 All right. Well, thank you Francine and for Laura for being here. So this will be the, it's the close out meeting for the 2020 grant and then the startup meeting for the 2021 grant. So we are basically for the 2020 grant, we just received your last invoice. So we'll set that down to the accounting department to process that. And so you should receive that in the coming weeks I imagine, but that'll be the last I think that that zeroes out the, the balance on the 2020 grant so that's great. So we'll kind of have a clean slate moving into the into the next grant once that's up and running. I think you had submitted the quarterly reports all throughout for the 2020 grant so we're up to date with those as well. And then, let's see here. Yeah, so I think for the 2020 will consider this the final quarterly report. You know, we will, you know, because I think it ended in June 30th anyways, but we'd log to, you know, you can submit a quarterly report and then we'll consider it the final one. And hopefully, you know, the payment will be processed by the end of the year as well so that way it can just be all done on our end as well. And so just, you know, when I think you do when you write your quarterly reports the beneficiaries is cumulative and then you know we'll just make sure everything matches. You know we put it in our grant system. And I think that's it. So we make sure ask if you've met your beneficiaries or if you found any challenges with the program it seems like you're doing it again and you're the number of beneficiaries has grown or what you're proposing for next year so I'm assuming your meeting or you're seeing an increased need. Yes, definitely. There's not too many comments there. I think the block grant fund block grant funds, you know, it's like, you know, the case worker or the supervisor right and a lot of, you know, mostly programmatic, and it did your, is there a new case worker or a different case worker for the program. No, no. And for 2021. And for 2021 it'll be the same so there's not a change in staff or anything. Yeah, no. I did hire a case worker but that's for our DCF contract she's not doing the housing. Okay, program. She has a, I'm not obviously looking at the budget but she does have some communications. So I can't remember now if in the budget we allocated some of her time to that because she does some community cases but so if you're seeing another case worker. That's what that would be. For the 21 we have looks like there's a family case worker and then a program supervisor. Yeah, right so I think that may be some of genius time and. And then did. I don't have anything else for the 2020 I feel like it's probably just about the you mentioned the quarterly report when. When are they are you saying this meeting is acting as the quarterly report or they're supposed to submit one by you know July 10, but we would consider it the last report for the 2020 grant year. Okay. So I'm confused by that too. Yeah, me too. I submitted the fourth quarterly report to Ben. That's so it would be a fifth quarterly report. That's what I'm confused about funding ended in April. We just got the last invoice is that what it was then. I think so yeah. April to April. Well April so. So the program ended in March by April. Yeah, the last year was from January to March and then the last quarterly report was due April 11. Okay, so then we didn't get the final payment so far on our end, we'll just. We'll submit a quarterly report and just say that it was a administrative close out this quarter so you don't have to submit anything so it's not a programmatic piece. Okay. All right. I think I think going forward for in senior, you basically been doing intakes thinking it's the new grant. Right. Right. But the contract for the new grant. I guess we ended up as 2021. Yeah, so for 2020 we can say that that's done. Yeah, it was done as of April 1 or March 30th or whatever, and we'll do the close out then on our end. And for 2021 I forget when the contract started the date was it. Back to June 1. So essentially we had may, may we have may intakes. Do you want us to that we're thinking we were thinking they'd be part of the new program but should we just not include them or should we include them in the June numbers. Well, so are you're they were they were intaked and took I don't know what the word is but taken in in May but then the are they receiving, you know, services and working with the case worker in June. Some of them. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. If they continue I'd say you can have them as part of the, you know, the new 21 new. Yeah. So if it has an intake data may something it's okay to include them. But if they continue service, you know, it was like a, you know, it came once in May and they resolved an issue. Then they just were either between our two grant years. Yeah, yeah, okay. And then come limits change I think that is going to send an email out soon. Yeah, I was curious I was just looking through on your application which I guess this point was submitted almost a year ago but just looking at some of your goals and objectives and program information are you are you still continuing kind of with the hybrid model with in person and remote. Where is it. No it's now pretty much all in person. Yeah, yeah, exactly. Yeah, we're back in person I'm back in the office. But we still obviously have the capacity so we're still getting clients to test, you know, test positive so we can continue serving them even if they're, you know, if we can't meet them