Orange County NC Website
Commissioner Nelson said that this is goad work. He said that the problem here is vast <br />and it goes beyond people who are at 80% or 100°Io of median income. The rhetorical question <br />for him is what kind of county do we want to grow into, and are there things that can be done to <br />go beyond this to address the situation this county is in now with rising housing costs. He wants <br />to have an honest discussion about what factors have created this housing market. <br />Chair Carey said that many of these things in the Strategies for Future Action, the <br />County is already doing to some degree, and they need to continue to do these things. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Nelson to <br />approve a Comprehensive Housing Strategy prepared far Orange County including the Towns <br />of Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />e. Ten t10) Year Plan to End Homelessness <br />The Board considered acceptance of the Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness in <br />Orange County and the appointment of a BOCC Representative to the Executive Team. <br />Tara Fikes said that as of today this report has been presented to the other three <br />municipalities, and Chapel Hill and Hillsborough have endorsed it. It is expected that Carrboro <br />will endorse it at a future meeting. The staff is asking the Board of County Commissioners to <br />endorse the plan and to appoint a member to the Executive Team. <br />Chair Carey said that adoption of the plan asks the Board to make some financial <br />commitments to assist with the implementation of funding a portion of the position that will be <br />necessary. This will be part of the budget considerations for next year. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Nelson, seconded by Commissioner Jacobs to <br />approve acceptance of the Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness in Orange County. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />Commissioner Gordan nominated Chair Carey as the BOCC Representative to the <br />Executive Team. He accepted. <br />f. Planning for Possible School-based Health Center in Orange County <br />School District <br />The Board considered participating in consideration of a school-based health center in <br />the Orange County School District and to appoint a liaison to the planning group. <br />Laura Blackmon said that on April 30th there was a presentation on this item by <br />Superintendent Shirley Carraway, and one of the requests was to have someone appointed to <br />the planning group. There will be no cost associated with this appointment. <br />Commissioner Foushee said that there is no obligation for the Board of County <br />Commissioners to provide funding at this point. She said that all of them are aware of what <br />mental health reform has done for mental health in this community. This program will serve <br />students particularly far mental health issues. She volunteered to be the liaison. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that he was reminded of a question he wanted to ask Tara <br />Fikes regarding the Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness. He said that he assumes that in the <br />next permutation, there will be priority groups targeted and priority strategies. He said that there <br />are a number of reasons why it might be wise to start with people who are mentally ill and <br />homeless, in trying to make sure that they have a place. Tara Fikes said that this has been <br />discussed, and the first goal addresses the need to reduce chronic homelessness, and those <br />who are chronically homeless usually have mental illness. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that the more visible and articulated this strategy is, the <br />better. <br />Laura Blackmon said that the Health Department does have a planning grant far this <br />School-based Health Center, and the Health Department is working very closely with this. <br />