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[Veteran Affairs Commission on January 12, 2023.]
UM, GOOD MORNING, GOOD AFTERNOON.THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ATTENDING.
UM, IF YOU'RE COMMISSIONER, IF YOU CAN PLEASE TURN ON YOUR CAMERA SO WE CAN COUNT YOUR PRESENCE.
I'M JUST GONNA MAKE SURE OUR AUDIO IS WORKING.
CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME? CAN YOU ALL HEAR EVERYONE AND YES.
I'M GONNA HAVE TO LEAVE AROUND 1130 OR 1145 THOUGH, BECAUSE I'VE GOT CLASS TO TEACH.
WE'LL, WE'LL COME TO, I THINK WE'LL BE FINE.
RIGHT? UH, COMMISSIONER HENON AND PERLO.
SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO BE MAKING QUORA.
ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONER, YOU WANNA START?
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YES.UM, SO, UM, BUT ESSENTIALLY A COUPLE THINGS, UM, ARE ABLE TO, WE HAVE A LOT OF FREEDOM WITH HOW WE, THE TOPIC OF EACH SUBCOMMITTEE.
UM, TO BE VERY CLEAR THOUGH, WHAT THE SPECIFIC FOCUS FOR EACH SUBCOMMITTEE WILL.
AND THEN, UM, AS A COMMISSION, YOU'LL ESSENTIALLY VOTE ON FORMING THE SUBCOMMITTEE.
UM, YOU HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT WILL BE THE MINIMUM MEMBERSHIP.
I WILL NOTE THAT RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 11 MEMBERS, SO WE MAY WANNA CONSIDER KEEPING THAT GROUP SMALL.
UM, YOU WILL ALSO, IN YOUR DECISION MAKING HAVE TO CONFIRM WHAT WOULD, HOW MANY WOULD NEED TO MAKE A QUORUM.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU HAVE FIVE MEMBERS, MINIMUM, THE QUORUM, YOU COULD SAY IS ONLY TWO.
BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT, WELL, DO YOU WANT TWO PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, HAVING THE, ALL THE, UH, YOU KNOW, POWER IN THAT, IN THAT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
UM, THE OTHER THING FORGOT TO MENTION, THESE SUBCOMMITTEES ARE PURELY ADVISORY, SO THEY CAN'T MAKE ANY OFFICIAL DECISIONS.
EVERY SUBCOMMITTEE WILL THEN HAVE TO SUBSEQUENTLY REPORT ON WHAT THEIR FINDINGS ARE OR WHAT THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE TO THE BROADER GROUP.
AND THEN IN OUR MONTHLY COMMISSIONS, THEN THEY WOULD BE, UH, OFFICIALLY REVIEWED.
AND THEN THE, THE FULL BOARD WOULD DECIDE IF THERE ARE ANY DECISIONS THAT NEED TO BE MADE.
UM, THE SUBCOMMITTEES CAN MEET AS OFTEN AS, UH, AS THE, AS THE BOARD DECIDES, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD SAY LIKE IN YOUR DECISION MAKING, UM, IN TERMS OF THE LIMITS, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD SAY AT MINIMUM OR AS NEEDED.
UM, YOU CAN ALSO HAVE WHAT I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING.
YOU COULD HAVE MEMBERS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF THE BOARD.
UM, SO YOU COULD HAVE MEMBERS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, FROM THE COMMUNITY OR, UH, SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS.
UM, I DUNNO IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE.
SO SINCE THE, SINCE THE SUBCOMMITTEES ARE ADVISORY, THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT TO PUBLICLY POST THE AGENDAS.
UM, WHEN IT COMES TO REQUIREMENTS REPORTING ANYWAYS, YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO COME REPORT ANY DISCUSSIONS YOU MAY HAVE HAD.
UM, FOR EXAMPLE, IF A SUBCOMMITTEE MET ABOUT THE FINANCE, UH, THEN THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPORT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEIR, WHAT THEY WERE DISCUSSED.
UM, THEY DO HAVE TO SUBMIT MEETING MINUTES.
UM, THEY CAN BE, YOU KNOW, VERY GENERAL AND BRIEF.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE REPORTING TO THE BROADER COMMISSION, YOU CAN PROVIDE MORE ADDED DETAIL.
BUT, UH, THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT FOR POSTING THE AGENDA.
UH, REALLY THE REQUIREMENT IS AFTER THE MEETING, WHEN YOU SHARE WITH THE BROADER BOARD THAT YOU'VE MET AND WHAT YOU DISCUSSED.
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YEAH.IF THAT'S WHAT THE COMMISSION DECIDES, THEN DEFINITELY YOU CAN ALSO, UM, YOU CAN ALSO PUT LIKE A TERM.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, UH, ONE, ONE EXAMPLE THAT THE CITY ATTORNEYS PROVIDED WAS, UM, WE'RE ONLY GOING TO HAVE THIS GROUP MEET UNTIL JUNE OR FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS.
UM, AND THEN AFTER THE SUMMER AND THEN VISIT, WHAT NEEDS TO, WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IF THERE ARE ANY CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE.
I THINK THAT'S UP TO THE COMMISSION TO DECIDE.
UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT THAT THEY HAVE TO MEET AT ST.
CAN MAKE SURE WHEN YOU'RE SPEAKING TO, UH, TO, UH, UNMUTE YOUR MICROPHONE SO EVERYONE CAN PARTICIPATE.
DOES ANYONE ONLINE HAVE ANY COMMENTS? SHAKING HEADS? NO.
I JUST CAN'T HEAR QUESTIONS FROM THEM.
