARE FACILITY, THEY'RE AROUND OTHER CHILDREN AND THEY'RE ABLE TO, TO FIND FRIENDS A LITTLE BIT MORE QUICKLY.
WHAT'S THE BENEFIT FOR THE CHILD? HERE YOU CAN SEE ONE OF OUR PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE AT OUR, AT OUR SHELTER, BUT THIS HIGHLIGHTS WHAT OUR SHELTER POPULATION IS RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE 17, 17 CHILDREN IN THE, UH, IN OUR SHELTER.
THEY RANGE IN AGE FROM FIVE YEARS OLD, UH, FOUR YEARS OLD, 1-YEAR-OLD, FOUR MONTHS OLD, AND, UH, A 2-YEAR-OLD.
SO THESE CHILDREN ALL NEED FAMILY SUPPORT.
THEY ALL NEED, UH, SOME EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT AND EACH OF THE CHILDREN THAT WILL BE MOST BENEFITED BY OUR CHILDCARE PROGRAM.
UH, THE BROADER COMMUNITY EFFECTS OF HAVING THE CHILDCARE PROGRAM AT BAY AREA HOMELESS SERVICES, IT REDUCE LONG-TERM, UH, COSTS IN HEALTHCARE 'CAUSE THE CHILDREN ARE OUT IN A GOOD ENVIRONMENT.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE IN A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT.
UH, IT HELPS, UH, SAVE MONEY IN EDUCATION, UH, AND IN HOUSING ON THE LONG TERM.
OUR PROGRAMS IN TURN BENEFIT THE ADULTS A LOT BECAUSE IT STRENGTHENS THE LOCAL WORKFORCE.
THESE FOLKS ARE, IT SHORTED OUR CHILDCARE PROGRAM SHORTENS THEIR STAY AT OUR SHELTER, AND SO THEY'RE ABLE TO GET A JOB QUICKER.
THEY'RE ABLE TO, UH, MAINTAIN SOME SAVINGS AND ABLE TO GET OUT INTO THE, INTO THE COMMUNITY, UH, AS JOB HOLDERS PROVIDING BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND THEN IT, IT HELPS TO BREAK THE, THE, UH, GENERATIONAL CYCLE OF POVERTY THROUGH A BETTER FORM OF EARLY INTERVENTION WITH THAT PARTICULAR FAMILY.
UH, MRS. S OBTAINED FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT, UH, AT DOLLAR GENERAL.
AND, UH, SHE REMAINS GRATEFUL THAT SHE AND HER FIVE CHILDREN, UH, THAT SHE HAS, UH, AT THE, SHE AT THE SHELTER ARE NOW SAFE AND STABLE.
UH, MARIA, UH, IS WORKING AT, UH, UH, UH, AN AGENCY THAT PROVIDES, UH, UH, HEALTHCARE FOR, FOR ADULTS.
ANY, ANY QUESTIONS? OH, YEAH, QUESTIONS? I HAVE A QUESTION.
LAST WEEK WE HEARD FROM THE MARCELLUS WILLIAMS ORGANIZATION AND THEY ALSO SPECIALIZES IN HOMELESS OUTREACH PROGRAM.
HAVE THEY BEEN IN CONTACT WITH YOU ABOUT POSSIBLY PUTTING SOME OF THESE HOMELESS PEOPLE INTO YOUR SHELTER OR THE PEOPLE THEY COME ACROSS INTO YOUR SHELTER? THEY DO REACH OUT TO US OCCASIONALLY.
UH, WE, WE KNOW MARCELLUS WILLIAMS VERY, VERY WELL.
THEY DO A GREAT JOB, ESPECIALLY OVER IN THE HIGHLANDS AREA.
AND THEY ARE NOT CURRENTLY WORKING, UH, WITH THE HOMELESS POPULATION HERE IN BAYTOWN.
