Agenda

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Presentation 2. A.

Regular BOS Meeting

Meeting Date:	09/17/2019
Submitted For:	James Menlove	Submitted By:	Sherry Grice, Management Associate
Department:	County Manager

Information

Request/Subject

Presentation of the 2019 Arizona Housing Hero Award to the Gila County Board of Supervisors

Background Information

The Arizona Department of Housing Housing Hero Awards are named in honor of the outstanding public service exemplified by the late Brian Mickelsen, an original member of the Arizona Housing Finance Authority and the town manager for the Town of Cottonwood. Members of the Gila County Board of Supervisors have been named as the 2019 Housing Heroes in the Elected Officials category for their achievement in establishing a Local Coalition to End Homelessness (LCEH) and are recognized as the first entity in the State solely made up of elected officials to take the lead in creating a local coalition to end homelessness.

Following numerous community meetings in Gila County to address the local homeless situation, members of the Gila County Board of Supervisors approved plans to form a LCEH in Gila County based on input provided by Malissa Buzan, Gila County Community Services Department Director, and Arizona Department of Housing. Prior to this, Gila County was the largest Balance of State County that did not have an active coalition in the State and was the only county that had not applied for funding.

The Gila County Board of Supervisors was presented with their award at the Department of Housing's Housing Hero Award Luncheon, held on Wednesday, August 21, 2019, at The Scott Resort in Scottsdale.

Evaluation

Through the newly-established LCEH in Gila County, the group can apply for various grants to increase resources to end homelessness. The coalition will be responsible for coordinating local resources and homeless services; coordinating point in time counts at the local community level; creating local gaps analysis; recruiting local stakeholder conferencing; system coordination efforts and is committed to working with the Arizona Balance of State Continuum of Care, administered by the Arizona Department of Housing to end homelessness in their community.

The group held their first meeting in April 2019, with representation from the Gila County Board of Supervisors and staff, Town of Payson, City of Globe, Arizona Department of Economic Security, and numerous service providers and community organizations serving the homeless population. Gila County is the 10th rural county in the state to officially establish a LCEH.

Conclusion

N/A

Recommendation

N/A

Suggested Motion

Presentation of the 2019 Arizona Housing Hero Award to the Gila County Board of Supervisors. (James Menlove)

Attachments
Housing Hero Award
BOS Acceptance Photo