Agenda - 01-31-2014 - 1 - Laserfiche WebLink

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126 Attachment 4-c Orange County Programs for Low-Income Families Medicaid: Orange County has approximately 12,200 individuals who receive medical services valued at $104 million annually.These funds are paid directly by the state to qualified providers such as doctors, hospitals,pharmacies and residential facilities to support these individuals.Most of the services are provided to children,elderly persons,and people with disabilities.Eligibility limits vary for different target populations. Children in households with income below 200%Federal Poverty Level are eligible for either Medicaid or Health Choice. Although a few adults with children are included based on the Work First income limits,the only other adults who are eligible for coverage are either disabled or elderly. Food and Nutrition Services(FNS): Orange County has approximately 6,600 FNS households receiving an estimated$19 million in benefits annually. These benefits are paid directly by the state to approved grocery markets in the community.Households must be below 200%of the Federal Poverty Level to receive assistance. Work First Cash Assistance: The TANF program provides cash payments to about 300 families in Orange County with children in the home under age 18. The amount of assistance is based on income but the eligibility limit is very low. Low Income Energy Assistance: These funds provide one-time energy payments during the winter and crisis intervention payments throughout the year.The Low Income Energy Assistance Program ($524,890)provides one-time payments that are targeted to vulnerable adults during the first two months of the program and then to other low income families with any remaining funds. In FY2012-13,the program provided energy assistance to 1,018 families.Crisis Intervention Program funds are available to pay heating and cooling costs to prevent health issues related to the weather. Last year 2,661 families received energy assistance through this program. Child Care Development Fund: Orange County receives$4.1 million for child care subsidies. These funds support more than 600 children monthly.Family income must be below 75%of the state median income and parents pay fees based on their income. Emergency Assistance: This program provides payments directly to vendors on behalf of families in crisis. Funds can be used to pay for rent,utilities,medication,or other emergent needs. In the first six months of FY2013-14,approximately 1,050 payments were made on behalf of Orange County families. Housing Assistance: The Orange County Housing Authority administers the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program. The program's primary purpose is to provide rental assistance to low-income families with affordable,decent,safe, and sanitary housing. Assistance is provided in the form of a voucher that is used to rent housing units in the private market. Families earning up to 50%of the area median income are eligible for the program. Currently,approximately 600 families utilize housing vouchers in the County.There are approximately 1,630 individuals on the waiting list. Additionally,the Town of Chapel Hill administers 336 units of low-rent conventional public housing units located at 13 sites(12 in Chapel Hill and one in Carrboro). Families earning up to 50%of the area median income are eligible for this program although there are some units available for families earning up to 80%of the area median income. Currently,approximately 296 families are on the program's waiting list.