Thursday, 27 January
Well, I finally wised up and started writing down my tasks as I go through my day, making it MUCH easier to create a journal log at the end of the day, when I'm trying to unwind from the day's activities (read: trying to forget). So now I give you an ACCURATE depiction of my day:
First thing this morning I went to an information session on the Educational Rights Project, an endeavor pursued and presented by our Education Advocate (EA). The gist of the session was that homeless children have rights as protected by the McKinney-Vento Act, a federal law that guarantees the rights and protection (against discrimination) of homeless youth. The idea is that because the effects of homelessness on children are proven to detract from their ability to learn and perform well in school, this law makes it possible to keep the children in their home school (or school of choice) and provide transportation for them (two of the biggest factors contributing to increased school mobility). The EA is planning to hold training/awareness sessions for school guidance counselors and administrators to provide them with this information in an attempt to prevent violations of the McKinney-Vento Act (M-VA). I was excited to learn about this because it provides stability for children in an otherwise unstable environment.
During the session, I was pulled into the hall (I thought maybe I was in trouble :) and asked to retrieve documentation supporting our Tiger Foundation Grant Request- they called and the CEO was on the phone with them requesting the information. So, in a vague state of panic, I rode the elevator back up to the 14th floor (from the 11th) and pulled our file on the Tiger Fnd and went straight in the CEO's office. I tried to offer her a letter while he was on the phone, but he waived me off. After standing there listening to his conversation for a few minutes, I wasn't sure my presence was necessary, and started to leave. He motioned me to stay, so I sat down and listened in on the rest of it. Afterwards, he was very positive about the conversation and thought it was quite likely we would be getting the $100,000.00 grant. This is of particular interest to me because I worked on this grant before I started my internship here, back when I was a temp. A feeling of accomplishment began to swell within me and anticipation has ensued.
Afterwards, I returned to the tail end of the session on ERP. When it ended, I read over the entire packet she (our EA) provided us. She and I have discussed me assisting her with data collection and analysis, a project she's looking to expand once the FRC moves into East New York (Brooklyn).
I proofread for errors and content the "final" Clark Fnd LOI.
Most importantly, I had a conversation with the CEO about our Adovate. I was concerned about an email I received from her yesterday regarding the HSP clients and our revised "battle plan." Here is the email in it's entirety:
Erin and all -
I am going to ask that Erin run with the HSP project over the next week. If you can all can continue to ask the housing related questions to your clients as you reach them, and report your findings to Erin.
Erin - if you can start compiling anecdotal pieces on each HSP client that is in a substandard living situation, and potentially join the case manager on a home visit to look at the property - that would be great.
I would like to aim for information on 4 HSP families with substandard or unsafe living situation by next Wednesday. I would like to have information on the following as well:
1. What shelter did they come from
2. Were they forced to take the housing unit wit out even seeing it
3. Did they find the unit of did DHS find the unit for them
4. Was there an inspection process
5. Does the unit meet their level of need if there is a physical disability or special need
6. The more thorough assessment of the apartment and building conditions - peeling paint, no hot water, etc.
So if you all could work together on this it would be great. We really need some ammunition!
("And all" refers to the CEO and the case workers who are developing relationships with the HSP clients, a service we provide called "Aftercare" for formerly homeless individuals/families who have recently moved into housing)
It was the part in bold that I found most concerning. Why is the City of NY our enemy? How does the CEO deal with an employee who wants to wage bureaucratic war on the City? What is the appropriate response? How can I respond? It's a delicate situation for me to be asking these questions; on the one hand, I am a student, here to learn about, among other things, how a non-profit organisation works; on the other hand, I am a live "employee," interacting with these individuals, building relationships and trying to do a job. Some information the CEO CAN'T give me because it should be kept between just him and her, and if I was a regular employee, I would NOT have access to how he would be reprimanding/reigning her (in). More than anything, I was just curious and hold no bias either way. I understand the Advocate's position: she's been here longer and seen more things, she has more reason to hold no faith in the City to protect the homeless. It's partly her enthusiasm and passion that make her a good Advocate. I imagine it's tricky finding a way to put the brakes on without squashing her energy or discouraging her, as her CEO. He and I talked; I told him where I was coming from and what my concerns were and asked him how he will/would handle the situation. He told me, without giving much detail, that he was meeting with her on Monday to reign her in. I felt better.
