MINUTES

OCTOBER 19, 2017

El Refugio Board Member Meeting

Vice president: Lourdes Saldaa
Secretary: Marilyn Reyes
Treasurer: Leoanna Mieses
Public Relations: Angel Cortes (Absent, Excused)
Pastor Jos Reyes

Members:
Miriam Castillo
Jonathan Feliciano
Arlene Rodriguez

Invitees:

Omar Medina (Pastors Association)

Brian Cummins (Councilman Ward 14)
Gus Hoyas (Comit Hispano)
Eduardo Muoz (Metro Health)
Marianela Fulgencio

Start time: 7:55pm

Pastor Jose Reyes presides and begins by reading the minutes from the last meeting.
Gus Hoyas has completed the task of invitation and information to the community
agencies. He also shared that the IX Center has trucks ready to be sent to Georgia on
Monday or Tuesday and then they will be taken to Puerto Rico. Gus presented to the
IX Center, the idea of sharing the goods that will not be sent to Puerto Rico with the
Comit Hispano and El Refugio Nueva Vida. He also brought forth the need to
organize efforts to better assist the families. They (the Comit Hispano) will be
giving priority to those families whose members have chronic health conditions.

Marianela presented on what the needs have been of those families that have
already arrived, which includes housing, food and winter clothing.

There are two things that prevent the assistance from being monetary. First, people
are coming without funds. One idea is for the center to assist with rent to a private
apartment until they receive housing assistance.

Brian Cummins will further investigate a few things:
a) If those people that are coming, are already on the list or have a Section 8
voucher that can be transferred to Ohio
b) Speak with investors to see which housing properties are available among
those houses they were not able to sell
 c) Develop a volunteer group (a list of volunteer families) that would like to
adopt a family temporarily in their house.
d) The pastor asks: of those buildings that have been remodeled using federal
funds can any be used to house refugee families? Another idea emerged to
google search companies that have apartment subsidizes
e) Speak with Jeffrey Peterson of Cleveland Metropolitan Housing and ask what
the protocol is and how to make it streamlined.
f) Utilize the resource of Master of Social Work interns to help with the efforts
to identify and better determine the needs of the families.

Pastor asks: Does the city or county have the resources available to obtain $10,000
over the next 30 days? We are ready with the phase of orientation and information
but we need immediate financial assistance to be able to pay for private rent for one
or two months for the families.
Brian Cummins informs that there is an organization that exists for
the development of the Metro West, the funds from the Casinos (they
need 45 days to disburse funds) and the Cleveland Tenants
Organization. Brian will check tomorrow who may have these funds.

Gus brought up the need to provide employment to the people who may come. Gus
mentioned the assessment form recently used by the Hispanic Committee.


Eduardo Munoz: presents the need to establish priorities. It is important to connect
with 211. We need to find the registration forms created by other organizations to
see what we would like to include in ours.
Marianela will call 211 tomorrow. She will create a form or
application. We will also exchange ideas for how others create a
needs assessment.

Pastor asks: What would be the assistance that Metro Health (without protocols)
could provide to the migrants that have health problems?
Eduardo explains that the hospital is already prepared to see any
patient, no matter their economic condition. To be able to qualify for
healthcare assistance you must be a resident of Ohio. It would also be
good if there were a letter verifying that you are a refugee.
Lourdes also has information for medical service assistance.

Conclusion of meeting

The next meeting will be next Thursday at the Comit Hispano at 3pm and 7pm.
Brian will bring additional information to the next meeting.