Community Outreach Partnership Center (COPC)

Working Group on Housing Meeting

Tuesday, March 12, 2002, 12:00-1:30

2304 Cathedral of Learning

University of Pittsburgh

MINUTES

In Attendance: Stephanie Schoenberg, John Wilds, COPC; Steve Paikin, Fair Housing Partnership; Andrew Aurand, David Blenk and Kelly Hoffman, OPDC

I. Introductions, Announcements, and Minutes

The Mon Valley Providers Council (MVPC) is hosting a “Home Sweet Home” Housing Conference on Friday, May 17, 2002 from 9:00 am to 4:15 pm at CCAC, South Campus in West Mifflin. Cost is $15 for MVPC members and $35 for non-members. For more information call the MVPC at (412) 829-7112.

II. Housing Focus Groups

Kelly distributed summaries from the international focus group. For a copy of the summary, contact Kelly Hoffman at kellyhoffman@hotmail.com.

Critical issues that came out of the focus group included the need for an increased access to information about how to find housing, temporary housing, litter, lack of quality housing and discrimination issues.

The next focus group is scheduled for April 3, 2002 to learn about problems facing homeowners on Halket Street.

Steve and John recommended compiling a final report of all the focus groups and sending copies to Carnegie Mellon University, the City of Pittsburgh, Heinz Endowments and the University of Pittsburgh. David confirmed that OPDC is planning on writing a final report and sending it on to the aforementioned groups, as well as Pittsburgh Partnership for Neighborhood Development

III. Homebuyer Workshop

Today, Dollar Bank and OPDC will present a Homebuyer Workshop in one of their rehabbed homes at 3508 Frazier Street at 6:30 pm. OPDC will discuss its programs and the URA’s programs, a homeowner will give testimony about buying from OPDC, Dollar Bank will discuss mortgages and provide free credit reports. The next Homebuyer Workshop will take place in Uptown. More information will be provided as details develop.

IV. COPC/HRC Satellite Office

The COPC/HRC Satellite Office now has a computer! Within the next couple of weeks, someone from Pitt will connect the computer to the Internet. When the computer is online, Stephanie will staff the office.

John discussed the importance of making residents known that the HRC is open for business.

V. COPC Web Site

The COPC Partners Directory has been updated. Please review your contact information to ensure that it is accurate. Use the directory to contact a COPC partner: http://www.pitt.edu/~copc/directory.html.

Meeting minutes and upcoming meeting dates are also posted on the web site. To access this information visit: http://www.pitt.edu/~copc/meetings.html.

If you have any information that you think should be added to the web site, please let Stephanie know.

VI. COPC National Conference

Scholarships to attend the COPC National Conference (April 25 through 27) are available to all COPC partners. If you are interested in attending, contact Stephanie Schoenberg or Tami Hirth.

On Thursday, April 25^th, the COPC National Conference will be touring communities and organizations with which Duquesne’s and Pitt’s COPC has partnered. The tours will begin at 2:30 and end with a reception in the Lower Lounge and Ballroom of the William Pitt Union at 5:00. We are asking our partners to participate as “stops” on the tours to describe their program and their relationship with Pitt’s COPC. All partners are welcome to join us at the reception.

VII. Other Business

Fair Housing Partnership (FHP) is forming an Immigration Advisory Panel to assist FHP in identifying what areas within the region need to be tested for fair housing practices.

FHP is also seeking international investigators, particularly people who do not speak English as their primary language, to conduct testing for fair housing practices. If you, or anyone you know, is interested in participating contact the Investigation Coordinator at (412) 391-2535 or fhp2@stargate.net.