UH, A LOT OF THE FOLKS THAT THEY WORK WITH ARE FOLKS THAT ARE NOT
[00:45:01]
SUITABLE FOR OUR SHELTER ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE THEY ARE FOLKS WHO DO, WHO ARE SOMETIMES SUBSTANCE ABUSING OR CHRONICALLY HOMELESS AND, AND DON'T WANT TO COME INTO A COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT WHERE THERE, WHERE THERE ARE RULES.AND, UH, SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE NOT GOOD FITS FOR OUR, FOR OUR POPULATION AND NOT GOOD FITS FOR OUR PROGRAM FOR WHAT WE WANNA DO FOR THE COMMUNITY.
BUT MARCELLUS WILLIAMS IS A, IS A VERY, VERY GOOD ORGANIZATION.
UH, EDDIE, EDDIE WILLIAMS IS A GREAT GUY FOR SURE.
UM, THESE TWO LADIES THAT ARE THESE IMPACT STORIES AND THEN THE 17 KIDS THAT YOU MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY? YES.
UM, I DON'T SEE WHERE YOU'VE ACTUALLY USED THE FUNDING THAT WE'VE GIVEN YOU THIS YEAR OR LAST YEAR, NOT THAT MUCH THE YEAR BEFORE.
SO HOW ARE YOU TAKING CARE OF ALL THESE KIDS? WELL, RIGHT NOW, ACTUALLY, I, WE TOOK IN THREE KIDS, UH, TODAY THAT WE ARE GONNA PLACE RIGHT, RIGHT AWAY INTO CHILDCARE.
AND WHAT WE HAD A TURNOVER, STAFF TURNOVER ISSUE, AND THEY WERE NOT AS DILIGENT IN PLACING CHILDREN INTO CHILDCARE AS AS I WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO BE.
AND SO, UH, THERE'S A CONT THERE'S AN EMPHASIS NOW ON MAKING SURE THAT CHILDREN WHOSE PARENTS WILL ALLOW THIS TO HAVE THE CHILDREN GOING DIRECTLY INTO CHILDCARE.
WHAT, AND WE'RE GONNA USE THAT MONEY.
I, THIS YEAR I, I'VE MADE SURE OF IT.
THAT WAS KIND OF THE SAME THING THAT YOU ONLY USED 3% LAST YEAR.
AND YOU ARE ASKING FOR THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY.
HOW WE ALREADY KNOW WE HAVE
THEY, THEY DEFINITELY ARE IN NEED OF THE SERVICES THAT THE, UH, THAT THESE COMMUNITIES CHILDCARE, UH, AGENCIES CAN PROVIDE FOR SURE.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I TRY TO STRESS MS. MASON ESPECIALLY, IS THE FACT THAT DURING THE SUMMERTIME WHEN WE TRADITIONALLY HAD USED THE BULK OF OUR MONIES FOR CHILDCARE, THIS IS A TIME WHEN IF THE CHILDREN ARE NOT IN A, IN A STRUCTURED ENVIRONMENT, THEY LOSE A LOT OF THE EDUCATIONAL GAINS THAT THEY GET DURING THE, UH, DURING THE ACADEMIC YEAR.
THERE'S A, THERE'S A LOSS OF SOMETIMES BETWEEN ONE AND THREE MONTHS WORTH OF, OF LEARNING THAT THEY DON'T GET IF THEY'RE NOT IN A, IN A STABLE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT DURING THE SUMMERTIME.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO, WE'RE PUSHING FOR THAT PERSON FROM WE, WE HAVE A NEW MASTER'S LEVEL, UH, PROGRAM COORDINATOR FOR RESIDENT SUCCESS.
IS SOLID ROCK STILL THE ONLY DAYCARE THAT YOU PARTNER WITH? THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES THAT WE WOULD PARTNER WITH.
THEY'RE THE ONES MOST PREFERRED BY OUR PARENTS FOR THE SIMPLE REASON THAT THEY PROVIDE PICK UP AND DROP OFF SERVICES AND, UH, THEY'RE ABLE TO TAKE KIDS RIGHT FROM, FROM SCHOOL TO, TO THEIR, UH, THEIR PLACE OF BUSINESS.
UH, SO IT'S A LOT EASIER ON OUR PARENTS WHO ARE OUT LOOKING FOR JOBS DAILY.
