Jonathan Logemann, Alderman - Ward 2 | City of Rockford Website
Jonathan Logemann, Alderman - Ward 2 | City of Rockford Website
City of Rockford Community Action Agency Board met Jan. 21.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
I. CALL TO ORDER
A. Roll Call
| Attendee Name | Organization | Title | Status | Arrived |
| Karen Hoffman | City of Rockford | Alderman | Present | |
| Gina Delrose | City of Rockford | Present | ||
| Dorothy Redd | City of Rockford | Present | ||
| Jeremiah Griffin | City of Rockford | Present | ||
| Laura Snyder | City of Rockford | Absent | ||
| Tiana McCall | City of Rockford | Late | 12:22 PM | |
| Mary Yoho | City of Rockford | Present | ||
| Markayla Herbert | City of Rockford | Absent | ||
| Jeffrey Bailey | City of Rockford | Alderman | Present | |
| Mary Cacioppi | City of Rockford | Present | ||
| Ken Oliver | City of Rockford | Absent |
1. Approval of Minutes from the meeting held on December 3, 2024
| RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
AYES: Hoffman, Delrose, Redd, Griffin, Yoho, Bailey, Cacioppi ABSENT: Laura Snyder, Tiana McCall, Markayla Herbert, Ken Oliver |
1. Community Services Programmatic Reports
A. CSBG:
1. On December 20, 2024, we accepted our PY25 CSBG
Notice of Grant Award in the amount of $1,092,562.
2. Our Advocates had a busy year. Below is a break down by work program of the services that Community Action provided:
i. WP-01.011 Skills Training and Experience Opportunities:
We have supported 31 participants in completing certification or vocational courses, helping them gain the qualifications needed for employment. Among them, we provided 20 participants with work uniforms, books, and supplies, 19 participants with CNA testing, and two (2) participants with CDL, one (1) participant with CDA, one
(1) participant with Sterile Processing Technology, two (2) participants with the costs for RN/LPN state board applications and exams. 20 participants have successfully achieved employment in their chosen fields.
ii. WP-02.061 Educational Financial Aid Assistance (Scholarships): We have awarded three (3) $3,000 scholarships, two (2) $2,500 scholarships, one (1) $1,500 scholarship, and one (1) $1,000 scholarship.
iii. WP-04.011 Housing Payment Assistance (ESG Match): Through the use of CSBG Match for ESG funds, we have successfully helped 17 participants secure permanent housing.
iv. WP-04.031 Utility Payment Assistance: We have provided utility payment assistance to 12 families/participants, including support for eight (8) with ComEd, five (5) with Nicor, and one (1) for water restoration services.
v. WP-04.041 Housing Payment/Rapid Re-Housing: We have served 125 families/participants. Of these families, 16 were fleeing domestic violence, six (6) were placed in temporary housing, one (1) was assisted with a housing application fee, 52 were deposits, 26 were deposit/first month’s rent and 40 was for rent. 71 of these families were securing subsidized housing.
vi. WP-04.051 Housing Maintenance & Improvements (Life Safety): We have served 23 families/participants with life safety home repairs, 12 to replace water heater, four (4) water pipe leak, two (2) window air units, one (1) repair central air, one (1) repair gas leak, one (1) level stairs repair, replace one (1) refrigerator, and one (1) toilet repair.
vii. WP-05.071 Gardens: After a thorough review, the average produce per garden was calculated at 388 pounds. This year, we were fortunate to have the support of 256 youth volunteers and 1,682 adult volunteers, contributing a total of 201 hours of service. Together, their efforts produced an impressive 4,655 pounds of fresh produce in 2024.
viii. WP-07.021 Eligibility Determinations: We have served 82 participants with eligibility determinations. This included the housing application fee, transportation costs (such as car repairs, insurance, license plate fees, gasoline, and bus tickets to reconnect with family for support and housing), as well as expenses for groceries, furniture, phone bills, and daycare.
3. BRP PY25:
i. To date, we have served 35 participants in the Employment Barrier Reduction Pilot Program. Among them, we have assisted one (1) with car repair, six (6) with security deposit and one (1) with security deposit and 1st months’ rent, and 27 with rent assistance to obtain or maintaining employment.
4. Homeless Prevention Program:
i. In 2024, we served a total of 322 participants in homeless prevention. Of these, 311 households received support through housing placement or eviction prevention services. Additionally, we provided mortgage assistance to 11 individuals and utility assistance to nine (9) households served.