with them. Yeah. Yeah. And are you still going to housing court, or is that, how does that work. So it's still on zoom and basically as clients, if they get a court date then of course they notify us and then they'll come into the office and we'll zoom together, but physically going in person isn't happening right now. Right. And then, did you, you have other town funds for, or any other additional funds for this program I mean we did reduce the budget from the original request. We do not have town funds for this project no. For this project we have. We make up the shortfall with fundraise dollars. We have some money from a foundation and we have, you know, we do a fundraising appeal and event. Hence this event on. So, you know, because at one point there has been discussion of, you know, using our funds for you know something similar but I don't know, you know, where that went. I do we are, we are managing some emergency town funds I'm not sure if that's our money, we're not get we're not getting money for our time we're just, we're just managing it as kind of, I sort of see it as an extension of this work, you know, you know, because we're, that's what we do we're we're always looking for money for, for our clients, you know, to keep them housed and so. You know, when the, when Sean approached us, approached me about managing this, you know, I said well we, I don't need to take money from that for us, we'll just we'll just use, you know, it'll just be another source for the families we work with. And of course will include them, anybody who were not already working with under for housing retention, they will become housing retention clients. So that I'm sure will raise that number, because of that. Yeah, I think those are the funds yeah so that's interesting I don't realize since they're not paying for your personnel I think that's fine to include them as beneficiary so the programs aren't. You know we're not double dipping necessarily. Right. Well that's what I was right no we're not, we're not. We're not getting paid twice we're just. I don't want I you know it was more important to me to have a nice big amount of money for folks to access. Since this is what we do anyways you know we're always looking for money so to be able to have control of a source of money is fabulous. Yeah. That's great. Yes, yeah. Yeah, you know, if you're someone in will, you'll probably run it down into into next year so you run about a 12 month program. Yes. Yep. Yep. You had estimated about 300 beneficiaries do you still see that as the same number. I would say so especially Laura said well as you know we're going to be notice goes out I'm sure we're going to get more people coming and once they know they can come to us to access funds if they're in rental arrears. We're probably going to start seeing a lot more people that we haven't worked with in the past. Right. Yes one thing I think, you know, I, then we did a 12 month contract term right. Yes. So I think sometimes, you know, usually it doesn't happen but sometimes services finish in like eight months, spending the money but we would still ask for a programmatic report for 12 months. So, you know, we're essentially saying this is a 12 month program and you can spend the CDBG dollars, you know, quicker but then we would still want, you know, the quarterly report and beneficiary form for 12 months. There's some programs right they may not get as much blocker money and they spend it in six months and then they think they're done but we're trying to, you know, we have a 12 month window. That's really for the program. So it's just saying the same for us basically it'll be four quarterly reports, right. Yeah, okay. Yeah, it's just interesting sometimes to like oh well I you know I spent my money down and you know six months like well that's great money's been fungible like you, you know, the ideas have a 12 month program. Yeah I see what you're saying if you spend it and then they don't have they're not serving people then they don't have a quarterly report to do. Yeah, but yeah we will, yeah, we don't do that we're always, this is ongoing. Yeah, and so Nate, the first quarterly report that for 2021 would be July 10. Yeah, that would be July. Yeah. So the first right 21 before yeah. So that would be from April. Yeah, April to June. And really just June. The contract starts so like whatever, you know, like we said, whatever beneficiaries you, you know, carried into June. Okay. All right, so, so you can anticipate that the June report will probably be a little on the light side since it's right. Yeah, yeah, exactly. Yeah, I mean, yeah. That's fine. I mean for some it might even be just like a paragraph and you know we had a startup meeting and they're, you know, someone, for instance, it was a new program and they're just starting out, you know, right I won't expect much. Yeah, actually Francine, you usually you don't see people for just a month right I mean mostly most of the time, you're, you're working with folks in one capacity or the other for multiple months right. Yes, yes, especially if it has to do with like housing authority that just isn't, you know, done in a month that goes on for several months. Right. So maybe, maybe that maybe it won't be so light since it'll be May and June, you know, with with with the understanding that we're still working with them in June. Right. And then do you mention the housing authority have you, how's your relationship with them do you see a lot of clients from the housing authority properties or a lot