Homelessness Prevention Task Force — Portland, ME
Date: 2012-01-24

City of Portland’s Homelessness Prevention Task Force
 January 24, 2012 Meeting
 9:00am‐12:00pm

 AGENDA


9:00AM Welcome & Introductions – Task Force Tri‐Chairs: Jon Jennings, Suzanne
 McCormick, Dory Waxman
 (DOC #1)

9:15AM Overview of the Task Force’s Charge – Doug Gardner, Director City of
 Portland’s Department of Health and Human Services
 (DOC #2)

9:30AM Discussion of DRAFT Planning Process Map – Suzanne McCormick
 (DOC #3)

10:00AM Presentations & Discussion on Current State of Homelessness – Doug
 Gardner; Jon Bradley, Preble Street; Josh O’Brien, City of Portland

 BREAK

11: 40AM Additional Discussion on Planning Process,
 Task Force on Homelessness

 January 24, 2012: Meeting Highlights


 Task Force Tri‐Chairs: Jon Jennings, Suzanne McCormick, Dory Waxman welcomed and
 thanked Task Force members.

 Overview of the Task Force’s Charge – Doug Gardner, Director City of Portland’s Department
 of Health and Human Services reviewed the charge of the Task Force as outlined in the City
 Council Resolution.

Discussion of DRAFT Planning Process Map – Suzanne McCormick reviewed with the Task Force
a preliminary timeline and process for involving a larger stakeholder group into the process.

Presentations & Discussion on Current State of Homelessness – Doug Gardner; Jon Bradley,
Preble Street; Josh O’Brien, City of Portland presented an overview of the current state of
homelessness, reviewing multiple slides decks with current data.

Discussion Highlights ‐

Emergency Shelters: overflowing due to, among other things, rapid rehousing program ending,
inappropriate discharges from hospitals to shelters; geriatric and senior citizen populations increasing;
teens: gay, lesbian, transgender youth population at risk for homelessness.

Lack of ADA facilities in shelters.

Many people need help maintaining housing once they are placed in a residence (degrading to get
housing and then not be able to maintain); maybe too challenged to maintain on own without support.

Need data on success of flexible, low barrier shelters vs. structured shelters. Which works better?

Determine what constitutes results. Need to define and clarify a clear explanation of how “data drives
policy” and to ensure not spending efforts and resources on accumulating data without analyzing it and
producing actionable items.

We have data to show what cost is to support a homeless person on an emergency basis vs. long term
solution/placement. Need to educate City officials and general population that long term is cheaper and
better answer. Education includes giving a human face to the homeless of Portland.

What and where are day services for homeless in Portland?

Stakeholder Advisory Group to be established to work with Task Force. Each task force member
encouraged to consider areas of interest and work with specific advisory group. Therefore need to
define: who are the decision makers at the city and state level, in organizations, hospitals, police, etc.
who can become stakeholders. Need to determine how to recruit.
Also need to define: the market; additional sources of funding; what will homeless growth look like
when federal and state funding decreases; what are immediate needs and who is not being served at all;
how can religious communities fit in to a solution.