AND IN THE PAST, WITH THE FUNDING THAT YOU RECEIVED, YOU ALSO PURCHASED THE NAP MAT.
ARE YOU STILL GONNA BE DOING THAT AS WELL? I DOUBT IT.
WE, WE HAVE, WE HAVE ADEQUATE FUNDS TO, TO PURCHASE THAT.
THAT WAS A, UH, WELL JUST SOMETHING THAT WE, WE DECIDED TO TRY TO DO ONE YEAR FOR, YOU KNOW, AND, UH, WE DON'T, WE DON'T REALLY NEED THAT SERVICE.
WE DON'T NEED THE MONEY FOR THAT SERVICE.
WE WOULD RATHER USE IT FOR CHILDCARE.
I WILL NOW CALL MS. SHARON, WHICH IS CITY OF BAYTOWN INTERNAL PROGRAMS. THAT BEING TAB NUMBER TWO, GOOD EVENING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I AM THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SUPERVISOR AND I'M HERE TODAY TO DISCUSS WITH YOU OUR INTERNAL FUNDING REQUESTS.
SO CURRENTLY WE ARE REQUESTING $565,000 FOR THE OWNER OCCUPIED HOUSING REHABILITATION PROGRAM, THE SEWER LINE REPAIR PROGRAM, THE HOME BUYER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, AND ANY OPERATION PAINT BROACH APPLICATIONS THAT WE MIGHT RECEIVE OUT OF THAT MONEY.
THERE IS A PORTION OF IT THAT DOES FUND OUR SALARIES, WHICH IS ABOUT 25% OF THAT.
AND THEN WE ARE AIMING TO REDO, RECONSTRUCT TWO HOMES, PROVIDE DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE TO TWO HOME BUYERS, AND HOPEFULLY DO ANYWHERE FROM FIVE TO SIX SEW LINE PROJECTS.
AND FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, THAT IS
[00:50:01]
WHERE WE DO BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS WITHIN THE WEST BAYTOWN AREA, THE MIDDLETOWN AREA, AND THE PLY AREA OF BAYTOWN.AND THAT IS MAINLY THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP EVENTS THAT WE HOST.
UH, WE PARTNER WITH PUBLIC WORKS AND ENGINEERING TO DO THAT ABOUT TWICE A YEAR.
AND OF COURSE CDBG ADMINISTRATION, THAT IS OUR PROGRAM THAT WHERE WE BASICALLY MANAGE THE CDBG FUNDS AS WELL AS OVERSIGHT OF ALL OF THESE SUBRECIPIENTS.
IN OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM, WE'RE REQUESTING FUNDING FOR US TO PROVIDE BUS PASSES AND RIDES CARDS FOR UP TO 80 BAYTOWN RESIDENTS AND NEW YEAR IN NEW SHOES, WHICH IS, UM, COMING UP SOON.
THAT ONE IS A NEW PAIR OF SHOES FOR UP TO 300 CHILDREN.
AND CURRENTLY, UM, IN OUR TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM WE ARE SERVING 74 PEOPLE.
WE DO HAVE ROOM FOR 80, BUT WE DID HAVE, UM, A LITTLE SCARE WHEN HARRIS COUNTY WAS ACTUALLY INCREASING THE COST OF THE QUARTERLY BUS PASSES TO THREE TIMES MORE THAN WHAT WE ORIGINALLY WERE PAYING.
SO WE DO HAVE ROOM TO ADD SIX PEOPLE, WHICH WE WERE GOING TO DO, BUT THEN WHEN THEY SENT US THAT INVOICE, WE WERE LIKE, SO WE BASICALLY HAD TO, UM, DISCUSS WITH THEM EXACTLY WHY IT WAS INCREASING SO MUCH.
BUT BECAUSE WE DO SERVE ELDERLY AND DISABLED, THEY WERE ABLE TO KEEP IT AT THE SAME RATE THAT WE WERE ORIGINALLY PAYING.
SO NOW WE WILL BE ABLE TO ADD SIX MORE PEOPLE TO THE PROGRAM.
