Human Trafficking

Board Outcomes - August 6, 2019

Overview

The Board met by conference call on August 6, 2019. It discussed several ongoing issues and produced one conclusion related to serving people fleeing human trafficking.

Attendance

Voting attendance [listed as Name, Organization (Role, if Any)]

  • Winona Connor, Louisiana Housing Corporation (Louisiana Housing Corporation) (Chair)

  • Laura Hasenstein, Louisiana Department of Health (Louisiana Department of Health)

  • Eric Gammons, Capital Area Alliance for the Homeless (HMIS Lead)

  • Antiqua Hunter, Louisiana Department of Education (Louisiana Department of Education)

  • Addie Duval, Start Corporation (Baton Rouge Region)

  • Brooke Guidry, Start Corporation (Houma Region)

  • Tarek Polite, Calcasieu Parish Police Jury (Lake Charles Region)

  • Mitzi Harris, Project Celebration (Natchitoches/Sabine Region)

  • Gail Gowland, St. Bernard Battered Women’s Program (Plaquemines/St. Bernard Region)

Non-voting attendance

  • Gordon Levine, Louisiana Housing Corporation (Continuum of Care Manager)

  • Terry Hale, Louisiana Housing Corporation (Board Secretary)

Outcomes

People fleeing human trafficking

The Board voted unanimously to approve a revision to the Coordinated Entry (CES) Policies and Procedures stating that people fleeing human trafficking would not need to receive the Intervention Component of CES or wait 30 days before receiving the Assessment Component of CES (i.e. the VI-SPDAT) and being added to the Prioritization List.

Next meeting

The Board’s next meeting will be held by conference call on October 1, 2019.

Specialized Housing and Services for Victims of Human Trafficking NOFA

Overview

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), has released a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for a new demonstration program: Specialized Housing and Services for Victims of Human Trafficking.

This NOFA is intended to fund housing and supportive services for victims of human trafficking. It strongly emphasizes rapid re-housing but also provides funding for crisis housing, host homes, and a suite of supportive services.

This NOFA also requires significant collaboration between applicants and their CoC.

For more information, including the NOFA itself, please see: https://www.hudexchange.info/news/specialized-housing-and-services-for-victims-of-human-trafficking-nofa-fr-6300-n-45/

LA BOSCOC Applications

The Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC) does not intend to apply for these funds. However, LHC is eager to partner with organizations that do intend to apply.

If your organization is interested in applying for these funds, please contact Gordon Levine, Continuum of Care Manager, at glevine@lhc.la.gov to discuss collaborating with the CoC on this NOFA.

The Louisiana Balance of State Continuum of Care is dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness in Louisiana. We believe all people are entitled to safe, stable, and secure housing. We are committed to working with stakeholders across our geography, in different professional circles, and from every background to create a Louisiana in which no person lives in fear of homelessness.