October and November meetings of the Development Council were focused on organizational formalities like approving a governance charter, member contribution agreements, staffing contracts, separation agreements with the Rural Oregon Continuum of Care (ROCC), and identifying a collaborative applicant, all of which are needed to gain recognition by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD) as a regional continuum of care. (Development Council agendas minutes can be found under the Documents tab, above.)
In early November, the board of directors of the Mid-Willamette Council of Governments (MWVCOG) unanimously approved the Development Council’s request to have MWVCOG act as the Mid-Willamette Valley Homeless Alliance’s “collaborative applicant.” The agreement will be formalized under ORS Chapter 190.
Another high hurdle was cleared when negotiations between the Development Council and ROCC resulted in agreement on an equitable division of ROCC’s grant (see below). The division still must be approved by HUD, which has the discretion to raise or lower any amounts.
At the close of the November meeting, the Development Council authorized staff to submit its application for formal recognition to HUD.
Featured photo: Development Council November 18 meeting clockwise from left: Jan Calvin, Cathy Clark, Chris Hoy, Chuck Bennett, Kristin Retherford, Dan Clem, Jimmy Jones, Rhonda Wolf, Carla Munns, Janet Carlson, Denise Van Dyke, Tom Pessemier, Julie Conn-Johnson.