Coos County advisory board reviews HRO finances, backs state grant bid and approves fence funding for Devereaux Center

The Coos County Homeless Response Advisory Board reviewed the Homeless Response Office’s finances, voted to support a state grant proposal, and approved funding to add perimeter security at the Devereaux Center.

Ashley Portif, administrative coordinator for the Office of Homeless Response, presented an infographic summary of the office’s revenue streams and expenditures and said the office is tracking multiple funding lines. "I believe we have about 225,000 left in h b 41 23," Portif told the advisory board, and said the office will provide a standing monthly financial infographic to keep the board updated.

The meeting then turned to project updates and grant opportunities. Scott Cooper and other partners reviewed spending on EO5019-related grants and reported early expenditures and client counts across programs, including a $27,000 spend shown for one grant and differences between medium-term and long-term rehousing definitions. Participants cautioned the board to document which activities qualify as "rehousing" under each funding source.

Matt Borderstrasse of the North Bend housing authority outlined a draft application for the state’s Housing360 capacity-building fund, saying the proposal seeks to embed behavioral-health supports and create integrated service delivery at shelter and housing sites. "This proposal is kind of an indicator that the state is now catching on to what the secret sauce of homeless services programs really is, and that is the supportive services that you provide," Borderstrasse said. Board members discussed whether the advisory body needed to formally authorize the Office of Homeless Response to submit the application; David Keels moved that the board support the office taking the steps to develop and submit the proposal and Jeremy Horton seconded. The chair called the question and the motion passed.

A Salvation Army representative updated the board on a planned shelter "village," saying $480,000 has been allocated to develop modular or mobile-style shelter units and that the land-use permit was targeted for submission in late August. The representative said architecture costs to date totaled about $4,000 and that additional site and water surveys (estimated at roughly $14,000 and $8,000 respectively) are expected as the project progresses.

Eric Schurmer presented a request to fund perimeter fencing and security cameras at the Devereaux Center to address vandalism and neighborhood concerns. Schurmer presented a cedar-fence bid for $33,735.24 and asked the advisory board to approve spending from the HRO operating bucket, subject to obtaining additional bids and complying with county procurement rules. Scott Cooper moved to approve the request up to the current bid amount provided the office obtains additional bids; John Sweet seconded. The board voted in favor.

Board members also heard that the office has procured a HIPAA-compliant partner agreement form for outreach, which staff and partner agencies will sign to formalize privacy protections for clients.

What happens next The advisory board asked staff to gather the additional procurement bids required by county rules, to finalize any fiscal-agent decisions tied to the Housing360 application, and to bring the office’s bylaws and spending-authority recommendations back to the board for review. The Office of Homeless Response is scheduled to meet with Oregon Housing & Community Services staff on Friday for further coordination.