B. Homelessness:
1. The homeless numbers currently are listed below: Population: 1/16/2025
Veterans: 4
Chronically Homeless: 4
Youth (16-24): 16
Families w/ children: 34
Single Adults: 147
Total: 205
2. Winnebago County Community Mental Health Board (IMPACT) program—Have 3 residents living in TH as of today. Staff is working on 2 more. Renewal grant application was just released and due mid-February.
3. Landlord Engagement: Job still not posted. LL Engagement specialist is continuing to look for units and is scheduled to speak at the Rockford Apartment Association in January.
4. HUD CoC grants was completed and submitted October 30th. 5. State ESG will be monitored by the State on 2/3/2025.
6. Street outreach—continues on Thursday nights.
7. Overnight Café has opened for the season. Our homeless staff members will be working Tuesday nights assisting with client intakes.
8. Medical Respite Grant—Been meeting with Rockford Rescue Mission to see if they will agree to let us use 2 rooms to “house” our 4 program participants. They will take it back to their committee next Tuesday 1/21/2025 and the board after that. Working on our MOU
C. LIHEAP:
1. LIHEAP- We are up to date with verifications being within 28 days of applications! There are still pending applications with documents to be entered, but we have made incredible progress on these, and are within 30 days for these. We are still waiting for LIHEAP.net to be loaded with the HHS 2025 award for client benefits. Anticipate exhaustion of 2024 funds with the next week.
2. As of 1/15 we have taken 6897 applications for program year 2025 (started in October). Of these, 6456 applications have been verified and received benefits. Our first Outreach event at
NORTHWEST COMMUNITY CENTER drew 100 households before 9:30am!
3. PIPP- Still just as many issues as before- we have corresponded with National Consumer Law Atty – Karen Lusson about how the clients are suffering. We also have noted the issues repeatedly to COMED and to DCEO. We are now invited to the table with COMED/DCEO/IT Depts on both sides to try to mitigate the issues and make the customers whole. Karen Lusson has also scheduled a call for us to report to the ICC on the impact this has had on customers who have the PIPP program. Many have been billed for too much, and some have paid too little, but they were given no direction or corrections to their bills. Benefits were not recorded on some of the bills, so the customers were threatened with disconnection unless they paid what was on the bill – even though it was wrong.
4. Furnace: 58 Vouchers are currently underway and/or completed. We have 4 approved Furnace Contractors (Allen, Bomar, O’Connor, and Total).
D. Weatherization
1. PY25 Production has been affected state wide with OCA’s new software IWX still having many issues
2. We continue to enter new assessments onto the IWX system, but field app is only functional on our devices less than 50% of the time. OCA is trouble shooting.
3. We have 5 jobs sent out, and returned but unable to invoice due to the lack of process within IWX to close out.
4. We have completed our sampling for the IGA with RHA to Weatherize HUD scattered sites, and have begun data entry.
5. Biweekly calls have been ongoing with OCA. As well as consistent communication in between to trouble shoot issues.
| RESULT: DISCUSSED |
1. Head Start Report
A. We still have several positions available:
1. 5-Family Support Specialists - 49 weeks- Will be posting at the end of January.
2. 1-Family Support Specialist - 37 weeks
3. 1-Bilingual Family Support Specialist-37 weeks
4. 3-PACE Teachers
5. 6-Head Start Teacher- Will be posting at the end of January
6. 2–Early Head Start Home Visitor Teacher
7. 1–Head Start Site Coordinator Formerly Community Partner Coordinator-Will be posting at the end of January
8. 1-Maintanince Technician
9. 1- Health Services Assistant formerly Program Support Assistant- Currently Interviewing.
10. 1- Professional Development Coordinator (finishing the job description)/ Pending Change in Scope
B. Currently we have posted -Health Services Assistant.
C. As of end of November 2024, we are at 49% of enrollment, 355 of 714 slots are filled in both Head Start and Early Head Start.
i. HS services on Pause at YMCA (40 slots)- Will reevaluate in January 2025
D. As of the end of December 2024 we are at 49% of enrollment, 356 of 714 slots are filled in both Head Start and Early Head Start.
