Agenda - 05-03-2011 - 5f - Laserfiche WebLink

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poverty often have a tendency to overwhelm even the most capable and determined people, creating a phenomenon of cyclical, generational poverty, The high costs of homeownership in grange County and the lack of safe, affordable rental housing continue to be major challenges for low-income families, Rental households face serious challenges with high cost, inadequate supply, and competition with university students far limited housing stock, Access to transportation or to communities that are practically walkable also presents a difficulty, particularly outside Chapel Hill and Carrboro, Orange County and the Town of Chapel Hill have targeted significant CDBG and ,; ... HOME resources within core low-income areas to execute their an~'i-poverty strategy. These resources will act as catalysts to invite additian~l` public and private investment of capital and services; increase the quantity and quality of affordable housing; and help low to moderate-income residents., ac~u~re needed information, knowledge and skills to improve their employment op~~rtunities', ::. Under North Carolina's Work First initiative, Dra~ge County has dev~ioped a local ,, plan to assist those most in need and farms the. basis for.:. its anti-poverty.:: activities. Orange County's current Work First populatio,r~ ~,rec~pients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, TANF] faces major obst~~le in obtaining and retaining employment because they are competing for fobs vuth a highly skilled workforce, Unskilled and semi-skilled workers ~rithout a hi-gh ~~chool diploma or a recent connection to the workforce are una~e tQ obtain jobs that provide a living wage, Barriers such as substance abuse, c>t~~miria~l r~~ords and chronic physical and mental health problems have no quick fix, ~~ey are reo~ved as a result of participant commitment, adequate resources anc -QVer ~me~, ~ Under the Work First initiative, Drange County will provide the following: • First Stop-prov~id~s a can~nuum of :services including job search and job preparedness . • Childcare-provides daycare subsidy .payments and assisting with After-School Programs ~.~ • Transportation provides expended transportation routes, vehicle donations and financial assistance tb address transportation needs • Substance Abuse services-provides initial screening, assessment, and residential and ou~pa~~ent treatment services • Family Violer~c~: Option-provides full assessment of domestic violence, counseling ar-d''support group sessions, and coordination of services such as emergency housing, transportation and legal services • Child Welfare Services-provides collaboration of services to ensure the safety and well-being of children • Emergency Assistance-provides housing, food and utility assistance The Anti-Poverty Strategy is the unifying thread that ties the housing, homeless, public housing and non-housing community development strategies together as one comprehensive plan for reducing the number of families that fall below the poverty FY ~,4~.-~Q~Z Action Plan 53