HomeMy WebLinkAboutSuggested Federal PrioritiesJanuary 25, 2008
TO: Board of Commissioners
FROM: Dave Kanner
RE: Suggested federal priorities
Department of Administrative Services
Dave Kanner, County Administrator
1300 NW Wall St, Suite 200, Bend, OR 9770'1-1960
(541] 388-6570 - Fax [541] 38E1-3202
www.co.deschutas.orus
In anticipation of your February 7 meeting with congressional staff, I solicited from the
department heads suggestions for what we might present to them as federal priorities.
That list is as follows:
• Reauthorization of PL 106-93 (Roads and Forester)
• Funding for control of invasive noxious weeds (Roads)
• Construction funding for 19t" Street extension (Roads)
• Funding for Bethlehem Inn purchase (Property and Facilities)
• Funding for alternatives to incarceration programs (Mental Health)
• Funding for senior mental health programs (Mental Health)
• Funding for school-based mental health programs (Mental Health)
• CMS rules and auditing practices (Mental Health)
• Mental Health parity legislation (Mental Health)
• Continued funding for Family Access Network through Medicaid reimbursement
(CCF)
• Maintain or increase funding for Office of Violence Against Women (CCF)
• Maintain or increase funding for Drug Free Communities grant (CCF)
• Drug court funding (CCF)
• Head Start and quality affordable child care (CCF)
In addition, although it was not suggested by any of the departments, we might feel them
out about federal money to help with South County groundwater solutions.
Enhancing the Lives of Citizens by Delivering Quality Services in a Cost -Effective Manner
Dave Kanner
From: Tom Blust
Sent: Monday, January 07, 2008 12:53 PM
To: Dave Kanner
Subject: RE: Federal priorities
Road Department federal priorities:
County timber payments
19th Street (Redmond to Deschutes Jct.) construction funding
Tom
Original Message
From: Dave Kanner
Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2008 1:23 PM
To: _Department Heads
Subject: Federal priorities
Hello all -
I had previously sent the 2007 version of the attached for to you. Please let me know by
Tuesday, January 8, what your suggestions are for the Board's federal priorities.
Thanks,
Dave
1
Dave Kanner
From: Tom Blust
Sent: Monday, January 07, 2008 12:53 PM
To: Dave Kanner
Subject: RE: Federal priorities
Road Department federal priorities:
County timber payments
19th Street (Redmond to Deschutes Jct.) construction funding
Tom
Original Message
From: Dave Kanner
Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2008 1:23 PM
To: _Department Heads
Subject: Federal priorities
Hello all -
I had previously sent the 2007 version of the attached for to you. Please let me know by
Tuesday, January 8, what your suggestions are for the Board's federal priorities.
Thanks,
Dave
1
FY 2009 - OREGON FEDERAL APPROPRIATIONS REQUEST
U.S. Senator Gordon H. Smith
Please fill in ALL applicable fields!
Name of Project: Re -authorization of the Secure Rural School legislation replacement for Timber Receipts
Location: County(s): Deschutes City: Bend
Requesting Organization: Deschutes County Forestry
Project Description: Re -authorization of legislation for all Titles within the expired legislation
Amount of funds requested: Current levels of funding with expired legislation
Total Cost of Project:
How will the funds be spent? Please provide a detailed description of how the funds will be used and indicate
whether funds will go toward construction, planning, or pramming.
With past legislation roads received approximately The funds were spend for road maintenance, forestry
$3 million/year, Title II approximately $lmillion and natural resource projects, search and rescue
and Title III approximately $350 thousand annually activities on public lands, noxious weeds, community
fire plan implementation, fire prevention and education
and right of way acquisitions.
Bill or Report Language Requested (if applicable, please provide language requested and indicate whether you
are seeking bill or report language):Similar language to previous legislation with consideration of perhaps a
"sunset date" with diminishing funds during later years of the legislation.
