Minutes 03-03-2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Brian Curran is the secretary of the board of directors for Habitat for Humanity of Orange County. He said HOME funding continues to be a critical factor in Habitat's building efforts. He said these funds have been used to leverage millions of dollars in private funding for the majority of the 250 homes that Habitat has built in Orange County. He said HOME funding is part of the reason that 50 people now call Phoenix Place home. He said the addition of Habitat homes has resulted in crime rate reductions and a rise in the rates of home ownership. He said Habitat is requesting $270,000 in funding for 11 new homes for homebuyers who earn between 30 and 65 percent of area median income. He said these funds will be used as second mortgages for Habitat home buyers and will have long term positive impact for residents. He said Habitat also assists residents with revitalization and repair of older homes through its Brush with Kindness program. He thanked the Board for consideration of this request, and he provided a copy of Habitat for Humanity's annual report. Angel Davalos lives in a Habitat home located in the Fairview community in Hillsborough. He said, by providing these funds to Habitat, the Board is keeping the organization functional so that wonderful things can happen. He said, for families purchasing homes, this program makes the single family home dream a reality. He said he had previously lived in public housing, and his wife grew up in one bedroom trailer with her family of five. He said he and his wife feel incredibly blessed to provide a better home for their children. He said the Board is also giving the gift of giving to all of the volunteers involved in this program, and is fostering partnerships between Habitat and organizations within the Community. He highlighted the Hands for Habitat partnership between Habitat and Orange County schools, with a focus on educating students on the issue of affordable housing. He said this program has been in existence for 7 years, and 12 schools and 68 classrooms have participated. He said his home was built by Orange High students, while students in younger grades participated in fund raising activities. He said this program is having an incredible impact on students. He thanked the Board for their support and asked for their continued help. Michael Kelly works for Housing for New Hope. He said he has nothing bad to say about Habitat, but you do have to make a certain amount of money to qualify for a Habitat home. He said Housing for New Hope's homeless outreach and support program targets homeless residents and those who make less than 30 percent of area median income. He said these are people who would probably not qualify for a Habitat home, and some form of assistance is needed for them. He said these currently homeless residents are provided with temporary assistance to obtain and retain affordable rental housing. He said HOME funds are requested to support this direct assistance. He said the team searches the streets of Orange County, Chapel Hill, and Carrboro, and works in cooperation with other organizations in the area. He said funds are used to help provide these homeless residents with rental and utility deposits, first month's rent, and sometimes with monthly rental assistance. He said the program is considered a success when an individual or family becomes securely housed. He said the goal is to assist with the provision of decent, safe, affordable housing, and to assist participants with obtaining income to live as independently as possible. Jamie Rohe is the Homeless Programs Coordinator for Orange County. She hears over and over again from the homeless service providers that there is no affordable rental housing in Orange County. She said Housing for New Hope is an essential program that fills a great need in this area for residents who earn little and are chronically homeless. She said there are very few landlords who will rent to residents with criminal histories or poor credit. She said the Department of Social Services (DSS) and Inter-faith Council (IFC) staff cannot find affordable rental units in Orange County for their clients. She said to bridge these two