Odessa Links Inc.

“Committees report results of meetings at the full board meeting which is documented with formal written minutes.”

“As close to the filing date as possible, the executive committee reviews the 990 with the executive director and forwards it to the full board for approval. A copy of the form 990 is provided to the full board before it is filed.”

“Board members complete a potential conflict of interest form annually. The forms are reviewed by the executive committee and the executive director and any potential conflicts of interest are handled on a case by case basis. The forms are maintained in the organization's office for reference.”

“The executive committee reviews salary survey data compiled by the local nonprofit management center on an annual basis. The committee uses this information during the annual review and evaluation of the executive director when determining compensation.”

“Governing documents, policies and financial statements are made available to the public on a request by request basis.”

“Odessa links exists to build a network of community assistance for families and individuals whom are seeking assistance. The goal of links is to make information regarding health, human services, education, recreation and the arts available through a website, printed data, telephone access, and walk-in service. Our referral plus program assists local community members who are seeking information, find the appropriate agency to meet their needs. Links staff, through their knowledge of available community resources, provides clients with the information/referral services and follow up care to ensure clients needs are met. Links participates in the texas homeless network's balance of state; a collaboration of over 200 counties with representative from nonprofits, government officials, and service agencies to eliminate homelessness. The partnership with the texas homeless network gives our agency the technological tools through their clienttrack/hmis (homeless management information system), to electronically store client case records. This promotes a more efficient method of reporting, organizing, and quantifying client assistance to effectively measure program outcomes and to reduce the duplication of services in our community.with odessa links being the "nerve-center" for agencies and a participating hmis- homeless management information system user, we also serve as the lead agency for the odessa homeless coalition. The odessa homeless coalition is a collaboration of many different organizations with a strong commitment to utilize their resources in order to provide for homeless persons in odessa. The primary goal of the coalition is to assist in the transition of homeless individuals and families to permanent housing along with providing them the necessary resources to become self-sufficient.the need for long term homeless assistance motivated the odessa homeless coalition and odessa links to find a model program that helped homeless families increase their knowledge, income, and assets to move forward in becoming self-sufficient and achieving personal success. In january 2012, project hope(homeless opportunities for personal excellence) was introduced to address a need that has existed in odessa for over 10 years (listed as a high priority in the city of odessa's 2010-2014 consolidated plan, pg. 142). Project hope is a transitional self-sufficiency program that provides long term supportive services and leasing assistance to homeless families and individuals wanting to achieve residential stability. This project is a collaborative effort with local agencies to provide an effective continuum of care in odessa to address homelessness in our community. Project hope gives homeless participants the necessary resources to help them increase their education, income, and assets to pursue personal excellence for up to 24 months.”