AND I'M OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS IF Y'ALL HAVE THEM.
AND WITH THAT THERE BEING NO ONE ELSE DESIRING TO SPEAK, I WILL NOW CLOSEST PUBLIC HEARING CONCERNING THE PROPOSED 20 26, 20 27 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT BUDGET.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERY PRESENTER WHO PRESENTED DURING THIS PAST TWO WEEKS.
I KNOW A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT WENT INTO THIS, SO THANK YOU.
[a. Receive the Community Development Manager's Report.]
NOW MOVE ON TO THE MANAGER'S REPORT.RECEIVE THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MANAGER'S REPORT, MS. SHARON.
SO NEXT MEETING IS GOING TO BE NEXT TUESDAY, AND THAT WILL BE OUR BUDGET DELIBERATIONS MEETING.
SO THAT IS WHERE YOU ACTUALLY WILL THEN DISCUSS EXACTLY IF WE FUND ANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT PRESENTED THEIR PROJECTS TO US, AT WHAT LEVEL OF FUNDING IT IS THAT YOU WILL THEM TO RECEIVE.
NOW A LOT OF OUR PROJECTS ARE PUBLIC SERVICE ACTIVITIES.
SO WE DO HAVE TO BE MINDFUL THAT THERE IS A 15% CAP OFF OF THE ENTIRE ENTITLEMENT.
SO WHENEVER YOU LOOK AT PAGE, UH, AND TAB ONE THERE IS, UM, IT IS ITEMIZED.
SO EVERYTHING UNDER PUBLIC SERVICE ACTIVITIES, YOU WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UM, WE ARE NOT EXCEEDING THE CAP.
RIGHT NOW THE CAP IS $117,373, BUT THE TOTAL REQUESTS WERE ABOUT 167,000.
SO OUT OF EVERYONE THAT REQUESTED FOR PUBLIC SERVICE, THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE ACCESSIBLE STASIS, WHICH WOULD BE A HOUSING PROJECT OR N IP.
THOSE ARE JUST OUR PUBLIC SERVICES.
SO THAT'D BE THE HOMELESS SHELTER, MEALS ON WHEELS, COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS, UNITED WAY.
ALL OF THOSE PROJECTS, WE CAN'T GIVE THEM WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR.
SO WE'LL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO TRIM WHAT IT IS THAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR IF YOU EVEN DECIDE TO FUND THEM AT ALL.
SO THAT WILL BE WHAT WE'LL BE DISCUSSING NEXT WEEK.
SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE'LL BE DISCUSSING IS, UM, OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT IS CURRENTLY REVIEWING THE RULES OF PROCEDURE FOR ALL OF THE BOARDS ACROSS THE CITY.
SO THEY, UM, SENT US A COPY OF THEIR UPDATES AND THEN I SENT THEM WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.
SO WE'RE GONNA BE WORKING TOGETHER TO SEE, UM, WHAT THE NEW ONE IS GONNA LOOK LIKE.
SO WE'LL JUST DISCUSS THAT NEXT WEEK.
AND THINGS THAT ARE COVERED IN THE RULES OF PROCEDURE, THINGS LIKE, UM, MEETING AGENDAS, CODE OF CONDUCT DURING A MEETING AND HOW IT IS THAT CITIZEN PARTICIPATION WORKS WITHIN THE MEETINGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO, UH, FOR OUR TWO RECONSTRUCTIONS, I AM HOPING THAT WHEN I GET BACK TO MY DESK, I HAVE, OR NOT TWO, THREE, I HAVE MY FLOOR PLANS.
UM, AFTER A LITTLE GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH BHA, THEY DID TELL ME THAT I WOULD HAVE MY PLANS TODAY.
THEY SAID THIS AFTERNOON AND THEN THEY SAID AFTER FIVE.
SO I'M HOPING THAT WE HAVE THAT SO THAT WE CAN DEMOLISH THESE HOUSES AND REBUILD.
WE JUST FINISHED ONE SEWER LINE PROJECT AND WE HAVE ONE THAT IS, UM, WE JUST ACCEPTED BIDS ON.