Anticipated Appropriations Bill and Account:
Federal Dollars Requested in FY09 from the account list above: For Deschutes County, approximately
$4.5 million annually
o Is this a multi-year project? Yes
o Will you be requesting funding in future years? Yes
Are you seeking FY09 funds through other federal accounts? If yes, please specify account(s).We intend to
apply for federal grants from the National Fire Plan and Pre -disaster mitigation grant dollars for fuels treatment.
Previous Federal Appropriations (Please indicate which appropriations bill(s) and year(s) received):
Secure Rural Schools funding, approximately $4.5 million annually since 2003.
Have you pursued federal grant funding? If yes, which Department and program?
Yes, National Fire Plan, Western State Managers, Assistance to Fire Fighter, FEMA, pre -disaster
mitigation grants. Grants from Forest Service, BLM, Oregon Department of forestry and FEMA
Non-federal Contribution (Please identify funding amount and who is contributing):
Approximately $500,000 the last four years from Deschutes County, Fire Departments, local citizens and CWPP
Steering Committees
Amount for this project in President's FY09 Budget Request: Zero
Authorizing Statute (if authorized):
Local Contact:
o Name: Joe Stutler
o Address: 61150 SE 27th Street
o City, State, Zip: Bend, Oregon 97702
o Telephone: (541) 322-7117
o Fax: (541) 388-2719
o Email: ioest@co.deschutes.or.us
DC Contact (if applicable):David Blair
o Name:
o Address:
o City, State, Zip:
o Telephone:
o Fax:
o Email:
Other Organizations/Community Leaders who have provided letters in support of this project
(please provide letters as PDF attachments or via United States Postal Service):
o Organization:
o Contact:
o Telephone:
o Organization:
o Contact:
o Telephone:
o Organization:
o Contact:
o Telephone:
Please email completed form to: APPROPRIATIONS(a,GSMITH.SENATE.GOV
Mail supporting materials (if any) to:
Senator Gordon Smith
Attn: Appropriations
121 SW Salmon Street, Suite #1250
Portland, Oregon 97204
FY 2009 - OREGON FEDERAL APPROPRIATIONS REQUEST
U.S. Senator Gordon H. Smith
Please fill in ALL applicable fields!
Name of Project: The Bethlehem Inn Emergency Homeless Shelter
Location: County(s): Deschutes City: Bend
Requesting Organization: Deschutes County
Project Description: Secure permanent facility for emergency homeless shelter operation.
Amount of funds requested: TBD
Total Cost of Project: Approximately $2.7 million.
How will the funds be spent? Please provide a detailed description of how the funds will be used and indicate
whether funds will go toward construction, planning, or programming.
Funds will be used to purchase property and to convert
an existing building on site for use as an emergency
homeless shelter. See attached summary for additional
information.
Bill or Report Language Requested (if applicable, please provide language requested and indicate whether you
are seeking bill or report language): TBD
Anticipated Appropriations Bill and Account: TBD
Federal Dollars Requested in FY09 from the account list above: TBD
o Is this a multi-year project? No.
o Will you be requesting funding in future years? No.
Are you seeking FY09 funds through other federal accounts? If yes, please specify account(s).
TBD.
Previous Federal Appropriations (Please indicate which appropriations bill(s) and year(s) received):
None.
Have you pursued federal grant funding? If yes, which Department and program?
Funding plan includes potentially applying for grant funds available through the State of Oregon from the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) during fiscal years 2007-08 and 2008-09.
Non-federal Contribution (Please identify funding amount and who is contributing):
City of Bend: $250,000
Deschutes County: In -Kind
Amount for this project in President's FY09 Budget Request: None.
Authorizing Statute (if authorized): TBD.
