Board member Benne Baker moved to remove Taura Brown from the CoC board, following accusations from Brown about impropriety at the agency Baker represents. After a lengthy debate over parliamentary procedure, it was determined that the matter will be taken up at the June meeting.
The Detroit Continuum of Care (CoC) is a year-round planning body of representative stakeholders working toward ending homelessness in Detroit, Hamtramck, and Highland Park.
Find the Board Packet for today’s meeting here: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5344557fe4b0323896c3c519/t/6818d84062af1c1eca54a5b4/1746458690786/05.05.25+BM+Packet.pdf
Chair Erica George is calling the meeting to order at 2:05. Voting and approval of 4/25 board minutes have passed.
There are 49 participants in the Zoom, including board members and attendees. Today’s consent agenda passed at 2:11pm.
Amanda Sternberg with the Homeless Action Network of Detroit is beginning a presentation on CoC Project Transfer Policies.
These transfers refer to individuals served by various providers within the network - ideally to better serve them.
There are now 60 participants in the Zoom.
Sternberg’s presentation on policy transfers continued:
Member Underwood is asking whether there can be a clear policy to limit the amount of times a person can be transferred in one year.
Sternberg responds that there are regulatory elements such as minimum 12 month leases.
The question arises out of the frustration that comes with being transferred and how tenants often blame the agency.
Provider properties are not required to have a certificate of compliance according to the CoC, it is required by the City. Underwood says that some of the housing its unsafe.
Member Taura Brown asks via the comments: “What did the DAG have to say about this policy and the language?”
She says they are not getting feedback from people with lived experience.
She asks circumstances would allow a provider to deny a client.
Sternberg replies that this was not taken before the DAG or YAB.
The link for filing a grievance has been posted in the chat. https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/1b27303837e046568dd61363ec012200
DAG is Detroit Advisors Group and YAB is the Youth Action Board.
“These are groups comprised of people with lived experience of homelessness who help to provide leadership in the CoC and ensure that the decisions we make are reflective of the needs of the people we serve.” - Katie Campillo Giza
The voting link on Sternberg’s Policy Proposal will be open to board members until 5PM today.
Chelsea Johnson, Program Coordinator for HAN is giving a presentation on CoC Board Vacancies.
Katrina Edmond is introducing herself; she is an MCHS Family of Services Homeless Services Provider.
https://mchsmi.org/
Johnson asked that board members email her with recommendations for vacant seats.
There are now 67 Zoom participants in the meeting.
Erica George will now give an Executive Committee Report after this reminder:
Erica Dawdeell-Parnell and May Freck of CYH are giving a Youth Homelessness Report.
Freck highlights “Adultism”, and only 4 folks doing reportage work on Youth Homeless Data
Here is a link to the Detroit Needs Management Map https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1kZ3FGRuxC4Ou31RQP9JZh5gr___0x_I&ll=42.379201010833306%2C-83.10030564999998&z=11
Toyia Yancey with the City of Detroit Homeless Solutions Team is giving a Grievance Review Committee Overview:
They are looking for service providers and folks with lived experience to join the committee.
To file a grievance, it can be done online at or a printed document can be found at https://www.handetroit.org/documents
Other programs that the grievances committee sends folks to are Education Support (ESP), Respite, and permanent supportive housing (PSH).
If you are interested in joining the grievance committee, please email by May 26, 2025. toyia.Yancey@detroitmi.gov or arieona.branch@detroitmi.gov
Underwood is asking if the Memorandum of Understanding between CAM and HUD requires shelters to notify HUD when they have open beds - Betthauser responded that shelters are not included in this MOU.
Terra Linzner with the City Housing and Revitalization Dept. is responding that every shelters makes a daily report of vacant beds to CAM.
Underwood says she has heard complaints that folks at CAM are sometimes hard to reach. There were recently some closures. Betthauser says they are working on it.
Jeremy Cagliari of Wayne Metro is chiming in saying that he is not sure why someone wouldn’t be able to reach theme because their lines are open all day every day.
Clarice Perkins is giving a report on the Outreach Workgroup:
Currently they are discussing new ways of outreach beyond posters and physical outreach - potentially bus ads and billboards.
Kiana Harrison is now giving a presentation on the CAM Data and Tech Workgroup.
Terra Linzner is describing the flow of services.
Ed Cieslak Coordinating Operations Manager at CAM is continuing the flow of services process.
Betthauser and Cugliiari continue the report:
Committee presentations are wrapped up for today. The rest of the committees will present in June.
Benne Baker says there was a formal request in March to remove Taura Brown from the Board for being in breach of confidentiality amongst other code of conduct issues.
She is asking for a motion for her removal.
George says she will finish this part of the meeting before entertaining motions.
Announcements:
Cass Tretyak - creator of the Needs Management Map above is giving a brief overview no how to use it. Here’s the link again https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1kZ3FGRuxC4Ou31RQP9JZh5gr___0x_I&ll=42.33626864229245%2C-83.03713553481414&z=12
Campillo-Giza is announcing that they are revamping/re-releasing a training in systems level planning to anyone involved in CoC. The training is called System Thinking. It will help strategize with all aspects of the system working together.
Torrey Henderson is HAN”S capacity building manager. SAVE THE DATE. They will have an in-person NARCAN training on June 2nd.
It is now time for Public Comment. There do not appear to be any public comment requests today.
Important Acronyms from todays meeting:
George has opened up the floor to motions. Brown is motioning that Baker’s request for her removal should be treated as New Business for the next meeting.
Donna Price has seconded Brown’s motion.
There is some discussion/confusion around the order of things being discussed now.
Baker says there was information shared with some board members of code of conduct violations by Ms. Brown.
This motion was never entertained by George, so this discussion will continue after the vote on Brown’s motion to postpone a vote to the next meeting
Julisa Abad is speaking to the importance of uplifting and advocating for all - especially trains women of color. She says they need more information and evidence and that they all deserve to have their voices heard and do good work.
George is giving this conversation until 5 PM to continue.
The request for Brown’s removal seems to be in reference to a letter that she sent to board and other city officials requesting an audit.
George had to ask that all members be muted because there was an active argument between Brown and others.
George suggested using the grievance form for information to be disseminated regarding this issue so that it may be vetted.
This meeting was adjourned at 5:05PM without a vote on the motion, as new procedures were laid out.
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This concludes my live coverage of the CoC Board of Directors meeting.
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