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matching funds to artists and arts organizations for projects and events taking place in Orange <br />County between January 1 and December 31, 2000. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis called the names of the recipients of the awards and Chair <br />Carey handed out the awards. <br />7. PUBLIC HEARINGS <br />a. Orange County Consolidated Hausing Plan <br />The Board held a public hearing on housing and non-housing needs to be included in <br />the FY 2000-2005 consolidated housing plan for housing and community development programs <br />and proposed uses of FY 2000 HOME funds. <br />Housing and Community Development Director Tara Fikes said that the consolidated <br />plan far housing and community development programs is a document that is required by the U. S. <br />Department of Housing and Urban Development. This document details the housing needs of very <br />low-income and moderate-income families and special population groups. Orange County <br />developed its first consolidated plan in 1995. She said that HUD requires that this document be <br />prepared far all jurisdictions that receive community development black grant entitlement funding <br />and home investment partnership program funds. She explained the three major components of <br />the consolidated plan: 1) housing of the homeless community and economic development needs <br />in the County; 2) housing market analysis; and 3) long-term strategy component. This plan will <br />also detail haw HOME and CDBG funds will be spent. The plan is due to the HUD office by May <br />15, 2000. She outlined the schedule far the consolidated housing plan, which is in the agenda <br />abstract. During the next fiscal year, it is anticipated that $434,000 in Community Development <br />Block Grant funds and $438,000 in HOME funds will be allocated. She mentioned the projects that <br />were approved for HOME funding in 1999. <br />Commissioner Brown made reference to the submission requirements and asked who <br />wrote the requirements and Tara Fikes said that these came from HUD. <br />PUBLIC COMMENTS <br />Pat Connelly spoke an behalf of Orange-Person-Chatham Mental Health and said that OPC <br />Mental Health has received $180,000 from Orange County over the last five years. She spoke in <br />support of the people with disabilities and asked for $180,000 in HOME funds. <br />Commissioner Brown asked for information about the application process for HOME funds <br />and how priorities are set. <br />Tara Fikes said that there is a HOME Council that reviews all the applications. The selection <br />is made based on what was done the previous year and the other passible sources of funding for <br />projects. <br />Lane Sarver, a housing consultant working with First Baptist Church in Chapel Hill, Inter Faith <br />Council, and United Church of Chapel Hill said that last year they asked the County <br />Commissioners for funding for the HUD section 202 elderly housing far very low-income senior <br />citizens. Their application was successful and they have received $3,261,300 from the <br />Department of Housing and Urban Development to build a 41-unit building. He said that they also <br />have authority far $513,000 far five years worth of rental assistance. He noted that consolidated <br />plans would become increasingly a more important policy and funding tool. He encouraged the <br />County and towns to look thoroughly at the housing needs so that other resources could be <br />considered. <br />Maxine Mitchell, Director of Community Building, made a request on behalf of Empowerment, <br />Inc. for HOME funds for the year 2000-2001. She noted that Empowerment has been able to help <br />23 families to own their first home in Orange County. They currently have nine units under <br />development, including five new units and four rehab units. She said that access to the HOME <br />funds has been critical to their success. She requested that the County Commissioners reallocate <br />the funds approved last fiscal year to support the purchase of a four-unit apartment complex in <br />Pine Knolls community in Chapel Hill. They are asking for a reallocation of $100,000 from last year <br />and $200,000 in HOME funds. She distributed a sheet listing the successes of Empowerment, Inc. <br />