that that's been a really big increase with the housing authority I think because they're going through their own staffing issues, and they're falling behind and then it's falling on tenants like they're not recertifying people from from like last year and then they're going back and telling folks now you owe us all this money from 2021 January 21 to now. And so now I'm getting legal aid involved, so Michael that's not their problem that that you guys were understaffed and you're falling behind why is it the tenants fault that now they owe you all this money. So I have several cases right now that legal aid has been involved in because of that. And what is that for me one of the things that I find just staggering is that they start proceeding to take away people section eights and they immediately go to, you know, hearings instead of like just trying to work out a, you know, a plan I mean it's it. It's their inability to do what they are tasked to do. And then they immediately take this stance that the tenant is at fault and it's, it's, it's, it's aggressive and it's, it's not very collaborative and we've never had a relationship with the Amherst housing authority like we do now. Yeah, it's really, really too bad. That's because, yeah, it's. That is too bad. Yeah, I've heard a little bit of that. Exactly why but does the town have any ability to just say hey this is not okay. I mean do you. I mean, if we, you know, after this meeting after talks to my supervisors and just ask and see if there's anything I mean we also fund them through capital with block grant with capital projects. And so, you know, I know they've had some staff turnover so you know, you know, I want to make sure that they're meeting you know the capital projects requirements for block grant, but typically in terms of their operations, you know, they're independent from the town public right but not on government so we could, you know, we can always have a meeting though just if we hear that, you know, they're, they're tenants, you know voucher holders or you know tenants and their properties are having trouble I mean we used to get near the end when we were doing our emergency, you know funds we I was surprised actually how many right tenants coming from housing authority properties had issues whether they were behind in something and just, I just found it surprising as well. Yeah, and I think that I think that there's just a my understanding of the housing authority is it is to keep people housed. And I understand that there are rules and you need to do this and you need to do that and you need to report if you have an increase in income or you need to report if there's a household change. If a tenant does that, and then the authority doesn't act on that in a reasonable amount of time and then that becomes a tenants. The cause of a tenant being at risk of losing their subsidy or losing their housing and Amherst, because of the authorities actions, and then they're treated so badly I just think there's a fundamental problem, you know, yeah. Because as advocates, we can do what we can do, you know, we can get legal aid involved. I mean, thank goodness Francine is the expert in housing that she is. But I'm sorry, I would guess there are Amherst residents who for whatever reason, don't contact us and and so it's just it's not a good situation. I don't think. Thanks for letting us know yeah I guess I will can talk to our supervisors and maybe have a meeting. Yeah. And then. Yeah, I mean, you know, you run the program. Pretty well so this you know I. I don't like to say we're complacent but it's nice to know that you understand block grant rules and reporting and intake forms and so you know when you do intake you still verify income eligibility right and there's a file you keep. Yes, definitely yeah everybody that that's the first step is doing the housing intake and then having them sign that the form with their income at the end. That's good. Yeah, we have a new program representative from GCD so you know in the last few years are our contact with the block grant program has changed as well so we will be we have an interim one down we'll be getting a new one. And they may ask more questions of us and we may then in turn ask, you know, from our, our activity so you know better I may be reaching out more in the next few months, you know, 3456 months and there's questions just, you know they may have some as well. Make sense. Yeah. Yeah, I mean I you know, you know just they have clarifying questions or something so. So, you know, and we have these meetings just to clarify that we consider our social services and other activities subcontractors, you know that you're, we have a contract agreement you're a grantee. We're not, you know, you're not sub recipients, which would mean that you would then be subject to audit through the block grant. But because we set up the income guidelines and do request for proposals the way we select activities through procurement and then the way we kind of set up the parameters for contract and it's considered a contract agreement as opposed to a sub recipient agreement so our block grant program may ask to verify intake forms or income eligibility. You know, you know, they may ask that your beneficiary forms just be, you know, you could verify that information but they wouldn't ever ask for your financial information or to do an audit, you know they would just ask for things relative to programmatic review. Great. You know we verify so you know, I think it's still Steven who sends