This month I'd like to introduce you to Mellena Martinez, Community Programs manager and the Community Programs team, located in our Troy office.
One of the grants Mellena and her group work with is the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Rapid Rehousing (RRH) grant. The team uses this grant funding to arrange, coordinate, link and monitor services that assist participants who are literally homeless in obtaining and sustaining housing stability. Although we would like the timing to be quicker, the average time it takes to house an individual is 45 days.
Why does it take this long? For each person we house, there is a specific process that must be followed. During the initial meeting, a case manager completes an intake to identify their needs so that we can provide housing leads. Since our program participants may have several evictions, felonies, and zero income, it is our job to advocate to landlords on behalf of those looking for housing. Once the individuals identify a house and are approved, our staff contacts landlords to negotiate amenities to fit the federal guidelines to be able to assist with the RRH monies.
If a landlord is in agreement to work with those program guidelines, a Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspection is scheduled. During this time, our staff contact DTE and Consumers Energy to see if the individual has utility debts. If debts exist, we have to remedy them in order to turn utilities on in the head of households' name. Mellena's team works on all of this simultaneously while partnering with several community agencies to get this accomplished and the individual housed. Mellena gives the explanation that, "We are building the airplane in the sky as we are flying it!"
Recently, Mellena and her team were given a trophy for a major accomplishment here at CHN. During FY 2016, the
team ramped up and fully executed a new program in order to house 543 adults and children! Debra Hendren, director of Community Programs and Outreach shares, "I am so appreciative of the Community Programs team, who worked so hard to ramp up this past fiscal year to ensure that we could assist eligible households experiencing homelessness with the myriad services and programs we are fortunate to have in Oakland County. Through hard work, determination, and collaboration with our community partners, we were able to exhaust grant funding for the year through PATH, ESG, MSHDA OC RRH and Prevention and HUD RRH programs. I could not be more proud of this team!"
Let's turn to Mellena now and give her a chance to answer a few questions.
How did you become involved with CHN?
I previously worked for Training and Treatment Innovations and found my way to CHN in August of 2008.
How did your group successfully house and spend down the RRH monies?
Determination and a motivation to help those in need. Integrity to themselves as case managers, loyalty and dedication to CHN. We had a lot of long nights and weekends, but in the end, we were able to spend every last drop of money in order to house over 500 individuals!
What makes your team work so well together?
Our group is full of problem solvers. The staff come to me with solutions, not complaints, and an overall determination to help those in need.
Each holiday season, we look for donors to help provide basic necessities and gifts for our program participants.
How is your department involved with our Adopt A Family program?
Our group refers an average of 30 families to the Adopt A Family program each year. Our recently housed participants typically do not have household items when they move into housing. Our wishlists generally consist of microwaves, vacuums, bedding items and towels.(
Note: If you would like to sign up to
adopt an individual or family, please send an email to Tami Jelinek at
TJelinek@chninc.net and she will make that happen!)
Any parting words of wisdom?
Work smart, not hard! Handle your business before your business handles you.
I am grateful for Mellena's and the Community Program team's work, as well as the work of all CHN team members.
Thank you for your ongoing support!