E. Corrective Action Plan (CAP) due to regional office September 30-Submitted as of September 30, 2024- No word on the follow up monitoring visit
F. No word on the FA1 (Focus Area 1) Monitoring Visit or Health & Safety monitoring visit
G. Continuation Grant- Submitted December 30, 2024
H. Working on Change in Scope Application trying to submit late January/Early February 2025
I. We are need of Policy Council Reps.
1. If you someone that would be interested please let me know and we will reach out to invite them to a meeting.
J. As of end of October 2024, we are at 50% of enrollment, 359 of 714 slots are filled in both Head Start and Early Head Start.
1. No longer providing HS services at Beyer (total of 250 slots)
2. HS services on Pause at YMCA (40 slots)- Will reevaluate in January 2025
K. Corrective Action Plan (CAP) due to regional office September 30-Submitted as of September 30, 2024
L. Working on Continuation Grant- Due January 1, 2025
M. Working on Change in Scope Application Due January 1, 2025
| RESULT: DISCUSSED |
1. Fiscal Report
A. Fiscal Reports
1. Health and Human Services Award Dashboard.
B. Monitoring/Auditing
1. IDHS monitoring is scheduled for 2/3/25-2/4/25.
2. DCEO monitoring is tentatively scheduled for 5/12/25-5/15/25.
3. Council approved a contract with Baker Tilly, who will conduct the City-wide audit and the Single Audit.
| RESULT: DISCUSSED |
A. As a state network, we are working very closely with our national lobbyists for all of Community Action such as David Bradley. He has been a longtime advocate for Community Action. He is working with members of Congress regarding a national strategy about Community Action Programs. A number of programs have garnered bipartisan support over the years.
1. Local Congressman Darin LaHood is very interested in fostering a stronger relationship with in regards to Community Action Agency programs and the needs of the community. We look forward to working with he and his team to ensure he has a solid understanding of what Community Action does in his own area he represents.
VII. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS
A.Karen Hoffman: Anqunette alluded to this earlier. Tonight, what is up for vote in City Council is an item to authorize funds for an online application system and grant writing. The funds would be coming out of Cannabis sales, taxes are not being raised for it.
1. Jeff Bailey: I appreciate Karen because I have learned so much from her. One of the things that disturbs me is we are quick to talk about what this agency is doing but we as a city and community needs to step up and support you financially. The team and leadership are doing a great job but the city needs to step up.
B. Karen Hoffman: Tonight, the Health & Human Services Supplemental Funding Committee meets to discuss other ways we can support CAA. We are now modernizing the system. We are changing things and we are looking for funding sources without costing the tax payer.
1. Jeremiah Griffin: Make sure to also bring up Head Start.
Normally they receive funding through the city and federal government.
C. Karen Hoffman: Some of the discussion at City Council is about the Regrow grant. One of the things we have pushed for are small programs to help children so they do not enter the justice system.
D. Jeremiah Griffin: Just to give a quick update. Northwest Neighbors had an annual meeting. It’s exciting to see the idea of the churches not just sitting idle and allowing the YMCA to use spaces.
E. Jeff Bailey: One announcement for those who are interested: The west gate coalition is having an event with Dr. Spearman from Rock Valley College on 1/22. The event is at Police District 1 at 10:45am.
F. Faniqua Hughes: Head Start is celebrating 60 years of being in Rockford. 2024- 2025 are big years for us.
VIII. GUEST REPORT/ PRESENTATIONS
IX. GENERAL DISCUSSION
1. Discussion Regarding Proposed Changes to the Community Action Agency Bylaws for 2025 Changes to the bylaws such as changing the board size.
A. Discussion Regarding Proposed Changed to the Community Action Agency Bylaws for 2025.
1. Some changes are outlined but there are more to come.
What we are asking of this body are any suggestions, recommendations, or changes, please send those to us because we need to make these changes. The board is split three ways and it has to be representative of public, private, and clientele. The bylaws have not been reviewed since 2017.
| RESULT: DISCUSSED |
XI. NEW BUSINESS
1. Proposed 2025 Schedule for the Community Action Agency Board Meetings
1. Dates for meetings would be Jan 21, March 18, May 20, July 15, Sept 16, and Nov 18. These will be posted on the City’s website shortly after approval.
i. Motion to approve the proposed 2025 schedule.
A. Motion by Karen Hoffman. Second by Jeff Bailey.
All approved. Motion passes.
| RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
AYES: Hoffman, Delrose, Redd, Griffin, McCall, Yoho, Bailey, Cacioppi ABSENT: Laura Snyder, Markayla Herbert, Ken Oliver |
The meeting was closed at 1:20 PM
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