it in for family outreach but he does a good job so for the financial piece you know your invoices are fine. You know all the backups there and then if we have questions we email with, you know, the CHD so that's been working out fine. Great. Yeah, Ben, do you have any questions with that I mean I feel like family outreach is good. Yeah, there's some other accountants at CHD for some other programs sometimes a you know, it might take a little bit more back and forth to finalize an invoice but yeah no no no no further questions that I find the invoices at the last one we got was really straightforward and easy to understand and find the make sure it all matched and everything so appreciate that. Steven is very nitpicky. Yeah, can drive me crazy sometimes honestly but you know that's it also means really really clean information, you know, so. Right. Yeah I mean for instance like you know the June 1 to start of the month maybe it's a different in your billing cycle but you know we want to see expenses from June 1 on but last year some of the programs we started in mid April just because that's the way it worked but they would build back to the start of April. Oh yeah, I was right and they're like oh we really am like well we do because that's when our contract start is and then they would say well that's going to be really difficult like I'm sorry but that's you could start at May 1 you don't even know if it's going to be too difficult to split up a month start May 1 but don't. Right. You know we can't really pay for something with a you know a stamp date of before the contract and so Steven's good like that. I don't know if he gets it he definitely gets it. I'm not sure I have. And thank you. In is the next year's application process are you when when you do you know yet I know you there was some question about what was happening with grant cycles for this next for the next one. I think they should you know they put out a draft document last week saying that they're going to combine the 22 grant which usually would have been this year with the 23 grant and so they're kind of skipping a year. So next so you know the 22 and 23 applications will be due March of 23 so we're going to start our process this fall. And you know have proposals do sometime later this year, and then DC is hoping to get funding awards out July of 23. So, you know there's not there might be a little there might be a gap in funding, because you know we're in our 21 cycle but we started at late. You know what's interesting is the AC is combining grant year so you know Amherst is eligible basically to fly for 1.6 million. You know to grant years and they're asking for a 24 month implementation schedule so it may be that for all activities, you know we can still only fund five social services and we would just ask everyone to submit a 24 month budget. Oh wow. Okay, which is a little strange. So that's, that's what they're proposing right now. Some communities are really pushing back. I'm a little, we haven't yet I think the city is not going to change their just, you know, I think they're, I think they're with COVID money and then everything's you know delayed a little bit I think that they are going to combine the 22 and 23. And have it be due next March I think the things they might change would be, you know, because it's a two year cycle could we have more flexibility in terms of number of social services or I don't know you know something. But I don't really think they're going to have a 22 round right now. I think that way. That's so interesting. Okay. Yeah, these are going to say, like what happened last year they were proposed the same thing and then it was around now. They had a lot of pushback and then they said oh we'll do a quick round we'll be doing September. And then you know we quickly put a process together but I actually don't think they're going to do that this year I think they're, they're just going to stick to the 22 and 23 being combined but so. Okay. Yeah, I mean we just they just put out a you go if we can send you it it's a public documents on their website it's like a three page document kind of outlining this and it's, I think it just came out last week. So we haven't know we haven't let anyone know I just, we're figuring out what to do as a town and like I said some other communities are really trying to see if there's a way to change it but. I think for these to these purposes, you know, if applications do in March, I think it works better because they also you know work with other funding programs and then helps, you know, I think what they're hoping to do is then start contracts on July 1 to align with the fiscal, you know the local fiscal year and state fiscal year. So it's just a better cycle for them. Yeah, I mean it's been kind of wonky this you know for us and I, it sounds like for the town to it's like you're crossing fiscal years. Yeah, it's always weird. Yeah, yeah it's going to create a gap for us to, I mean I feel like there's a three to six month gap in expenses for, you know, either, you know, depending on how program how fast programs spend money down but there's going to be, you know, potential and block grant funding so they won't be continuity but then hopefully in the future after whether it would be. Okay. Maybe we'll get back on the regular schedule and wasn't it always do in sort of mid December the proposal. Yeah, I mean it's thinks it's on the holiday season so I think you know Ben we were just talking about it the other day saying maybe we could try to. If we