Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
Private Industry <br />Private lenders (especially those interested in achieving the lending goals of the <br />Community Reinvestment Act), public lenders like Rural Development, builders, <br />realtors and developers, are entities whose assistance is crucial to the success of <br />housing initiatives undertaken in Orange County. <br />Utility companies develop construction and energy conservation standards to reduce <br />energy costs. They also provide information and training on energy- saving practices <br />in home, such as how to install insulation and weather stripping. Low - interest loans <br />are available from utility companies for the purchase and installation of insulation, <br />high efficiency heat pumps and other energy conservation measures. <br />Public Housing Authorities <br />The Town of Chapel Hill Department of Housing operates 336 conventional public <br />housing units. <br />The Orange County Housing Authority Board operates the Section 8 Housing Voucher <br />Program. The program provides approximately 623 vouchers to low income families. <br />The Orange County Board of Commissioners appoints a seven member Housing <br />Authority Board who serves as the governing board and the managerial affairs of the <br />County conform to applicable County ordinances and policies. A resident advisory <br />board has been established to include Section 8 residents in the decision - making <br />process. The Orange County Housing Authority Board of Commissioners sets policy <br />for the public housing functions and approves the Annual Public Housing Agency <br />Plan. <br />3. Describe actions that will take place during the next year to enhance coordination <br />between public and private housing, health, and social service agencies. <br />Orange County HOME Consortium Response: <br />The existing coordination of services has been enhanced with the creation of the <br />Orange County HOME Consortium whose members include Orange County, Carrboro, <br />Chapel Hill and Hillsborough. <br />Additionally, in an effort to facilitate communication with other local housing <br />nonprofit organizations, the members of the HOME Program Consortium will convene <br />semi - annual meetings with these organizations. Items shared during these meetings <br />will include clarification of federal and state housing program regulations and <br />discussion of local housing programs and initiatives. <br />Citizen Participation <br />1. Provide a summary of the citizen participation process. <br />Orange County HOME Consortium Response: <br />Participation of the general public and also public organizations is extremely <br />important to HUD and to the development of a consolidated plan. To maximize <br />citizen participation, Orange County held a public hearing on February 7, 2012 to <br />receive citizen comments regarding the Annual Action Plan. The public hearing was <br />advertised in local newspapers in advance. The meetings were held in Orange County <br />at the following location. <br />Y 2013 -2014 Action Plan 26 <br />