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Homeless response office reports grants progress; public commenter urges annual report and PIT-count review
Summary
Staff updated the Coos County Homeless Advisory Board on multiple grant streams, an OPUS transfer from North Bend to Coos Bay, and technical assistance from the state; a public commenter urged the office to produce an annual report tied to the strategic plan and offered free help with the point-in-time count.
Board staff told the Coos County Homeless Advisory Board on Sept. 18 that multiple grant streams are active, a pending OPUS transfer should move reimbursement access from North Bend to Coos Bay, and the Office of Housing and Community Services (OHCS) has provided technical assistance.
"The request to transfer Coos County's 5019 grants funds in OPUS from the city of North Bend to the city of Coos Bay has been submitted and should be reflected in OPUS soon," the chair read from an OHCS email announcing the transfer request. Staff said the transfer should appear in OPUS within a few days and that final agreements would allow reimbursement draws.
Staff and contractors also described working with a state contractor, "Rex," providing fiscal and contracting technical assistance through OHCS to help ensure local contracts and procedures are correct. "He's helping us develop ... making sure our contracts are correct," a staff member said.
Public comment focused on accountability. "I brought up an issue about accountability and there has not been an annual report produced for the first year of this office's operation," Mr. Moore told the board, urging the office to produce a report tied to the strategic plan's four priorities and offering pro bono consulting to review the annual point-in-time (PIT) count and help revive a local Continuum of Care application to pursue federal funding.
The chair and other staff responded that Eric and Ashley have drafted a tracking document summarizing elements of the strategic plan and accomplishments, and that the board welcomed volunteer help for PIT-count planning. "We do have a document ... we've also summarized some of the things that have been completed that are directly tied into elements of the strategic plan," the chair said.
Board members also discussed grant-administration complexity: state funds pass through designated fiscal agents (cities or counties) and different grants use different fiscal agents and modules. Several board members urged continued coordination to ensure funds are spent locally rather than returned to the state.
Next steps recorded in the meeting: staff said they will circulate the League of Oregon Cities legislative report that summarizes the 4123 pilot work statewide; the OHCS-initiated OPUS transfer should appear in the financial system in the coming days, enabling reimbursements once agreements are signed; staff will continue to refine the draft tracking document and share it with the board.