know that, and even this year, like you know they provided information now might try to have the outreach process a little sooner and try to have a little sooner just, you know, just so we're not scrambling around New Year's and. Yeah, yeah. And yeah I mean I feel like my two years of experience it seems ambitious that if the applications are due in March that they would have contracts up and running by July 1, but that's what they're saying as of now but. Yeah, you know, yeah sometimes what they do is they'll get us contracts in like late August or September and then they'll allow us to. How back did it back date it which is really strange because you know, for instance for like services how do we. How do you know how do we actually start something to meet with you in September and say oh what you what you were I've been doing since June. Right, yeah, for that or since July I can count for this grant year like we haven't given you an intake form or if you're not doing that it's just. So usually even in the past they did that once or twice and I would just start it you know like September one or October one because it was just easier than. Trying to go back. Right. You know, our auditors have questioned how the state can do that. Right, the towns. You know, we, you know, our third party auditors have. They don't really like that. Alrighty, well, are there any more questions from either of you. Not me. Well, good luck with your fundraising efforts scrambling around town. This is actually a very nice break. Yeah. Thanks for joining us. It's nice over zoom actually, you know, you're close but zoom can be convenient. Yeah, yes, very convenient. No driving time has to be scheduled in for meetings. Although I have to say I went I met with Sean and Leah from the town fiscal around, you know, the, the emergency fund money and we sat in a room together. It was a meeting room. I mean the three of us actually met each other in person and sat in the same room it was, it was shocking but quite fabulous. I had an in person meeting for a pre construction meeting and there was probably dozen or 15 people in the meeting room was the biggest in person meeting I've been in for, you know, two years. Yeah. You know, we also try to sit spread out in the big town room but it was kind of funny to have. The contractor is easier just to everyone just to be there but you know sometimes zoom is nice for those meetings I also had him over zoom and it's like you can show the plans on the screen. And it's like everyone can see it clearly and then you can, you know, easily but very true, very true. Well I love the fact that the hearings are all on zoom because I live an hour away and it's in the evening so being able to still make dinner and then run upstairs and do the zoom is really it's really fabulous, really fabulous. I agree where it may change in July, the provisions for remote meetings is said to expire a month from now and some change at the state level left to go back to being in person so we're, we're waiting to see what happens. That'd be sad. Yeah, yeah, I guess I just found there's a bill they attached on to the budget. That the Senate passed I guess there's a house passed on one budget and then the Senate tacked on this bill allowing remote meetings you know they throw things on the. But so now they have to go back and you know there's probably a number of different things on I think there's some housing ones as well and so now it has to go back through and be approved by both again and so. If they pass that then what depending on what they accept one of the provisions is for remote meetings to continue through December of 2023 2023. Awesome. Awesome. Cool. I like them to be honest it's like work life balance. Yeah, I know, and for like other meetings I've been like I'm on a board coastal board and the attendance has increased like for our monthly membership meetings because of their on zoom so yeah. That's not necessarily a good thing at the hearings though it just means that they I mean I can't imagine the employees you guys who you know you've already worked. I wouldn't I'm assuming you basically work that day, and then the those meetings are interminable. I mean, they're really I feel for you guys. Poor council every council meeting now is like five hours. Oh, she's nuts. This. Well thanks again yeah so I'm glad you're we're starting up and we'll, we'll let everyone know about the next grant cycle Ben I think so send an email but once it's burned we'll let everyone know a little, you know, I think we're trying to start something in August for, you know, public process. Okay. You know, let me just suggest I mean the one thing about doing something in August is so many people are away. I know. Yeah. I agree it's just we'd like to. I mean, Ben was we were saying yesterday would be great if proposed to be do in like November. And then, as opposed to like December 17 or something so if they're due at some point November. It just gives everyone a little bit more time. The state's now asking us to, to essentially have activities somewhat determined in December, you know, December, even though it's the applications I do until March. Oh, for goodness sake. Yeah. Well, that's that would be that's my only thing about August is so often I'm trying to juggle, you know, the meeting, but you know, I mean Francine always could attend to it. I'm gone to an August. Yeah. Might I suggest. Alrighty. Well, thank you guys. Thank you both very much. Alrighty, sounds good. I have a good rest of the day. Thank you.