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<br />A+4-cat MZ-Ak 7 - & <br />Director. <br />Nancy Coston <br />December 20, 2006 <br />ORANGE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES <br />Moses Carey, Jr., Chair <br />Orange County Board of Commissioners <br />P.O. Box 8181 <br />Hillsborough, NC 27278 <br />Dear Commissioner Carey, <br />Board of Directors: <br />Rosetta Wash, Chair <br />Valerie Fousbee <br />Karen Long <br />Joe Robbins <br />Harold Russell <br />As members of the Social Services Board we greatly appreciate the opportunity to comment on the <br />recently released space study. We have reviewed the study and have identified several issues we would <br />like to share with you. <br />The Department of Social Services is experiencing severe crowding in all of its currently available space. <br />We had hoped that the space study would provide relief for our clients and staff, but are now concerned <br />that this relief may be years away. Several factors as outlined below. have contributed to our current <br />situation: <br />1. The original space study in 2000 noted the need for more space at Social Services and since that <br />time the workload of the agency has increased greatly. As was recently presented at the joint <br />board meeting, the number of Food Stamp cases has increased by 103% and the number of <br />Medicaid cases has increased by 53% since 2001. Each of our offices is visited by an average of <br />over 50 clients per day who need to be interviewed in private settings. <br />2. Several staff positions have been added, most of them funded with federal and state dollars. In <br />2001, there were 133.5 full time equivalent positions. Now there are 154 employees of the <br />agency; eighty-three are located at the Richard E. Whitted Building, sixty-seven are located at the <br />Southern Human Services Building and four are located another sites. <br />3. The agency is facing staffing shortages, particularly in areas such as Food Stamps and Medicaid, <br />and has had to rely on temporary staff to assist with the workload. These positions are not <br />included in any of the space studies but must also conduct private interviews. The agency needs <br />additional staff resources to meet the increased public assistance demands but has no space for <br />more staff. <br />4. Space is needed for contractors and agency partners such as our financial counselors and <br />Employment Security Commission representatives who need to provide services at the agency. <br />5. The agency has recently received pilot funds for use with Work First clients. We have no room <br />for the job coaches, training programs and clients who are working for the agency. Not having <br />sufficient space could negatively impact the outcomes of the pilot. <br />300 West Tryon Street, P.O. Box 8181 - Hillsborough, NC 27278 - (919) 245-2800 <br />2501 Homestead Road - Chapel Hill, NC 27516 - (919) 968-2000