Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
Commissioner Brown asked about the contents of the report and Anita Daniels described what the <br />report would include. <br />Commissioner Brown believes it is time to do a needs assessment for Orange County to get <br />a full picture of what is happening in Orange County, and how it all fits in to serve our citizens. However, <br />she is not sure this request will do that. She would like to review the Wake County report to understand <br />what concrete results this report will give us. She does not understand what the County Commissioners are <br />being asked to fund and would like to wait to see the Wake County report first. <br />Commissioner Jacobs asked if we have coordinated this with the DSS Director and the <br />Health Director. Anita Daniels responded that the DSS Director has been involved, but not the Health <br />Director. She further stated that someone from HSAC could participate in this effort. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that he would like to see a description of the end product first <br />before allocating money toward this project. <br />Chair Gordon said that the DSS Board and the Health Board all have priorities. She believes <br />this is a good idea conceptually, but wonders exactly what results will be produced. Further, she stated <br />that the $76,000.00 seems expensive. Additionally, all the volunteer boards and commissions could <br />delineate their priorities if requested. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Brown, seconded by Commissioner Jacobs to table this item for <br />further information. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />e. Urgent Repair Program Funding Alternatives <br />The Board considered short- and long-term funding alternatives for the Orange County <br />urgent repair program. <br />The Urgent Repair Program of Orange County (URP) was established in the fall of 1997 by <br />several organizations including Orange Community Housing Corporation, Habitat for Humanity, Orange <br />County HOME Consortium, and the Orange County Department on Aging. The Orange HOME Consortium <br />contributed approximately $58,000.00 to the program, and the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency <br />(NCHFA) has contributed $128,100.00. The Triangle Community Foundation contributed $9,600.00, for <br />program set-up and administration costs. <br />The purpose of the program is to make urgent repairs and accessibility modifications to the <br />homes of low-income people with special needs so that they can remain in their homes. Applicants are <br />referred to the program by a variety of government, non-profit, and social service agencies. To qualify, <br />applicants must meet the following criteria: <br />• Own and occupy a home in Orange County; <br />• Have total household income equal to or less than 50 percent of area median income (AMI), or $29,750.00 <br />for a family of four in 1999 (with priority given to households with incomes below 30 percent of AMI); <br />• Have special needs, including the elderly, disabled, single parents, and/or large families (5 or more <br />people); and <br />• The house must have repair needs that pose a threat to the life, safety, or health of the occupants, or need <br />accessibility modifications for a disabled occupant. <br />Examples of eligible repairs include: <br />• Furnace repair/replacement; <br />• Roof repair/replacement; <br />• Electrical system repair/upgrade; <br />• Plumbing repair; <br />• Septic system repair/replacement; <br />• Hot water heater replacement; <br />• Structural system repair; <br />• Wheelchair ramp construction, grab bar installation, doorway widening and other accessibility <br />modifications.