Local Contact:
o Name: Judith Ure
o Address: 1300 NW Wall Street
o City, State, Zip: Bend, OR 97701
o Telephone: 541-330-4627
o Fax: 541-385-3202
o Email: susan ross@co.deschutes.or.us
DC Contact (if applicable): TBD
o Name:
o Address:
o City, State, Zip:
o Telephone:
o Fax:
o Email:
Other Organizations/Community Leaders who have provided letters in support of this project
(please provide letters as PDF attachments or via United States Postal Service): Letters will be provided at a
future date.
o Organization: The Bethlehem Inn
o Contact: Sandra Mears
o Telephone: 541-322-8768, extension 10
o Organization: Housing Works of Central Oregon
o Contact: Cyndy Cook
o Telephone: 541-923-1018
o Organization: City of Bend
o Contact: Jim Long
o Telephone: 541-312-4915
Please email completed form to: APPROPRIATIONSAGSMITH.SENATE.GOV
Mail supporting materials (if any) to:
Senator Gordon Smith
Attn: Appropriations
121 SW Salmon Street, Suite #1250
Portland, Oregon 97204
The Bethlehem Inn Emergency Homeless Shelter
Project Summary
The Bethlehem Inn is a registered non-profit incorporated for public benefit, managed by a
professional staff, and governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. Founded in 1999, the Inn is
the largest emergency homeless shelter in Central Oregon, a region that spans three counties —
Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson. The Bethlehem Inn serves families, single adults, the elderly,
veterans, and pregnant women. Clients range in age from newborn to eighty-two. Eighty
percent of the shelter's adult clients are gainfully employed but are still unable to afford local
housing.
The Bethlehem Inn offers people in crisis the opportunity to break the cycle of homelessness.
The need for such services is extreme as Central Oregon is experiencing dramatic and rapid
growth. The U.S. Census recorded a population increase of 51% between 1990 and 2000 just
within Deschutes County. During the five years between 2000 and 2005, the population grew by
an additional 24%, far faster than most communities within either the state or the country. On
any given night, there are more than 1,300 homeless people in Central Oregon, with 44% under
the age of eighteen. This represents an increase of 43.5% in the homeless population since 2002.
As a result, the Bethlehem Inn anticipates providing over 26,280 bed nights and serving more
than 78,480 meals to people living in Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson Counties this year alone.
Believing that personal accountability and a sense of responsibility lead to self -sustainable
living, the Bethlehem Inn requires that clients maintain gainful employment, pay a daily shelter
fee of $5, and clean and maintain the facility. In addition, the Bethlehem Inn requires that all
clients be drug tested upon intake and on a random basis. In its current temporary location, the
Inn offers 72 dorm beds, 8 family apartments, a dining hall, laundry room, class room, case
management services, transportation, and an intake and wellness center to help its clients attain
long-term independence and stability in the community. Examples of just some of the programs
currently operated by the Bethlehem include:
• Families First: Developed to fill a gap in local services, this program provides true
emergency shelter to families in crisis. Families stay an average of 34 days, allowing them to
save precious housing dollars.
• Next Steps: Geared towards single adults, clients work, pay a daily shelter fee of $5, clean
and maintain the shelter, follow all shelter rules and are working to transition out of the
shelter.
• Outreach: Twice a month, the Inn visits local homeless camps to distribute food, clothing,
and bedding to people in need.
When the Bethlehem Inn was initiated in 1999, it offered overnight shelter to the homeless
through a network of local churches which contributed beds on a rotating basis. By 2004,
however, the number of people needing assistance had surpassed this arrangement and the Inn
accepted an offer from Deschutes County to temporarily place its housing and other services in a
building located on the County's Public Safety Campus in Bend, Oregon. However, this space
eventually became unavailable and the Inn was forced to secure a new base of operations in mid -
2007.
