Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
6 <br /> 1 1. The purpose of the HOME Consortium is to allow jurisdictions to take a more regional <br /> 2 and collaborative approach to affordable housing, recognizing that housing needs cross <br /> 3 Town and County boundaries. <br /> 4 2. The Committee is already composed of representatives from Orange County, Chapel <br /> 5 Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough. <br /> 6 3. The HOME Consortium develops the Consolidated Plan which defines housing needs in <br /> 7 the community and an annual Action Plan that describes the specific uses for federal <br /> 8 housing funds. <br /> 9 4. The HOME Committee already uses a competitive request for proposal process for <br /> 10 soliciting, reviewing, and selecting affordable housing projects. <br /> 11 <br /> 12 Travis Myren said the table in the abstract outlined additional tasks that may be required <br /> 13 and where it is suggested to transition the HOME Committee into a Multijurisdictional Task <br /> 14 Force on Affordable Housing. He said based on the feedback tonight, staff would go to the <br /> 15 other jurisdictions for their feedback. <br /> 16 Commissioner Burroughs asked if all the jurisdictions are currently represented. <br /> 17 Travis Myren said yes, with the exception of Mebane. <br /> 18 Mayor Hemminger asked if there are any affordable housing providers in this group. <br /> 19 Travis Myren said no. <br /> 20 Mayor Hemminger said Chapel Hill had a work session recently and found out that 5% <br /> 21 of the total housing in Chapel Hill is for affordable housing. She said they can do better, and <br /> 22 the question is whether to expand the scope of the existing group or create a new one. <br /> 23 Council Member Palmer said she is for fewer boards and thinks that the HOME group <br /> 24 could be tweaked and expanded to fit the need, if that group is willing to do so. <br /> 25 Commissioner Pelissier said she agreed that the HOME Consortium could work and <br /> 26 when she petitioned for a new group, she had not thought if this possibility. <br /> 27 Council Member Oates said a new group would have a new perspective. <br /> 28 Commissioner Rich asked Commissioner Dorosin since he serves on the HOME <br /> 29 consortium, if this group has discussed this possibility. She said the Orange County Board of <br /> 30 County Commissioners makes new appointments every year, so they could get new blood on <br /> 31 the board that way. <br /> 32 Commissioner Dorosin said the group has not yet discussed this idea, since the HOME <br /> 33 consortium meets only a few times to review home funding, which is why home providers are <br /> 34 not on the board. He said that this group could expand its scope and meeting schedule, and <br /> 35 staffing for either group would be the same. He said he sees no reason to create a new board <br /> 36 if it is not necessary. <br /> 37 Commissioner Rich said she supports expanding the current charge and meeting <br /> 38 schedule. She said all can think about this and to work with Commissioner Pelissier since she <br /> 39 first proposed it. <br /> 40 Council Member Cianciolo said one addition to the charge should be to come up with a <br /> 41 new strategic plan. <br /> 42 Council Member Palmer said she agreed and thinks this would be very doable. <br /> 43 Council Member Oates said this proposal asks a group of people that have done one <br /> 44 specific thing to do something completely different and come up with a new strategic plan. She <br /> 45 would instead propose a new group and/or new people for a new perspective and ideas. <br /> 46 Commissioner Pelissier said a countywide strategic plan is what she was aiming for, <br /> 47 when she petitioned for this committee. <br /> 48 <br /> 49 <br /> 50 <br />