YEAH, JUST MAKE SURE EVERYONE, WHEN YOU'RE DISCUSSING TO HAVE YOUR MICROPHONE ON SO THAT WE CAN SHARE IT WITH HIM.
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ANY DISCUSSION ONLINE OR ANYBODY I'M HAVING ISSUES WITH THE FOLKS ON, SO LEMME TEST SOME THINGS.I GUESS WE CAN JUST GO AHEAD AND, UM, I DON'T SEE ANYBODY RESPONDING.
AND CAN YOU HEAR, WE CAN'T HEAR WHAT THE MICROPHONES FROM THOSE THAT ARE IN THE MEETING ROOM, THAT'S WHY WE'RE HITTING UP ON THE CHAT.
BUT I JUST HEARD SOMEONE SAYING, I DON'T SEE ANYONE HEAR SAYING ANYTHING.
UH, CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? OKAY.
SO ANYWAY, UH, WE, WE HAVE HAD, UM, SUGGESTIONS OR RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE START, UH, MAYBE GO AHEAD AND, AND ESTABLISH A SUBCOMMITTEE ON, ON VETERANS HOMELESSNESS.
UM, THERE WAS A NUMBER THROWN OUT FOR, UH, FOR AT LEAST THREE MEMBERS OF, OF THIS COMMISSION TO BE ON THAT COMMITTEE SUBCOMMITTEE.
I BE PART OF THAT SUBCOMMITTEE WITH, UH, MAYBE SOME OUTREACH TO A COUPLE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS OR, OR ONE ORGANIZATION, WHICHEVER, YOU KNOW, WE DECIDE OR THAT SUBCOMMITTEE DECIDES TO, UH, TALK TO, UM, AND, UH, ADD THEM TO THE COMMITTEE.
AND, AND, UM, THERE'S NO OBJECTION.
SO WE CAN GET A MOTION, I GUESS WE CAN VOTE ON THAT.
UH, MR. CHAIR, IF YOU GIMME A SECOND, LET ME JUST WRITE DOWN SOME NOTES AND I'LL MAKE A MOTION.
UH, COMMISSIONER RAMOS IS GONNA TAKE SOME NOTES HERE AND, UH, AND HE'S GONNA MAKE A MOTION.
AND WHEN HE FINISHES, HE'LL, HE'LL, HE'LL, UH, HE'LL, HE'LL, UM, HE CAN MAKE THE MOTION, UH, OR DISCUSS IT AND THEN, UH, WE'LL, WE'LL TAKE A VOTE ON IT.
I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ESTABLISH THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON VETERANS HOMELESSNESS.
THAT THE VETERANS HOMELESS SUBCOMMITTEE
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INCLUDE THE MEMBERSHIP OF THREE COMMISSIONERS FROM THIS BODY.THAT THE QUORUM FOR SUCH COMMITTEE BE TWO MEMBERS TO HAVE A QUORUM.
THAT THE CHAIRPERSON OF THAT COMMITTEE CAN INVITE PUBLIC MEMBERS AS THEY SEE FIT.
THAT THE CHAIRPERSON WILL ALSO DESIGNATE THE TIMES AND PLACES OF THOSE MEETINGS ON AN AD HOC BASIS AS, AS DETERMINED BY THE CHAIR AND THE CHAIR.
ALSO BE THE RECORDING SECRETARY FOR THAT SUBCOMMITTEE.
EVERYONE UNDERSTAND IT? THAT SOUNDS GOOD TO ME.
ANYBODY ON THE ONLINE? I I SEE THREE.
ANY OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS OR, OR, OR ADDITION OR ADD ON TO COMMISSIONER BIRDWELL? DID YOU JUST SAY SECOND? COMMISSIONER BIRDWELL? I THOUGHT SHE SAID IT.
SO, SO WE HAVE A SECOND, UH, ONE, ONE MOMENT.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION THAT'S BEEN SECOND.
SO, UM, ANY OPPOSITIONS OR OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT.
UH, MR. CHAIRMAN, MAY, MAY I MAKE COMMENT THAT, UH, AT SOME POINT IN TIME WE HAVE TO POINT, UH, THE COMMITTEE.
SO, UH, IT MIGHT BE VOLUN ON A VOLUNTEER BASIS.
AND WE'LL, UH, WE'LL GET THIS THING ROLLING AND ACTUALLY START GETTING OUR FINGERS DIRTY, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO, UH, DO SOMETHING BESIDES JUST HAVE A MEETING ONCE A MONTH.
AND WITH THAT SAID, THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE STAFF REPORTS AND BRIEFINGS.
UM, SO MY STAFF REPORT FEBRUARY 2ND, WE HAVE TO SUBMIT AN ANNUAL REPORT.
UM, SO THAT MEANS THAT WE'LL HAVE TO SHARE THE, THE WORK THAT THE VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMISSION HAS DONE THIS PAST YEAR.
UM, ALSO ANY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU'VE IDENTIFIED, UH, ESPECIALLY GIVEN, YOU KNOW, THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE TO LIT WITNESS, UH, TO LIST OF WITNESSES AND TESTIMONIES.
UM, GIVEN THE SHORT TIMELINE, WHAT I THINK I'LL, I'LL TRY TO DO IS WRITE UP A DRAFT FOR YOU ALL TO REVIEW AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO.
UM, AND THEN THAT WAY WE CAN SUBMIT THE ANNUAL REPORT BY THE DEADLINE.
