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Staff Present: Aaron Cohen, Willie Hilliard <br /> Members Present: Matthew Ferguson, Alicia Reed, Holly Meschko, Kyle Meyers, Mariela <br /> Hernandez, Tom Grasty, Andrew Semmes <br /> Approval of Minutes: Last meeting was October 2024, but minutes were not circulated. Need <br /> to recirculate and approve next meeting. <br /> Updates: <br /> • Research Project <br /> o Information was collected on different programs for different years by AHAB <br /> members <br /> o Matthew will clean up data and aim to have completed in April <br /> • Staff Updates <br /> o Willie Hilliard - New analyst. Will help staff AHAB. <br /> o Homeowners tax assistance program was successful. 594 residents served. <br /> o HOME ARP (American Rescue Plan) - Will be used to support folks experiencing <br /> homelessness, at risk, or fleeing domestic violence. Tenant based rental <br /> assistance program. Direct payment to landlords paying partial rent. Prioritizing <br /> unsheltered. <br /> o Total 22% increase in homelessness in the county, unsheltered increased by <br /> 17% in the county <br /> o In 40 days, had to do cold weather cot services for 23 days in a row. Appreciative <br /> to Seymour Center and local churches. <br /> • Human Relations Commission Update <br /> o Interested in coming to our April meeting <br /> o Consider co-hosting public meeting on housing and community relations <br /> • Developer Outreach Plan <br /> o Kyle has contacts with major local developers <br /> o Planning for May meeting to be conversation with developers <br /> o Need to confirm what we want to learn/design an agenda <br /> o Kyle and Aaron will coordinate on outreach and invitations <br /> • Consolidated Planning <br /> o Possible categories: acquisition, new construction, repair and rehab, tenant <br /> based rental assistance, homeowners down payment assistance programs <br /> o Repair and tenants based rental assistance had highest interest in community <br /> engagement <br /> o Targets people 30% AMI and below. Needs for the lowest income residents. <br /> o Need to think of larger sources of money for things like new construction. <br /> • Electing Secretary <br /> o Matthew moves to elect Monica as Secretary. Holly second. All approve. <br /> • Close <br /> o Matthew move. Todd second to close. All approve. <br />