[Adopted 5-5-1992 (§§ 2-120 to 2-122 of
the 1988 Code)]
A.
Under the authority of legislation enacted by the
commonwealth, Chapter 382 of the Acts of 1991, there is hereby created
a Hunger/Homeless Commission for the City of Lowell.
B.
The Hunger/Homeless Commission will direct a comprehensive
local response to the needs of the homeless and hungry. This Commission
will act as a City-wide clearing house for information to assist local
agencies, groups and individuals in securing appropriate services.
In accordance with the Hunger/Homeless Task Force, the following guiding
principles are hereby set forth:
(1)
To promote services and other activities that are
preventative rather than reactive.
(2)
To promote services and other activities that are
coordinated rather than fragmented and that result in improved accessibility.
(3)
To encourage innovative responses to the needs of
the hungry and homeless.
(4)
To generate activities that improve opportunities
for all individuals impacted by homelessness and hunger.
(5)
To promote services and other activities that are
comprehensive and oriented to the needs of the homeless and hungry.
A.
The Hunger/Homeless Commission shall be comprised
of the following offices, disciplines and interests: the City Manager
or designee, shelters, food pantries, religious, health care, subsidized
housing, University of Massachusetts, education, minority community,
business community, mental health, and housing development.
B.
The following shall be ex officio members of the Commission:
the Mayor or designee, a member of the City Council or designee, and
a member of the School Committee or designee.
C.
All members shall be initially appointed for a term
of two years. If any appointed member fails to attend 1/2 of the scheduled
meetings during a calendar year, the City Manager shall take appropriate
action to appoint a replacement.
D.
Vacancies on the Commission shall be filled no later
than 60 days after a vacancy occurs. If a vacancy occurs prior to
the expiration of a member's term, an appointment shall be made for
the remainder of that term.
E.
All Commission members shall believe in and support
the special interests of the hungry and homeless and must have a willingness
to work on behalf of the entire City of Lowell in this endeavor. Every
effort shall be made to appoint Commission members who reside in the
City of Lowell; however, nonresidents must be affiliated with a City
of Lowell agency.
The powers and duties of the Hunger/Homeless
Commission shall include the following. The Commission shall:
A.
Review and make recommendations regarding the City
of Lowell's allocation of resources affecting the hungry and homeless.
B.
Act as a catalyst in mobilizing and coordinating other
efforts within the City aimed at responding to the needs of the hungry
and homeless.
C.
Act as an advocate with regard to state and federal
policies which impact on the City's hungry and homeless.
D.
Mobilize and coordinate resources available to the
Hunger/Homeless Commission members and organizations they may represent,
to develop joint projects to respond to the needs of the hungry and
homeless.
E.
Enlist the cooperation of various racial, religious
and ethnic groups, civic and community organizations, labor organizations,
fraternal and benevolent organizations, and other groups and organizations
to further support the shelters, food pantries and other human service
providers.
F.
Raise and direct funds to support the projects and
priorities of the Hunger/Homeless Commission and accept money, gifts
and services for these purposes.
G.
Encourage input for the creation of specific opportunities
for the hungry and homeless to provide their perspectives on their
lives and community issues.
H.
Conduct an annual census to assist the Hunger/Homeless
Commission in monitoring the overall situation in the City of Lowell.
