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The citizen comments received at the Town of Chapel Hill's public forums held on <br />February 27 and March 18, 2013, and applications received for funding are <br />summarized below. All agencies that requested funding were required to submit an <br />application. <br />In order for the agencies' activities to be eligible for Community Development Block <br />Grant funding, the activities must meet one of three National Objectives: <br />Benefit low- and moderate - income persons; or <br />Aid in the prevention or elimination of slums and blight; or <br />Treat urgent needs posing an immediate threat to public health and <br />welfare. <br />SUMMARY OF COMMUNITY COMMENTS FROM PUBLIC FORUMS <br />Comments from the February 27 and March 18, 2013, Chapel Hill Town <br />Council Public Forum <br />1. Terry Allebaugh, the Executive Director of Housing for New Hope, requested <br />the Council's continued support requesting support for its services, specifically <br />$12,000 in CDBG funds to continue support for their housing specialist and <br />$50,000 in HOME funds for rental support. <br />Staff Comment: The approved Community Development Plan includes $6,500 to <br />support Housing for New Hope's outreach efforts. <br />2. Aubrey Vinson, a representative of the Chapel Hill - Carrboro Y, requested <br />continued support for its after school program that serves children living in <br />the Town's South Estes Drive public housing community. Without the <br />Community Development program funds, the Y might not be able to continue <br />this program. <br />Staff Comment: The approved Community Development Plan includes $6,500 for <br />the Y's after school program. <br />3. Jess Brandes, Projects Coordinator for CASA, requested funds to support the <br />program's affordable rental housing program and their Supportive Housing <br />Program which pairs tenants who are homeless or at risk of being homeless <br />with a safe, quality, affordable apartment. The Supportive Housing Program <br />currently serves 23 households in Chapel Hill and aims to keep these tenants <br />permanently housed. <br />Staff Comment: The recommended Community Development Plan includes <br />$9,000 for the CASA's Supportive Housing Program. <br />4. At the forums on February 27 and March 18, Anita Badrock and Robert <br />Dowling, representing the Community Home Trust, requested funds to <br />support the organization's homeownership assistance program to reduce the <br />sales price of homes for households earning less than 80% of the area <br />median income. Mrs. Badrock also noted that Community Home Trust is <br />requesting the same amount of funds as they have since 2008, and that this <br />year they will be forced to finance homes from their reserve accounts. She <br />stated that these practices are not sustainable for the long -term, and the <br />Y 2013 -2014 Action Plan 7 <br />