SO THEY'LL BE COMING IN TO SIGN CONTRACTS FOR THAT SOON.
WE RECENTLY DID, UM, A LITTLE OUTREACH EVENT TO WHERE ABOUT 378 HOUSES WE VISITED WITH DOOR HANGERS.
WE WERE ACTUALLY PUTTING DOOR HANGERS ON PEOPLE'S DOORS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT REALLY GETTING THROUGH TO PEOPLE.
SO NOW THE DOOR HANGER ACTUALLY HAS A PICTURE OF YOUR WATER BILL WHERE IT SHOWS YOU'RE PAYING THAT $25 TO HOPE.
MAYBE THEY'LL BE LIKE, OH YEAH, I PAY THAT AND MAYBE THEY'LL DECIDE TO FIX THEIR SEWER LINE.
SO WE'RE HOPING THAT WE GET A LITTLE BIT MORE, UM, FEEDBACK FROM THE CUSTOMERS ABOUT THAT SO THAT THEY CAN FIX 'EM.
'CAUSE I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO TO
[00:55:01]
GET THEM TO FIX THEIR SEWER LINE.OUR NEW YEAR, NEW SHOES APPLICATION WILL GO LIVE ON JUNE 15TH.
IT WILL BE OPEN UNTIL JUNE 28TH.
SO FOR THOSE FIRST THREE DAYS, PLEASE PRAY FOR ME AND MONICA BECAUSE WE USUALLY GET ABOUT THREE OR 400 APPLICATIONS WITHIN THOSE DAYS THAT WE HAVE TO WEED THROUGH.
IF YOU WANNA BRING US LUNCH,
UM, HOME BUYER, WE'VE HAD PEOPLE APPLY, BUT THEN FOR WHATEVER REASON, THEY DON'T GO THROUGH WITH THE APPLICATION.
WE ACTUALLY, ABOUT A MONTH OR SO AGO, WE HAD A PERSON WHO WAS APPROVED FOR THE PROGRAM.
WE EMAILED THEIR LENDER LETTING THEM KNOW THAT THEY WERE APPROVED.
THEIR LENDER CALLED THEM AND SAID IF THEY USE OUR PROGRAM THAT THEY CAN'T BE THEIR LENDER.
SO YEAH, I, I SAID I WOULD'VE GOT ANOTHER LENDER, BUT, BUT YEAH.
SO, UM, SOME LENDERS JUST FIND IT DIFFICULT TO WORK WITH HOME BUYER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WOULD THINK THAT, BUT IT'S 'CAUSE THEY NEVER HAVE.
ONCE THEY HAD, THEY WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND.
BUT WE DID TALK TO SOMEONE ELSE.
THEY APPLIED FOR THEIR CLIENT TO GET A CONDO.
SINGLE FAMILY ATTACHED OR DETACHED IS WHAT WE DO.
THEY WERE DOING A FOURPLEX, IT WAS A ONE UNIT AND A FOURPLEX.
WE DON'T DO THOSE, BUT I WAS TALKING TO HER ABOUT THE PROGRAM.
SO WE'RE HOPING TO MEET WITH THEM SO THAT WE CAN PRESENT THE PROGRAM TO THEIR REALTORS SO THAT MAYBE THEY CAN START GETTING PEOPLE TO APPLY FOR THE PROGRAM.
'CAUSE I TOLD HER, I MEAN, IF IF IT'S NOT WORKING, I MEAN WE CAN PUT THAT MONEY ELSEWHERE.
SO I'M HOPING MAYBE WE CAN GET SOME PEOPLE SOME TRACTION GOING, YOU KNOW, SO THAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY USE THE PROGRAM.
UM, BACK TO SCHOOL FAIR, WE ARE, UM, IN PLANNING MODE FOR THAT.
UH, TO DATE WE'VE RECEIVED $3,450 IN DONATIONS.
UM, WE ACTUALLY MET WITH THE COOL DAD INITIATIVE LAST WEEK.