UM, IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE OFFICIALLY SIGNED BY THE CHAIR AT THIS CASE,
AND THEN, UM, IT WOULD BE SHARED WITH THE, UM, IT WOULD BE SHARED WITH THE CITY MANAGER.
UM, YOU ALL WOULD THEN BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT BROADLY ONCE IT BECOMES PUBLISHED.
UM, IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN ALSO, UH, SHARE WITH YOUR RESPECTIVE COMM, RESPECTIVE CITY COUNSELORS AS WELL.
UM, THEY, THEY, UH, I THINK THEY DO GET A COPY, BUT IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT I THINK IT WOULD BE REALLY MEANINGFUL FOR YOU ALL TO SHARE DIRECTLY WITH YOUR, SO THAT'S, UH, ONE UPDATE.
THE OTHER UPDATE, I KNOW IN THE OCTOBER MEETING WE DISCUSSED HAVING A COMMUNICATION, UH, TOOL TO
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SHARE ABOUT RESOURCES, UM, THAT COULD BE SHARED WITH, UM, THE, WITH THE PUBLIC VIA FIRST RESPONDERS.UM, OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM IS FINALIZING A DRAFT FOR YOU ALL TO REVIEW.
SO IN THE NEXT MEETING, PROVIDE FEEDBACK IN THE, I WANNA BE CLEAR, DO YOU KNOW WHEN WE'LL GET A, WE'LL GET A LOOK AT THAT? OR DO YOU STAY WHEN WE'LL GET TO SEE A DRAFT DRAFT FOR THE, THE, THE, THE RESOURCE CARD THAT THEY, THAT THEY, UM, WE CAN PROBABLY HAVE IT CIRCULATED TO ALL, UH, A WEEK BEFORE THE MEETING AND THAT WE HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW IT AND, YOU KNOW, ADD THE MEETING.
SO YOU'LL SEND IT OUT TO EVERYBODY.
IS EVERYONE ONLINE? UH, DID YOU UNDERSTAND THAT? OKAY, COOL.
AND, UH, I KNOW SOME OF US HAVEN'T BEEN HERE THE WHOLE YEAR, YOU KNOW, WE'RE KIND OF LIKE LATE ADDITION ADDITIONS TO THIS COMMISSION, SO, UM, YOU KNOW, NOT THAT WE HAVE A WHOLE LOT TO CATCH UP ON.
CAUSE THIS IS STILL A FAIRLY A NEW COMMISSION.
SO, UM, LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
AND THEN YOU, ANY KIND OF INPUTS, ANY, ANYTHING THAT, THAT, THAT'S VETERAN RELATED, UM, THAT HELPS OUR COMMUNITY? NO, VETERANS COMMUNITY APPRECIATED.
UH, COMMISSIONER RAMOS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SUBCOMMITTEES.
IT MIGHT BE ON A GOING FORWARD BASIS, A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE A SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE ANNUAL REPORT SO THAT INSTEAD OF HAVING, RELYING UPON CHRISTINA'S THE GRACES, UH, WE COULD HAVE INPUT DURING, DURING THE YEAR AND GET AHEAD OF THIS REPORT AND, AND BE COMPILING THIS THING GOING FORWARD.
AND CHRISTINA COULD BE A PART OF THAT COMMITTEE, PRESUMABLY.
BUT, UH, THAT WAY SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO DO THE HEAVY LIFTING IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND, AND THAT WE COULD HAVE MORE MEANINGFUL INPUT.
I, I, I THINK THAT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL, YOU KNOW, TO HAVE THIS LIKE A SHORT GROUP THAT MAYBE NEEDS THREE MONTHS IN ADVANCE SUPPORT.
UH, SO, UH, I'M ALSO LEARNING WITH YOU ALL, AND I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA AND GREAT SUGGESTION.
UM, CAUSE UH, SOME OF US, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY, UH, ARE, UH, MORE SENIOR OR MORE VETERAN VETERANS, UH, YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, ILLNESSES OR, OR THINGS AND WHATNOT THAT COME UP, FAMILY ISSUES AND, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO HAVE THAT AS, UM, THE CONTINUITY IN THAT KIND OF GROUP.
CAUSE THAT, THAT'S LIKE, THAT'S OUR MAIN, I I GUESS THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT SUPPORTS US THROUGH THE YEAR, IS THAT THAT REPORT, YOU KNOW, ARE WE, ARE WE DOING SOMETHING? YOU KNOW? SO I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.
SO I DON'T KNOW, SHOULD WE DO THAT NOW? OR SHOULD WE, UH, FOR THE SUBCOMMITTEE FOR THE REPORT? UM, IT'S UP TO YOU.
UM, DISCUSS IT MAYBE IN AUGUST.
UM, ONE QUESTION I DID HAVE WAS, DID WE DECIDE WITH THE SECRETARY FOR THE, NO, I THINK WE JUST PICKED THE NUMBER.
RIGHT? IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE CHAIRPERSON OF THAT BE THE SECRETARY.
SO, DO WE HAVE A CHAIRPERSON? NO, WE JUST, WE JUST ESTABLISHED THE COMMAND, SO, OKAY.
I THINK WE'RE STILL LOOKING FOR THE PERSON WHO WANTS TO VOLUNTEER.
ANYONE WHO WANTS TO OFFER LIKE COMMISSIONER
DO WE WANNA WAIT MAYBE THE NEXT MEETING WHEN, WHEN EVERYBODY'S HERE? YEAH.
CAUSE I THINK, UH, COMMISSIONER, UH, ROBINSON, WHAT I COULD DO IS, UM, I CAN SEND AN EMAIL TO EVERYONE AND THEN, UM, SEE IF THERE'S ANYONE WHO WANTS TO VOLUNTEER VIA EMAIL OR NOMINATE SOMEONE.
