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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-02-05-HSC-min.pdf Minutes Human Services Committee 2/5/92 Present Renee Cochin and Ann Irving, Co-Chairmen; Mimi Aarens Bob Cushman Eva Glick and Rick Safford Steve Baran Human Services Coordinatur (recorder ) Absent Donna Hooper The Minutes of 1 /22/92 were approved with the following revised wording "As to the Human Services Fund, it was decided to once again ask the Selectmen to provide a commitment of $5, 000 as the base funding for the Human Services Fund in FY ' 93 " Renee reported that the Committee had been asked to send a formal designee to a Selectmen' s Forum on Lexington Issues She will attend their first meeting Renee reported further that she had attended a Selectmen' s meeting on the budget and advised level funding for RePlace, a 12% increase for CMARC and $5, 000 for the Human Services Fund The Human Service budget recommendations received Paul Marshall ' s strong support Steve reported his impression that there may be no funds available for elderly people having emergencies, but there might be a need It was felt that a change in policy to permit using the Human Services Fund to help the elderly as well as people under 60 might be in order Steve reported further that the Fund' s direct relief balance was $3, 796 on January 1 and was reduced by expenditures for a shortfall in fuel ( $ 190) children' s clothing ( $200) , moving expenses ( $325) and dental work ( $ 150) leaving a balance of $2931 on January 31 A planning meeting for an educational conference on the Americans with Disabilities Act was announced for February 19th Betsy Fitz, Board of Directors (Special Events Coordinator ) , Lexington Interfaith Outreach, reported on its activities On the previous Saturday, 65 families were accommodated The recent average has been between 40 and 50 80% of recipients are from Lexington; there is reciprocity with other towns $ 1 000 worth of food is purchased per month with most significant donations including $8, 000 from the Lexington Walk for Hunger, $ 1 500 from Stop and Shop, $800 from the Harrington School and $300 from St Brigid' s Financial contributions have been supplemented by food donations At this point, the organization has a balance of $30, 000, has given $5, 000 to Beacon Santa and will give $5, 000 to the Human Services Fund ( the Committee requested that this be evenly split between endowment and direct relief ) after spending $ 12, 000 in its first year L Human Services Committee, 2/5//92 Page 2 i In-kind contributors of food have included Doran' s with truck loads of "blemished" food, the Boy Scouts and Stop and Shop customers The Police have contributed toys personalized by age and sex Each family receives $25 to $30 worth of groceries and provides data on number of family members, special dietary needs or food preferences and address (proof not required) The environment is hospitable; coffee and cookies are served Social needs have included pregnancy; elderly, two with guns and knives in their homes, unable to afford medical care and needing home repairs In the summer, people who sleep under bridges in town come for food Program needs include furniture for families expecting babies and information and referral services Mimi reported that she had attended two crowded meetings of the AIDS Committee with initial discussions focused on clarifying the Committee' s mandate (education) It is not advisory to the School Committee The Enablement Committee was invited to send a representative to the next meeting of the Human Services Committee Rick and Bob reported that they had been exploring housing possibilities for people with special needs Opportunities have opened up in Arlington and Lexington Bob is exploring equity funding