THEY WANT TO PARTNER WITH US TO WHERE THEY ACTUALLY WANNA DO LIKE A BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT KIND OF THING.
MAYBE A THREE ON THREE BASKETBALL OVER HERE IN FOOT PARK RIGHT OFF OF WEST MAINE BY BY CALYPSO COVE.
AND SEE IF MAYBE WE CAN GET MORE PEOPLE TO COME TO THE EVENT AND MAYBE IN THE FUTURE WE CAN GET MORE MONEY SO THAT WE CAN GIVE OUT MORE BACKPACKS.
SO STEPHANIE'S CURRENTLY WORKING WITH THEM TO SEE HOW SOMETHING LIKE THAT WOULD WORK OUT.
UM, WE ACTUALLY SPOKE TO THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE TODAY.
THEY ACTUALLY WANT TO DO BIRTH CERTIFICATES AT THE BACK TO SCHOOL FAIR.
HAVE A ROOM SET UP TO WHERE THEY CAN ISSUE BIRTH CERTIFICATES.
AND SO THAT WOULD BE REALLY COOL.
WE WOULD HAVE TO SEE HOW THAT WOULD WORK LOGISTICALLY.
IT WAS ACTUALLY THEM WHO APPROACHED US ABOUT THAT TODAY.
SO, UM, WE WOULD SEE HOW THAT WOULD WORK.
SO THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER, UM, SERVICE THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE AT THE BACK TO SCHOOL FAIR.
BUT THAT IS EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE FOR Y'ALL.
DO Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? JUNE 15TH IS WHEN THE APPLICATION WILL GO LIVE.
STEPHANIE UH, REACHED OUT TO GOOSE CREEK TODAY TO AND BOB HOPE SO THAT WE CAN SEE IF WE CAN GET THE FLYER FOR THE BACK TO SCHOOL FAIR ON THE PARENT SQUARE, NOT BACK TO SCHOOL, THE NEW YEAR NEW SHOES PROGRAM ON PARENTS SQUARE, BECAUSE THAT, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THEY TEXT ME ALL DAY, EVERY DAY.
I GET TEXTS AT SIX IN THE MORNING FROM PARENTS SQUARE.
SO WE'RE HOPING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN PROMOTE THE PROGRAM THAT WAY.
IT'S ALSO GONNA BE ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM AND TWITTER, X WHATEVER.
SO, UM, THAT'LL GO LIVE APPLICATIONS, WRITE THEM UP MORE.
THE APPLICATIONS WILL BE RECEIVED FOR TWO WEEKS.
AND THEN AFTER THAT WE'LL BE, WELL, WE'LL WE THROUGH THE APPLICATIONS WITHIN THAT TWO WEEK TIME.
BUT THEN SOME PEOPLE WILL BE DENIED BASED ON, UM, LIVING OUTSIDE CITY LIMITS BASED ON THEIR INCOME.
IF THEY'RE NOT, UM, THEY DON'T HAVE PARENTAL RIGHTS TO THE CHILD IF THEY DON'T HAVE CUSTODY, IF THEY DON'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, COURT DOCUMENTS OR IF THEY'RE NOT US CITIZENS.
SO THERE, THERE ARE THINGS THAT CAN DISQUALIFY YOU FROM THE PROGRAM.
SO WE, AS WE WEED THROUGH THE APPLICATIONS, WE CAN KEEP A LIST OF PEOPLE THAT, YOU KNOW, THEN WE CAN REACH OUT TO ANYBODY THAT WE MIGHT HAVE DENIED AUTOMATICALLY.
ONCE WE DO A FURTHER DIVE INTO, LET'S SAY KIM APPLIES AND, YOU KNOW, WE THINK SHE'S QUALIFIED JUST ON A CURSORY GLANCE, BUT THEN LATER ON AS WE'RE LOOKING DEEPER, SHE'S NOT, THEN I CAN GET RID OF KIM AND BRING IN MONICA.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE, WE TRY TO DO.
WE USUALLY DO THE, WHAT WE CALL SHOE DAY, AND THAT'S WHERE WE MEET THE FAMILIES AT THE SHOE STORES.