UM, WE, I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO VOTE YEAH.
UM, I CAN SEE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE HAVE, IF WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE, LIKE IT COULD BE CO-CHAIR OR, UM, I CAN VOLUNTEER TO BE ONE OF THEM IF YOU WANT.
I WAS JUST HOPING OTHERS COULD STEP.
SO WE'LL, WE'LL DO IT BY EMAIL.
COMMISSIONER BIRDWELL JUST SAID SOMETHING.
YEAH, I, I SAID THAT I DON'T MIND VOLUNTEERING.
IT'S JUST THAT I THOUGHT MAYBE OTHERS MIGHT
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WANNA STEP UP.I'M STILL IN SCHOOL RIGHT NOW UNTIL MAY, BUT I CAN BE ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON HOMELESSNESS IF THEY WANT ME TO BE.
THE OTHER FOLKS WANT TO ALREADY VOLUNTEER, PARTICIPATE ON THE HOMELESS COMMITTEE.
UM, I'LL DEFINITELY SEND AN EMAIL.
SO, SO EVERYONE WHO, UH, WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND TODAY, ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BOX HERE.
AND THEN I'LL ALSO BE, YOU KNOW, LOOKING FOR ANYONE WHO WOULD WANT TO SERVE AS THE SECRETARY SLASH CHAIR OF THE SENATE.
DO WE HAVE ANY MORE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION AND SPEAK TO US, UH, SOLICITING OUR SUPPORT OR TELLING US WHAT THEY DO? IS THERE ANYTHING SCHEDULED YET THAT WE HAVE NOT HAD SEEN OR HEARD FROM? UH, RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE SCHEDULED FOR THE FEBRUARY MEETING.
AND THAT, THAT'S FOR, UH, THAT'S FOR FEBRUARY, RIGHT? FEBRUARY? CORRECT.
REMEMBER ALSO IN FEBRUARY, WE, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THAT ANNUAL REPORT.
I JUST KNOW IF WE WANT, IF WE WANT SOME OUTSIDERS ON SUBCOMMITTEES, ET CETERA.
UM, AT LEAST FOR ME PERSONALLY, IT WAS HELPFUL TO HEAR WHAT THE OUTSIDE GROUPS THAT ARE ALREADY DOING WITH VETERANS ARE DOING.
UH, AND I WAS THINKING THAT THERE WOULD MORE THEM.
I MEAN, WE CAN GO BACK THROUGH OUR NOTES IF THE PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY SPOKE TO US, UH, AND WE NEED TO INVITE THEM BACK.
I GUESS WE CAN'T, BUT I WAS THINKING MAYBE THERE'D BE OTHER GROUPS OUT THERE THAT WE OUGHT TO HEAR FROM BEFORE WE MAKE OUR ANNUAL REPORT RECOMMENDATION.
FOR, UH, MY TIME ON THIS COMMISSION, I, I'VE HEARD FROM, UH, AT LEAST THREE OF THE MAJOR ONES.
ROBINSON WORKS WITH, UH, CODE ENFORCEMENT, SO THAT, THAT'S HOMELESSNESS.
THEN I, I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, NO, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF THE MAJOR ONES.
BUT ANYWAY, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD SUGGESTION.
WE JUST, UH, LOOK FOR MORE O OF, UH, THE ORGANIZATION.
UM, UH, WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF CITY DEPARTMENTS, UM, THAT ALSO WORK WITH BASIC NEEDS.
UM, HOUSING, UM, WE HAVE OUR, FOR EXAMPLE, OFFICE OF COMMUNITY CARE.
I DUNNO IF YOU'VE EVER WORKED WITH THEM, BUT I THINK THEY COULD BE A REALLY INTERESTING GROUP TO INVITE BECAUSE THEY DO PROVIDE A LOT OF, UH, BASIC, THEY PROVIDE A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR BASIC NEEDS.
UM, AND I THINK THEY COULD POTENTIALLY BELIEVE THAT ENTRY COME FOR, UM, SHARING INFORMATION, UM, MAKING SURE THAT VETERANS ARE GETTING CONNECTED WITH THE SERVICES THAT
THAT, THAT SOUNDS ANOTHER STEP FORWARD.
ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS FROM ANYONE ONLINE? UM, I ALSO HAVE A LIST HERE.
WE HAVE ALSO THE VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DR.
YEAH, I'M LOOKING AT, UM, ALSO M O A.
YOU HAD A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THERE? OH, THERE'S SOMEBODY STANDING UP.
OH, I WAS, UH, I'M ASKING A COUPLE OF THINGS, BUT, UM, WE ALSO, I WANTED TO ALSO POINT OUT, WE HAVE HERE OKAY.
WE WE'RE, WE'RE HAVING A, A, UH, SPEAKER FROM, UH, NORTH TEXAS LEGAL AID,
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UH, COME UP TALK.I'M WITH LEGAL AID NORTHWEST TEXAS, RIGHT HERE, DOWNTOWN 1515 MAINE.
UM, WE HAVE A GRANT THAT WE HAVE BEEN ALLOTTED.
I'VE BEEN BROUGHT ON, ESPECIALLY FOR THIS GRANT BECAUSE MY PRIMARY FOCUS IS VETERANS.
NOW, NOT ONLY BEING IN THE LEGAL FIELD, BUT VETERANS IS MY SPECIALTY.
UM, THE FUNDER IS THE TEXAS ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOUNDATION, AND IT'S CALLED THE LEGAL AID VETERANS THREE SUPPLEMENT.
