Minutes - 19990603 - Laserfiche WebLink

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drop out of school, be unable to obtain their driver's license, and have very little job marketability. The Limited English Proficiency (LEP) task force worked very hard on their recommendations and presented just the most basic areas for funding. She believes this is important for Hispanic families to succeed. She said that there are families who cannot afford to pay County taxes, but if you ask these families if they are willing to pay $100.00 or more a year to provide aid in English proficiency, they will readily agree. It is expensive to live in Orange County, but Ms. Palmer wants to stay because she believes the possibilities that exist here are important. She emphasized her request that the Board fully fund the school budgets. Trish Hussey, Freedom House Recovery Center Director, stated that her organization has a wonderful new facility that will open in the near future. Freedom House Recovery Center is a non-profit agency that treats people in residence for alcohol and other drug problems. It has existed for almost 30 years, serving as a halfway house for women and a detoxification center. Four (4) years ago, the Center collaborated with the County and the Towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro through Home Funding and Criminal Justice Partnership Funding to build a men's facility. She expressed her thanks for the help received from County staff such as Sharon Siler and John Link, as well as Commissioner Carey, who chaired the Criminal Justice Partnership Board. She has been heartened by the level of community support. The Center has been seeking operational funding to aid the men at the Center in obtaining life skills and education. The funding is being sought as of July 1, 1999, when the new Center will open. The Center made a request in early spring for $15,000 in County funds, but no new agencies or facilities were added to those normally funded for the County. She requested that the Board reconsider the Center's funding request of $15,000.00. Martha Oxenfeldt, member of the Commission For Women, spoke about some of their programs held during this last year, which were done with a lot of volunteer help, but little money. She represents a large contingency from the Commission For Women who are in attendance. She said that the Commission represents all women in Orange County. She reiterated the numerous times the Commission has come before the board to share the progress of its programs, such as the Family Law Series, the Safe Skills Course, various projects with the Department of Social Services, their advocacy projects with the Women's Agenda Assembly, the Volunteer Fair, and the Businesswomen's Roundtable. The Commission has been able to accomplish all these goals with a lot of hard work, but no money. The Commission believes it can better serve the women of Orange County if the Board would increase the Commissions' funding for programs and activities. Additionally, staff support would be helpful so these tasks could be performed in the office, rather than volunteers' homes. The Commission is particularly concerned about a population of the County which is not served, which are citizens living from week to week. As such, if there is an emergency, there is no help available. The working poor do not fit into the profile to receive public aid. Several members of the Commission have committed to establishing a fund and outlining a program called Temporary Crisis Assistance to aid this segment of the County's citizenry. The program would be administered through OCIM and the Interfaith Council, but the Commission will be raising the funds. Lastly, several attorneys on the Commission have raised the issue of women who are abandoned or are faced with a separation or a divorce, but have no funds available for an attorney. Often, they are poorly educated with limited job skills, but there is no assistance currently available for them. The Legal Aid Society is not funded for this type of legal assistance. The Commission would like to research and establish a program to provide legal assistance to these women. She thanked the Board for their time and stressed the Commissions' need for funding for programming and staff support. Jacky Philips stated that the Commission For Women requests funding every year for new initiatives. The volunteer force performs above and beyond expectations. At one time, the Commission was a self- supporting entity, but now works under the Human Relations umbrella, a department that serves two (2) commissions plus ESL. This lack of funding makes it very difficult for those volunteers who care and work for the Commission. She understands that the Board believes the best it can offer is half a director, a small amount of administrative assistance, and a Civil Rights Specialist. They want to make the Commission for Women a model Commission in the state of North Carolina, but this is hampered by a lack of support and funds. There is much to be done, both proven programs and new projects, but the Commission is in desperate need of adequate staff and financial support. Elizabeth Lovas is the newly-elected Vice Chair for the Commission for Women. She is here to request $21,000.00 to fulfill the Commission's goals in our Human Rights and Relations Department. The