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2 <br /> 1 <br /> 2 At the meeting of the Board on April 5th, the Director provided a summary of the needs data in <br /> 3 the AHSP that includes the Towns of Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough. The Director <br /> 4 provided an overview of the goals, strategies, actions and recommendations in AHSP to <br /> 5 address the widening gap between needs and affordable housing countywide as well as public <br /> 6 policies and actions affecting affordable housing in the County. The AHSP identifies goals for <br /> 7 the next five years, and proposes strategies and opportunities to meet those goals in <br /> 8 partnership with the Towns, nonprofits, Advisory Boards and Commissions, the private sector, <br /> 9 faith communities, other County agencies, state and federal resources and the community at <br /> 10 large. <br /> 11 <br /> 12 In order to begin to meet the need for affordable housing in Orange County, particularly <br /> 13 residents who are most cost burdened at 30% to 50 % median income as discussed in the <br /> 14 AHSP, the ASHP has an overarching shared countywide goal of 1,000 affordable housing units. <br /> 15 The shared countywide goal of 1,000 units are to be provided through acquisition, construction, <br /> 16 urgent repair, assisted housing, and rehabilitation of the existing housing stock over the next <br /> 17 five (5) years. At least 500 of the units are recommended to be new assisted rental units <br /> 18 through the leveraging of funds from the planned November 2016 $5 million bond referendum <br /> 19 for affordable housing. <br /> 20 <br /> 21 The AHSP identifies the critical need for affordable housing for individuals and households of <br /> 22 extremely and very low income and for population groups with special needs including the <br /> 23 homeless, persons with physical and or mental disabilities and the elderly. The AHSP reviewed <br /> 24 existing affordable housing programs and tools of the County and covers an assessment of the <br /> 25 County's housing stock. This included examining mobile home parks of the County, a source of <br /> 26 affordable housing; publicly owned land and other development opportunities; and challenges <br /> 27 for preserving and increasing the supply of affordable housing given the County's existing and <br /> 28 planned infrastructure and access to transportation, employment, services and other community <br /> 29 assets. <br /> 30 <br /> 31 As requested by the Board, additional community meetings and outreach have been conducted <br /> 32 with nonprofit providers, various County Boards and Commissions, community organizations <br /> 33 and residents in need of decent, sound affordable housing. This outreach provided an <br /> 34 additional opportunity for the public, various agencies and other interested parties to have <br /> 35 further input into the AHSP and comment on the goals, strategies and actions and <br /> 36 recommendations. Community meetings among other opportunities to receive public comment. <br /> 37 <br /> 38 Bonnie Hammersley said the Commissioners will find the following items at their places: <br /> 39 - Attachment 1- summary of community comments on the Plan <br /> 40 - PowerPoint presentation <br /> 41 - Recommendation sheet <br /> 42 Audrey Spencer Horsley reviewed the community comments handout at the Board's <br /> 43 places, and these comments are incorporated by reference into these said minutes. A copy of <br /> 44 these comments is located in permanent agenda file in the Clerk's office. <br /> 45 Chair McKee said transportation is a critical factor; but in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro area, <br /> 46 Orange County is not responsible for transportation. He asked if there was discussion about <br /> 47 coordinating transportation between the County and the Towns. <br /> 48 Audrey Spencer Horsley said the people with whom she met said that transportation in <br /> 49 Chapel Hill is much more accessible, but the perception of Orange County is that there should <br />