WHAT THIS, UH, GRANT IS ALLOTTED FOR, BECAUSE I HEAR, WELL, I'LL GIVE A SOFT BACKGROUND.
I WORKED FOR, UM, AN OUTREACH COMPANY, UH, CALLED, UH, ENDEAVORS PREVIOUSLY BEFORE I CAME ON TO LEGAL AID
SO, UM, AND WE SPECIALIZE THERE IN HOMELESSNESS, AT RISK HOMELESS VETERANS, VETERANS WHO, UM, ARE CHRONICALLY HOMELESS.
AND, UM, I CAN'T TELL YOU ALL THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE STILL IN NEED THAT HAVE SERVED THIS COUNTRY.
SO WITH THIS, UM, WITH ME TRANSITIONING AND BEING IN MY DEGREE WHERE, UM, IN THE LEGAL THETA WOULD HAVE IT THAT I WAS IN, WOULD STILL END UP SERVING VETERANS.
SO THIS GRANT IS ALLOTTED FOR THOSE VETERANS WHO ARE FACING HOMELESSNESS.
WHY IS IT A BACKGROUND ISSUE? IS IT EVICTIONS? SO WE ARE HERE TO HELP RECTIFY THOSE PEOPLE UNDER THAT 200% POVERTY LINE, TO HELP THEM GAIN ACCESS TO HOUSING, TO HELP THEM GAIN ACCESS TO EMPLOYMENT, TO HELP THEM HAVE IDENTIFICATION, TO HELP THEM GAIN ACCESS TO THEIR BENEFITS, ISSUES WITH TAXES, UM, DIVORCES, CHILD SUPPORT, ADJUSTMENT, UM, ESTATES, WILLS, UM, SETTING UP TRUST FOR THEIR LOVED ONES, BECAUSE EVEN IF THEY'RE UNDER THAT LINE, THEY HAVE MAY HAVE SERVED AT RETIRED AND, AND STILL ENDING UN UNDER THE POVERTY LINE.
SO THAT IS MY WHOLE GOAL FOR REACHING OUT TO CHRISTINA TO COME AND SPEAK WITH YOU ALL TO COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION, SO THAT WAY WE ALSO CAN SAY, HEY, THERE ARE OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS BECAUSE FUNDING'S GOING OUT, BUT WHERE'S IT GOING? YOU KNOW, AND, AND THIS, UM, I REMEMBER, UH, WHAT THE TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION UMBRELLA THEY HAD, THEY CAME UP WITH A GREAT, UM, IDEA OF HAVING EVERYTHING, ALL THE RESOURCES LISTED FOR VETERANS TO GAIN ACCESS TO.
AND IT ALWAYS SOUNDS GREAT, I THINK, UM, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL EFFORT, BUT I JUST DON'T THINK THAT MOST VETERANS KNOW, OTHER THAN GOING TO THE VA OR CALLING THE GOVERNMENT, I DON'T THINK THERE IS STILL THAT GRAY AREA OF WHERE DO I ACTUALLY FIND HELP.
SO TO ME, A LOT OF TIMES, UNLESS IT'S MENTAL ILLNESS SOMEWHERE IN HEALTH AND LEGAL, DO YOU HAVE YOUR HOMELESS AND ISSUE? THAT'S TO, TO ME, TYPICALLY WHERE IT LIES.
AND SO I DEFINITELY LOVE THE IDEA OF THE SUBCOMMITTEES AND DIFFERENT PARTNERS, BUT MAKING SURE THAT EVERYBODY STAYS LINKED AND CHAINED TOGETHER ON THEIR OUTREACH EFFORTS TO UPLIFT THAT POVERTY LINE, TO UPLIFT THE VETERANS, TO ENSURE THAT, YOU KNOW, UM, THOSE THAT HAVE SERVED ARE NOT BEING OVERLOOKED, UH, JUST FOR SOMETHING MINOR, AS IF, YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE THE PROPER IDENTIFICATION, OR I NEED THIS ADJUSTED FOR BENEFITS, SO I CAN'T AFFORD MY RENT, SO NOW I'M HOMELESS.
SO THAT, THAT WAS MY, UH, THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO COME BEFORE YOU TODAY AND JUST LET YOU KNOW, I WILL BE REPRESENTING, UH, LEGAL AID NORTHWEST TEXAS HERE IN THIS CAPACITY.
AND IF I COULD COME IN, VISIT MORE ON YOUR MEETINGS, I WOULD LOVE THAT.
I, I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU SAID.
UH, WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF PUTTING A HANDOUT TOGETHER THAT WOULD, THAT WHEN FIRST RESPONDERS, UH, WHETHER IT BE POLICE OR, OR FIRE OR AMBULANCE OR, UH, UH, DR.
ROBINSON PUT IN THAT, UH, EVEN CODE ENFORCEMENT, UH, THAT INTERACTS WITH VETERANS ON THE STREET.
THEY SEE 'EM UNDER THE BRIDGE, THEY SEE 'EM WHEREVER.
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THEY COULD PASS THIS OUT TO THEM, AND IT WOULD LIST SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT, UH, DO YOU NEED A JOB? DO YOU NEED JOB TRAINING AT, THIS IS WHERE, CALL THIS NUMBER.YOU NEED A PLACE TO STAY, CALL THIS NUMBER, ET CETERA.
BECAUSE OUR IMPRESSION BASED ON PRIOR SPEAKERS IS A LOT OF THE VETERANS OUT THERE, NO ONE, THE PEOPLE INTERACTING WITH THEM, BUT THERE'S NO SAYING WE CAN GET YOU HELP.
