September 2025 Minutes:

Fox Cities Housing Coalition

September 17, 2025

8:30 am  

Zoom

AGENDA  

A.      Call to Order

B.       Introduction:  Jennie Moore, Connie Raether, Mindy Howell, Breanna Mekuly, Mitch Birkey, Lisa Strandberg, Terry Gottfried, Liz Croley, Kim Luke, Cynthia Whitely, Rachel Youngquist, Leah DeShaney, Katie Van Groll, Molly McGregor, Shaundra Wagner, Deb Langacker, Amy Flanders, Jon Pylypyv, Melanie Haen, Tracie La Rue Moen, Todd Wenzel, Donna Eggert, Don Carper, Stacey West, Breanna Rosik, Megan Zimmerman, Phil Johnson, Anna Gerstner, Beth Weiler, Claire Hoslet, Elizabeth Reyes, Nhia Ly, Shauna Grossman, Scott Schnurer, Lu Scheer, Laurie Mcculloch, Adam Hurst, Becky Heldt, Jodell Gagnow, Gina Cornell, Megan Santkuyl, Kim Mehlberg, Oasis Pacheco, Anjelica Zielinski, Susan Garcia Franz, Megan Wanke, Anne Tretinyak

C.       Approval of August 20, 2025 minutes;  Susan Garcia Franz moves, Laurie seconds approval.  Motion carries.    

D.      Treasurer’s Update--Deb Langacker:  No deposits or expenses.  Balance of $11,249.26

E.       Spotlight: Impacts of the “Big Beautiful Bill” on SNAP/FoodShare  and Medicaid--Mitch Birkey:  Added work requirements for Medicaid;  targets a small group of individuals (childless adults).  MA covers about 20% of Wisconsinites.  In Outagamie County this will affect about 2000 people: Takes effect Dec. 31, 2027.  These changes will shift costs to the states.  Reimbursement for providers will also be lowered.  The eligibility period for retroactive coverage for new members goes from three months to two months.  More hoops and barriers will be implemented.    Max amount people can earn is $1300 a month.                                                                                                  Food Share (SNAP):  In Wisconsin about 700,000 people receive SNAP benefits.  DHS has a dashboard;  food share at a glance, which tells you how many people receive SNAP in each county, how many are employed, etc.  Wisconsin has always had work requirements for people 18-54 (work 80 hours a month, be engaged in education or be exempt due to SUDS, pregnant, disabled).  Now work requirements go from age  54-64.  Households with children over 14 are no longer exempt.  Feds don’t give states money to fund employment training programs.  Feds paid out 66% of snap;  now they will pay 25%.  Everyone who receives even 1$ in snap benefits is eligible for Forward Services. 

F.       Coordinated Entry:  Attached.

G.       2026 Action Plans                                                                                                              

a.       DEI Committee Report--Tracie La Rue Moen:  hoping to bring in a speaker to talk about DEI

b.       Affordable Housing Report --Susan Garcia Franz: Christine Giornalista gave a presentation on the Housing Alliance at our last meeting.  Will be presenting to the Outagamie County Human Services board.  Working on the definition and responsibilities of housing champions.

c.        Increase in Employment Income--Jennie Moore:  No update.

d.       Coordination and Engagement – Inclusive Structure & Participation--Liz Croley: No update

H.      Vote By-Law Change--Rachel Youngquist:  Add Delegate, Board member and Supportive Services Only (Co-ordinated Entry Specialist)  positions to the Exec Team.  Delegate—represents their coalition at the BOS level.  Board member—voting member of BOS, represents the BOS views to the Coalition.  Susan moves, Tracie seconds accepting bylaw changes.  Motion carries.

I.         Vote PIT Lead--Rachel Youngquist:  Becky moves, Mindy seconds Co-ordinated Entry Specialist as PIT Lead.  Motion carries.

J.        Update on Elections--Mindy Howell:  Let Mindy know if you want to be on the nominating committee.  President or VP needs to be from Salvation Army, Pillars, City of Appleton or Advocap.   Liz will send out roles and responsibilities of each position.

a.       Nominating Committee                                                                                

                                                         i.      President (need)

                                                       ii.      Vice-President

1.        Susan Garcia Franz will run again

                                                      iii.      Treasurer  (need).  Attend Exec Team meeting once a month, bookkeeping about another hour a month.  More work in January. 

K.       Report to the Community Ad-hoc Committee--Jonathon Pylypiv:  If you are not registered, please do.   Invite your local government folks and elected officials.  Foxcitieshousing.org  has registration info.

L.       State of Homelessness Reminder--Rachel Youngquist:  This will take place after our October meeting:  same zoom link.

M.     Other Business: 

·       AHA Section 8 voucher standards have been raised.  Starting Oct. will use full fair market rent.

·       Salvation Army coats for kids will be coming soon.

·       If you are working with people in transitional living, they are still eligible for McKinney Vento services. 

·       Valley Transit has new ways to ride the bus;  no paper passes, this will now be on an app.  Anyone with a VA medical card can ride free.  

·       AAUW has their 89th annual book sale coming up in October.  At former ALTA in Fox River Mall.  Last day all books are free.

N.      Adjourn

Next Meeting – October 15th- 8:30 AM over zoom