THAT'S GONNA BE THE LAST WEEK IN JULY.
PRIOR TO THE BACK TO SCHOOL FAIR.
WE HAVE TWO DAYS THAT WE DO A SHOPPING DAY WITH THE FAMILIES.
WE'LL HAVE LIKE A MONDAY MORNING AND THEN A TUESDAY EVENING.
MAYBE THEY CAN'T COME MONDAY MO MORNING THEY WORK OR SOMETHING, THEN THEY WILL COME ON TUESDAY EVENING.
EVERY NOW AND THEN WE MIGHT HAVE A FAMILY THAT CAN'T MAKE EITHER ONE OF THOSE DAYS.
SO WE WILL SET UP A SPECIAL TIME TO SAY, OKAY, CAN YOU MEET ME THERE ON, ON WEDNESDAY AT ONE O'CLOCK? AND THEN WE'LL MEET THEM AT THE SHOE STORE ON WEDNESDAY AT ONE O'CLOCK AND WE'LL DO THAT.
BUT WE TRY TO GET THEM TO SHOES PRIOR TO SCHOOL STARTING
[01:00:01]
BECAUSE IT IS NEW YEAR AND NEW SHOES.EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING, DALIA, EVERYTHING.
I DON'T EVEN WANNA PUT GAS IN MY CAR ANYMORE.
MIGHT NOT GET, YOU KNOW, OUR, THE MONEY, WHAT IS IT OUR, THE AMOUNT THAT, THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET.
I WILL SAY THAT THE SHOE STORE IS A FAMOUS, I ALWAYS CONFUSE IT FOOTWEAR, FAMOUS FOOTWEAR.
TYPICALLY WHENEVER WE DO OUR SHOE DAY, THEY ACTUALLY TRY TO SCHEDULE THEIR BOGO AT THE TIME.
SO THEY'RE ACTUALLY ABLE TO SOMETIMES BUY TWO PAIRS OF SHOES.
SO ESPECIALLY FOR THE LITTLE ONES, THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO WALK OUTTA THERE WITH TWO OR THREE PAIRS OF SHOES.
I MEAN KIM, KIM WAS THERE BEFORE WHEN WE'VE DONE THIS, SHE CAN'T EVEN TELL YOU.
SO IT IS, IT IS DURING BOGO TIME.
SO SOMETIMES THEY'RE ACTUALLY ABLE TO PROBABLY GET MORE THAN ONE.
I MEAN, IF THEY'RE GOING IN, THEY'RE TRYING TO GET A PAIR OF JORDANS OR SOME BIRKENSTOCKS, NO DAH, THEY'RE NOT GONNA GET IT.
BUT THEY CAN ALSO PAY THE DIFFERENCE THOUGH.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE TELL THEM, WE WILL PROVIDE YOU UP TO $50.
SO IF YOU CAME UP THERE WITH A $60 PAIR OF SHOES, I SWIPED TO PAY 50.
NO TAX BECAUSE WE'RE TAX EXEC.
I DON'T KNOW IF, UM, TELEMUNDO GOT BACK TO YOU BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN VERY BUSY WITH WORLD CUP, BUT THEY DID LET ME, HE DID.
YEAH, BECAUSE I TOLD HIM I'D BE SEEING Y'ALL, SO I WOULD PASS IT ALONG.
KIM'S BROTHER WORKS FOR TELEMUNDO AND UM, THEY PROVIDE US WITH LAPTOPS TO GIVE AWAY DURING THE BACK TO SCHOOL FAIR.
SO THEY'VE DONE IT NOW FOR GOD, LIKE FOUR OR FIVE YEARS NOW FOR A WHILE NOW.
SO YEAH, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO LIKE RAFFLE OFF KIND OF NOT RAFFLE OFF, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? YOU GET THE LITTLE TICKET AND THEY COME AND GET IT, BUT, ALL RIGHT.
THAT'S EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE.
IF Y'ALL DON'T HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS, THERE WILL BE NO MORE QUESTIONS.