THEY MIGHT GIVE, THEY MIGHT PUT A BANDAGE ON 'EM, THEY MIGHT TRANSPORT 'EM TO THE HOSPITAL OR WHATEVER, BUT, BUT THEY'RE NOT BEING, THEY'RE NOT BEING GIVEN ANY OPPORTUNITY FOR LONG TERM.
NOW IF YOU GO TO THE BRIDGE OR SOMETHING, THEY ACTUALLY HAVE COUNSELORS AND SO ON.
DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT? IS THERE ANY WAY WE CAN IMPROVE THAT? THE FIRST RESPONSE, UM, INITIATIVE IS, IS PHENOMENAL BECAUSE THAT, UM, BETWEEN, UM, ANY TYPE OF ADDICTIONS, BECAUSE ADDICTIONS PAY A, A FACTOR ALONG WITH MENTAL, MENTAL ILLNESS AND RESOURCES.
SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE HEAVY TOPICS THAT WE WOULD SEE.
AND IF OUR FIRST RESPONDER OUTREACHES, EVEN IF IT'S JUST OUR WONDERFUL PUBLIC, UM, THE, THE CITY PEOPLE WHO WALK AND, AND MAKE SURE THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERACTING WITH THESE VETERANS, BUT THEY DON'T KNOW THEIR VETERANS IF THEY DON'T HAVE THEIR, I'M A VETERAN HAT ON.
SO MAKING SURE THAT THEY DO GIVE THAT INITIAL QUESTION, ARE YOU A VETERAN? WHAT CAN WE HELP YOU WITH? YOU KNOW, UM, ACCESS TO TREATMENT I THINK ALSO NEEDS TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE ACKNOWLEDGED IN VARIOUS AREAS.
BUT, BUT A FIRST RESPONSE, INITIAL QUESTIONNAIRE OF, ARE YOU A VETERAN? I THINK GOES A LONG WAY AND IT WILL SAVE, UM, A LOT OF TIME AND RESOURCES.
AND WONDERFUL THAT BEFORE I LEFT THE OFFICE, I HAD, UH, AN ATTORNEY WHO'S, WE HAVE ER ATTORNEYS THAT WILL GO TO THE COURTHOUSE DURING EVICTIONS.
AND SO THAT'S MY NEXT, UM, INITIATIVE TO GO AND BE AT THE COURTHOUSE WHEN THOSE EVICTIONS ARE, THOSE HEARINGS ARE TAKING PLACE TO HELP THOSE VETERANS WHO ARE ON THE VERGE, JUST SOME FORM OF ADVOCACY TO GIVE THEM AT LEAST MORE TIME TO RESOURCES, UM, AT LEAST, UH, JUST THE, FOR THEM TO KNOW THEIR RIGHTS.
UM, THAT IS WHAT OUR FOCUS IS.
AND I WILL DEFINITELY GIVE MY BUSINESS CARD TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
I, I'VE GOT ACTUALLY TWO, UH, THE MAIN ONE IS, UH, I THOUGHT I HEARD YOU SAY THAT YOU HAVE, UH, ATTORNEYS OR, OR STAFF THAT CAN HELP VETERANS, UH, WITH THEIR BENEFITS, YOU KNOW, LIKE APPLYING YES, SIR.
OR, OR, BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S A BACKLOG IN MOST OF THE, THE PA FACILITIES THAT, THAT YOU NORMALLY ONLY HAVE ONE PERSON WORKING WITH HUNDREDS, YOU KNOW, UH, OF CASES, YOU KNOW, SO, YES, EXACTLY.
SO, UM, WE DO HAVE, NOW I WORK FOR A VERY LARGE LAW FIRM, UH, JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT LEGAL AID, NORTHWEST TEXAS.
UH, WE HAVE, UM, 15 OFFICES AND WE COVER ALL 114 COUNTIES.
SO MY FOCUS IS CITY OF DALLAS, BUT WE DO HAVE OTHER OFFICES.
UM, WE HAVE ATTORNEYS WHO FOCUS ON TAX AND BENEFITS AND, UM, THE APPEALS THAT GO ALONG WITH WHEN THEY'RE DENIED THEIR BENEFITS.
UH, WE DO HAVE ATTORNEYS THAT ARE SPECIALIZING IN HELPING THEM AIDING WITH THOSE APPEALS.
WHY ARE THEY BEING DENIED? ARE THEY NOT GOING TO THE PROPER POSITIONS? RIGHT.
WHAT, WHY WOULD THAT PHYSICIAN DENY THEM NOW? IS THERE ADEQUATE PROOF, PROOF OF THEIR CHRONIC ILLNESS FOR THEM NOT TO BE ABLE TO WORK? WHICH OBVIOUSLY IT WOULD BE, RIGHT.
SO, YES, THAT'S WHAT WE ARE HERE FOR.
AND, AND THEN JUST ONE OTHER QUESTION.