I worked 8 hours today.
First thing this morning I went to an information session on the Educational Rights Project, an endeavor pursued and presented by our Education Advocate (EA). The gist of the session was that homeless children have rights as protected by the McKinney-Vento Act, a federal law that guarantees the rights and protection (against discrimination) of homeless youth. The idea is that because the effects of homelessness on children are proven to detract from their ability to learn and perform well in school, this law makes it possible to keep the children in their home school (or school of choice) and provide transportation for them (two of the biggest factors contributing to increased school mobility). The EA is planning to hold training/awareness sessions for school guidance counselors and administrators to provide them with this information in an attempt to prevent violations of the McKinney-Vento Act (M-VA). I was excited to learn about this because it provides stability for children in an otherwise unstable environment.
During the session, I was pulled into the hall (I thought maybe I was in trouble :) and asked to retrieve documentation supporting our Tiger Foundation Grant Request- they called and the CEO was on the phone with them requesting the information. So, in a vague state of panic, I rode the elevator back up to the 14th floor (from the 11th) and pulled our file on the Tiger Fnd and went straight in the CEO's office. I tried to offer her a letter while he was on the phone, but he waived me off. After standing there listening to his conversation for a few minutes, I wasn't sure my presence was necessary, and started to leave. He motioned me to stay, so I sat down and listened in on the rest of it. Afterwards, he was very positive about the conversation and thought it was quite likely we would be getting the $100,000.00 grant. This is of particular interest to me because I worked on this grant before I started my internship here, back when I was a temp. A feeling of accomplishment began to swell within me and anticipation has ensued.
Afterwards, I returned to the tail end of the session on ERP. When it ended, I read over the entire packet she (our EA) provided us. She and I have discussed me assisting her with data collection and analysis, a project she's looking to expand once the FRC moves into East New York (Brooklyn).
I proofread for errors and content the "final" Clark Fnd LOI.
Most importantly, I had a conversation with the CEO about our Adovate. I was concerned about an email I received from her yesterday regarding the HSP clients and our revised "battle plan." Here is the email in it's entirety:
Erin and all -
I am going to ask that Erin run with the HSP project over the next week. If you can all can continue to ask the housing related questions to your clients as you reach them, and report your findings to Erin.
Erin - if you can start compiling anecdotal pieces on each HSP client that is in a substandard living situation, and potentially join the case manager on a home visit to look at the property - that would be great.
I would like to aim for information on 4 HSP families with substandard or unsafe living situation by next Wednesday. I would like to have information on the following as well:
1. What shelter did they come from
2. Were they forced to take the housing unit wit out even seeing it
3. Did they find the unit of did DHS find the unit for them
4. Was there an inspection process
5. Does the unit meet their level of need if there is a physical disability or special need
6. The more thorough assessment of the apartment and building conditions - peeling paint, no hot water, etc.
So if you all could work together on this it would be great. We really need some ammunition!
("And all" refers to the CEO and the case workers who are developing relationships with the HSP clients, a service we provide called "Aftercare" for formerly homeless individuals/families who have recently moved into housing)
It was the part in bold that I found most concerning. Why is the City of NY our enemy? How does the CEO deal with an employee who wants to wage bureaucratic war on the City? What is the appropriate response? How can I respond? It's a delicate situation for me to be asking these questions; on the one hand, I am a student, here to learn about, among other things, how a non-profit organisation works; on the other hand, I am a live "employee," interacting with these individuals, building relationships and trying to do a job. Some information the CEO CAN'T give me because it should be kept between just him and her, and if I was a regular employee, I would NOT have access to how he would be reprimanding/reigning her (in). More than anything, I was just curious and hold no bias either way. I understand the Advocate's position: she's been here longer and seen more things, she has more reason to hold no faith in the City to protect the homeless. It's partly her enthusiasm and passion that make her a good Advocate. I imagine it's tricky finding a way to put the brakes on without squashing her energy or discouraging her, as her CEO. He and I talked; I told him where I was coming from and what my concerns were and asked him how he will/would handle the situation. He told me, without giving much detail, that he was meeting with her on Monday to reign her in. I felt better.
I worked 8 hours today.
posted by Ruth at 8:40 PM
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