The Bethlehem Inn investigated many different properties that appeared feasible for a homeless
shelter. Unfortunately, due to high cost, land use constraints, lack of immediate availability,
extensive renovations or modifications required, and a variety of other reasons, none of those
opportunities proved to be a viable option. With time running out, Deschutes County and the
City of Bend joined the Bethlehem Inn in its effort to acquire a permanent facility. The two
agencies identified a suitable building for sale at a reasonable price and in an appropriate
location that is close to jobs, public transportation, shopping, and social services. The shelter
moved its operations to the property last year through an agreement between the Bethlehem Inn,
City of Bend, and Deschutes County. The proposed project seeks to assist the Bethlehem Inn in
purchasing this building and converting it into a permanent homeless shelter and point of service
delivery for the estimated 1,300 homeless living in Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson Counties.
Dave Kanner
From: Scott Johnson
Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2008 4:07 PM
To: Dave Kanner
Subject: Federal priorities DCMH
Dave, we need help in the following areas:
1. Resources - any kind of line item for alternatives to incarceration; senior services;
school based mh services 2. CMS rules and auditing practices - this item ties to efforts
to recoup Medicaid funds under the guise of Fraud & Abuse 3. Mental health parity
legislation (this is a big picture item; one that Sen Smith supports)
Scott
From: Dave Kanner
Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2008 1:23 PM
To: _Department Heads
Subject: Federal priorities
Hello all -
I had previously sent the 2007 version of the attached for to you. Please let me know by
Tuesday, January 8, what your suggestions are for the Board's federal priorities.
Thanks,
Dave
1
2007-08 Commission on Children & Families Federal Priorities:
1. FAN is at risk of losing —60% of its funding due to a federal policy change that will
discontinue Medicaid re -imbursement for school based services (such as FAN). The S -
CHIP bill initially contained language that would protect school based services from
these cuts. There has been a temporary extension for continuing Medicaid
reimbursements for school based services through June 30`h. FAN is unique to
Deschutes County and has been a model program, strongly supported by the local
BOCC. FAN continues to achieve great outcomes for children and families in Deschutes
County and it would be a tragedy to lose this program.
2. Continue to advocate for $425,000 to stabilize and expand the current Deschutes County
Family Access Network (FAN). FAN is an innovative model that provides vital services
at minimal cost. FAN funding has declined, and at the same time, the number of
children and families served has increased.
3. Maintain current level of funding to the Office on Violence Against Women to promote
the sustainability of the Safe Havens: Supervised Visitation grant program. Deschutes
County has received funds for a 2006-08 implementation grant and need to reapply for
an additional grant funds in January 2008. Request: Sustain or increase federal funding
level.
4. Maintain current level of funding to sustain the Drug Free Communities Grant, currently
administered through the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
Deschutes County has received funds for a 2001-2008 and will apply for renewal of this
grant in 2008. Request: Sustain or increase federal funding level.
5. Deschutes County was the largest County in Oregon without a Drug Court and has been
able to start one this past year but future funding is tenuous. As a designated HIDTA
County with almost the lowest reimbursement rate in the state for drug and alcohol
treatment, a drug court would serve to more efficaciously address the needs of the
growing number of incarcerated individuals with drug and alcohol issues that rotate in
and out of the justice system because their addiction problems are not adequately being
addressed. In order for a drug court to be effective, there must not only be meaningful
accountability and supervision but there must be treatment on demand.
6. Early childhood investments such as Head Start and quality affordable child care are
increasing concerns for parents and local businesses and these programs are seriously
under funded in Deschutes County and across the state. I can provide more data and
information when and if needed.
Dave Kanner
From: Tom Blust
Sent: Monday, January 07, 2008 1:50 PM
To: Dave Kanner
Subject: RE: Federal priorities
Dave -
One more to add to the list: funding for control of invasive noxious weeds
Thanks,
Tom
Original Message
From: Dave Kanner
Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2008 1:23 PM
To: _Department Heads
Subject: Federal priorities
Hello all -
I had previously sent the 2007 version of the attached for to you. Please let me know by
Tuesday, January 8, what your suggestions are for the Board's federal priorities.
Thanks,
Dave
1