DO YOU HAVE AN OFFICE, UH, OR, OR ANYTHING ESTABLISHED LIKE IN PARKLAND IN ONE OF THE COUNTY HOSPITALS WHERE, UH, OR EVEN AT THE VA, I DON'T THINK YOU WOULD HAVE IT AT THE VA, BUT AT LEAST AT PARKLAND,
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CUZ I KNOW PARKLAND CAME TO OUR COMMUNITY AND, UM, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY'S DOING COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS, RIGHT? SO, SO PARKLAND COMES AND THEY'RE TRYING TO ESTABLISH A VETERANS, YOU KNOW, JUST A SMALL OFFICE OR WHATEVER, WHERE YOU CAN JUST DEAL DIRECTLY, YOU KNOW, WITH THOSE ISSUES THAT VETERANS HAVE.AND, AND I, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED IN A PARK, YOU KNOW, OR IN A PARTNERSHIP WITH SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
UM, THAT IS, YOU KNOW, I WAS SO FOCUSED ON THE VA, BUT PARKLAND, BAYLOR, OBVIOUSLY VETERANS ARE NOT JUST GONNA GO, UM, TO THE VA.
SO NO, WE DON'T HAVE STATIONARY CLINICS, BUT THOSE CAN BE SET UP.
UM, THE VETERAN RESOURCE CENTER HAS BEEN OUR ONLY MAIN CLINIC, UM, AND ONE IN THE SOUTH DALLAS REGION, UH, AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER.
BUT THERE HAS NOT BEEN, UM, ADEQUATE REPRESENTATION TO GO TO EVERY FACILITY, BUT IT, IT CAN BE DONE PROBABLY ME,
AND, UM, ALSO WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO BRING ON ANOTHER ATTORNEY FOR THE SALVATION ARMY STRICTLY.
SO A LOT WITH THIS GRANT, UM, RECEIVING THIS GRANT AND KEEPING THE FUNDING UP FOR THIS GRANT, THIS INITIATIVE HAS JUST REALLY STARTED OFF.
SO I'M ABLE TO KINDA COME OUT NOW AND SPEAK WITH EVERYONE.
BUT THAT IS, UM, DEFINITELY EXCELLENT.
AND I WILL SPEAK WITH MY MANAGING ATTORNEY, MS. BOYER.
I LET HER KNOW THAT IF WE CAN GET SOMEONE AS LIKE WHEN WE WERE AT THE COURTHOUSE AS WELL AT THE HOSPITAL.
IT WAS JUST MENTIONED SALVATION ARMY, AND I DON'T KNOW WHY I DON'T THINK THEY TALK WITH US.
I KNOW WHAT I, I KNOW THEY HAVE STORES AND STUFF, BUT I DON'T KNOW ALL WHAT ALL THEY DO FOR VETERANS.
MY POINT IS MAYBE WE SHOULD INVITE THEM AS ONE OF THE FUTURE SPEAKERS.
UH, MA'AM, UH, ONE, THANK YOU FOR APPEARING, UH, TODAY.
APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND YOUR PRESENTATION.
UH, THE SECOND QUESTION IS THIS, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AS TO VETERANS ISSUES.
SO IF WE WERE TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION THAT WOULD BENEFIT YOUR PARTICULAR GROUP, WHAT WOULD THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE OUR RECOMMENDATIONS TO BE? ARE THERE, ARE THERE ACTIONABLE ITEMS? ARE THERE INITIATIVES OR A SPEND? WHAT, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT DO YOU NEED FROM THE CITY OF DALLAS? THANK YOU.
THAT, THANK YOU FOR THE OFFER.
JUST TO RECOGNIZE, BECAUSE LEGAL AID, NORTHWEST TEXAS, AGAIN, WE ARE HERE TO SERVE ALL OF THE NORTH REGION.
RIGHT NOW WITH MY OFFICE, DALLAS, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE LOCAL VETERANS IN THE DALLAS COUNTY SOLELY COME TO US FOR THEIR LEGAL NEEDS.
AND, UM, THAT IS A LOT FOR OUR FIRM TO TAKE OVER.
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU HEARD WITH GRANTS? RESOURCES ARE LIMITED? SO WE, WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE CITY JUST MORE DIRECT WITH OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
IF THERE IS A LEGAL ISSUE, UH, CASE MANAGER, PSYCHOLOGISTS, UM, PHYSICIANS, ANY OTHER PARTNERS WHO, WHO DO THE SUBCOMMITTEES.
IF THERE IS A LEGAL ISSUE INVOLVED WITH THE VETERAN, PLEASE REACH OUT TO US FIRST.
AND THEN WE CAN ALSO REFER TO OUR OTHER, UH, SISTER FIRMS. AND WHAT'S STOPPING Y'ALL NOW? IS IT, IS IT ADVERTISING? IS IT KNOWLEDGE? IS IT, THEY DON'T KNOW? I MEAN, WHERE, WHERE'S THE FAILURE, THE DISCONNECT? I WOULD THINK WHERE THE FAILURE WOULD BE THE, WOULD BE THE MARKETING OR THE KNOWLEDGE THAT WE'RE THERE.
BECAUSE WHEN PEOPLE HEAR LEGAL AID, YOU AUTOMATICALLY THINK RAM BONO, THEY REALLY CAN HELP ME OR THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
BUT AGAIN, THAT'S WHY WE'RE MAKING THIS INITIATIVE.
WE'VE GOT THIS FUNDING FOR VETERANS.
I, I'M HEARING YOU SAY WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM A FEW OTHER SPEAKERS, THAT'S, I WANNA GO BACK TO THAT LIST AGAIN.
I KNOW I KEEP GOING BACK TO IT, PLEASE.
BUT IF, IF THAT LIST SAYS YOU'LL HELP 'EM, UM, APPLY OR, OR REAPPLY OR WHATEVER, SOMEBODY ELSE, ANOTHER, ANOTHER RESOURCE MAY REFER PEOPLE TO YOU.
UH, IF WE CAN FIND A DOCTOR YES.
