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Steve Brantley mentioned several approaches they are making to do collaborative <br /> outreach, but acknowledged the need to do a better job in this regard. <br /> At the conclusion of the economic development incentives discussion, Rod Visser <br /> asked David Hunt to distribute to Commissioners a handout that compiled their <br /> responses from the morning exercise to prioritize potential 2014-15 budget goals. He <br /> indicated an intention to return to that document for discussion if there is time <br /> remaining after the final scheduled retreat agenda topic. <br /> 4. Poverty — County's Role — Direction (Nancy Coston and Tara Fikes — <br /> Presenters & Rod Visser) <br /> Rod Visser said that during the retreat planning committee discussions, he sensed an <br /> urgency to talk about the topic of poverty, but also a sense that it is difficult to address <br /> because it is such a big topic— it may be an issue more of managing poverty than <br /> eliminating poverty. The committee settled on asking staff for updates on current <br /> programs the County has to deal with the impacts of poverty. The objective for this <br /> segment of the agenda is for the Board to discuss the update on poverty and provide <br /> direction to staff. <br /> Social Services Director Nancy Coston said that a third of families slipped into poverty <br /> at one time or another during the year. DSS sees that in Orange County with the many <br /> people living on the brink. She said that he BOCC has done a lot to help DSS with <br /> those kinds of cases. She mentioned a variety of programs that keep people from <br /> sliding into abject poverty, mainly Food & Nutrition and Medicaid. <br /> Nancy Coston said that a lot of their work is crisis oriented. She acknowledged the <br /> additional $100,000 the Board approved this year for Emergency Assistance, with most <br /> of that going towards rents and utilities at number two. Some counties don't provide <br /> much or any of this funding. <br /> Nancy Coston said she thought the Skills Development Center had been very effective. <br /> The Work First program for Subsidized Employment was very helpful for folks <br /> transitioning after losing jobs, although those funds are no longer available. DSS has <br /> been in the process clearing the child care subsidy wait list. She said the fact that <br /> there are 12,000 Medicaid families and 6,200 Food & Nutrition households in Orange <br /> County demonstrates there is a lot of need. <br /> Nancy Coston described how the Adolescent Parenting program works. She noted that <br /> one of the huge risk factors for not becoming financially self-sufficient is having a <br /> second child before completing high school (or having one child and NOT finishing high <br /> school). <br /> Housing Director Tara Fikes referred to the information in Attachment 4b at page 123 <br /> about 2014 Housing & Urban Development (HUD) Department income levels related to <br /> housing affordability. She said that a large number of residents are paying more than <br /> 50% of their income for rent (which should not be more than 30%). Utility costs are a <br /> big part of housing costs. <br /> Tara Fikes then referred to the information on pages 124-125 pertaining to what hourly <br /> pay would be needed to provide a housing wage. In North Carolina, in order to afford a <br /> two bedroom apartment at an average monthly rent of$737, a person would have to <br />