OR SOMETHING THAT SAYS I WILL TREAT, UM, I KNOW, I KNOW LAST TIME, UH, WE HAD A COUPLE OF SPEAKERS FROM THE, UM,
[00:50:01]
HEROES FOUNDATION.UH, AND THEN THEY'RE KIND OF TURN LOOSE.
WELL, I'M HEARING YOU SAY YOU LIKE TO KNOW WHO ELSE IS OUT THERE, WHAT OTHER SERVICES MAYBE THEY PROVIDE, OR IF SOME, IF I CAME TO YOU OFF THE STREET, YOU MIGHT HELP ME WITH TWO OR THREE THINGS, BUT THEN YOU MIGHT REFER ME TO SOMEONE ELSE THAT COULD HELP WITH ANOTHER ISSUE.
BECAUSE RESOURCES ARE LIMITED.
AND AGAIN, I'M SAYING, I'M HEARING THAT COMMON THEME.
AGAIN, WE ARE NOW, JUST TO MAKE IT CLEAR, WE ARE A CIVIL LAW FIRM.
SO CRIMINAL, YOU KNOW, WE WON'T, WE WON'T TOUCH, BUT CIVIL MATTERS.
SO I HEARD YOU SAY, UM, EVICTIONS WOULD BE ONE LEGAL AREA.
WHAT ARE, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER LEGAL AREAS? UM, EVICTIONS, WILLS, TRUSTS, ANY TYPE OF PROBATE.
UM, CHILD SUPPORT, UH, DIVORCES.
UH, IF SOMEBODY GETS TURNED DOWN FOR, FOR HELP, YOU, YOU'LL APPEAL, HELP THEM APPEAL THAT.
APPEAL FOR BENEFITS FOR THERE? UH, THE BENEFITS THAT'S FOR THE VETERANS.
VETERANS WITH BENEFITS AND ALSO TAXES, UH, AS WELL.
WE WILL AID IN LEGAL, UH, FOR TAXES, CHILD SUPPORT.
SO FROM A, FROM A RUNDOWN, WE HAVE EVICTIONS, WILLS, PROBATE, CHILD SUPPORT, DIVORCE, VETERANS BENEFITS, AND TAXES.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME.
ANYBODY ON ONLINE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I DON'T SEE ANY.
SO, UM, I THINK, UH, ALL WE HAVE LEFT ON THE AGENDA IS JUST ANNOUNCEMENTS.
UH, ANYBODY ONLINE HAVE ANNOUNCEMENTS OR ANYTHING THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SHARE? ANY MEMBERS SHARE? COMMISSIONERS? NO ANNOUNCEMENTS.
UH, I'LL THROW ONE OUT, UH, THROUGH THE FOLKS HERE.
I'VE BEEN PASSING ON A BROCHURE.
I GOT INVITED A COUPLE WEEKS AGO TO GO TO THE VA HOSPITAL.
THEY HAVE A PROGRAM THEY STARTED CALLED MILLION VETERAN PROGRAM.
UM, YOU CAN GO THERE, UH, AND THEY WILL TAKE YOUR BLOOD.
THEY HAVE, YOU FILL OUT A SMALL APPLICATION.
UH, AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS THEY'RE BUILDING A DATABASE TO MATCH WHATEVER AILMENTS OR EXPERIENCES YOU'VE HAD WITH DNA.
AND THEY HOPE TO COME UP WITH MEDICAL CURES.
THEY HOPE TO COME UP TO BE ABLE WITH PREVENTIVE MEANS AND THINGS FOR THE FUTURE.
UH, ANYBODY OUT THERE THAT WOULD BE INTERESTED IN THAT? UH, THE VA HAS A TOLL FREE NUMBER.
IF YOU'RE A VETERAN, YOU CAN CALL AND THEY WILL MAKE AN APPOINTMENT.
IT ONLY TAKES AN HOUR, BUT IT MIGHT BE REALLY HELPFUL TO, TO VETERANS AND NON-VETERANS.
AND THAT'S 8 6 6 4 4 1 6 0 7 5.
AND JUST TELL HIM YOU'RE WANTING TO SIGN UP FOR THE MILLION VETERANS PROGRAM.
UH, I JUST WANNA, UH, GIVE CRUDOS TO, UH, MR. PERCY.
UH, I BELIEVE HIS NAME IS PERCY JACKSON FROM THE, UH, VET CENTER OFF OF, UH, NORTHWEST HIGHWAY.
HE WAS A SPEAKER PRESENTER HERE BACK IN NOVEMBER.
AND, UM, HE PULLED A RABBIT OUTTA HIS HAT AND SHOWED UP TO OUR, OUR, OUR EVENT, UH, VETERANS APPRECIATION EVENT IN NOVEMBER.
AND ALSO MISS, UH, SASADO SHOWED UP, UH, WITH A MOBILE UNIT, A MEDICAL MOBILE UNIT THAT THEY HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, X-RAYS AND JUST ALL KINDS OF, OF, UM, MEDICAL FACILITIES IN THIS MOBILE UNIT.
SO, UH, THAT'S SOMETHING MAYBE WE COULD TAKE A LOT OF THE DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, DISTRICTS COMMISSIONING DISTRICT.
BUT, UH, ANYWAY, UH, I'M VERY, VERY GRATEFUL TO THEIR, UH, THEIR PARTICIPATION IN, UH, WHAT THEY BROUGHT TO, TO OUR EVENT.
AND I HAVE TO GET THEM, UH, SOME LETTER OF APPRECIATION.
SO WITH THAT SAID, IT'S, UH, 1205.
I CALL THIS, UH, MEETING ADJOURNED.