2017-483-E Finance - Orange County Living Wage - Outside Agency Performance Agreement

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DocuSign Envelope ID:ODO4B5DD-363F-41 FF-BD24-FAD291133B51 EXHIBIT A PROVIDER'S OUTSIDE AGENCY APPLICATION program. Our website provides an anonymous avenue for employees to inform our certification team if they question whether their wages meet our criteria. Once certified, owners can advertise their certified status through their promotions on social media, websites, print and broadcast journalism, and other outreach efforts. Orange County Living Wage displays businesses and organizations that have become certified on our website and in our social media communications, in a soon to be launched mobile application, and through our monthly newsletters and brochures. We engage in periodic outreach promotions to make the public aware of local businesses that have been certified, the work of our organization, and the importance of a living wage for all employees. For example, in 2016 we held BUYcotts at Vimala's Curryblossom Café and Mystery Brewing in which we encouraged the public to patronize these certified businesses on a designated day. The work of Orange County Living Wage addresses Orange County's emphasis on affordable housing, as described in the Consolidated Plan for 2015-2020. The widely accepted Universal Living Wage Formula used to determine OCLW's living wage is based on the U.S. Labor Department's policy that employees should pay no more than 30% of their income toward rent. (That frees up the other 70% of income for such basic necessities as food, transportation, clothing, child care, and medical care.) Increasing wages of employees expands the housing options they can afford for themselves and their families. Increased wages are likely to enable some employees to spend their housing funds within Orange County rather than having to go outside the county to secure affordable housing. e) Describe the community need or problem to be addressed in relation to the Chapel Hill Human Services Needs Assessment, Orange County BOCC Goals and riorities, Town of Chapel Hill Council Goals, Carrboro goals, or other community priorities (i.e. Council/Board Goals). Reference local data (using the provided links, i.e. Chapel Hill Human Services Needs Assessment) to support the need for this program. Nearly 40% of workers in Orange County earn less than a living wage. If these workers' wages were brought up to the Orange County Living Wage standard, many would be lifted out of poverty. Not only would these individuals be better able to provide for themselves, their children, and other dependents, the overall economy in the county would benefit substantially. Research has shown that low wage employees don't have the luxury of saving the additional cash in their pocket from a pay raise. They spend it on such things as a much-needed haircut, the repair of a leaking faucet or a flat tire, a winter coat, or the opportunity to put a few extra dollars into the collection plate at church. Every dollar going into the pockets of low wage employees adds $1.21 to the local economy. In addition, a substantial number of local employees cannot afford to live in Orange County and have to commute from neighboring areas where housing is more affordable. A recent Chamber of Commerce survey revealed that 41% of employees in the county commute from outside locations. Only 22% of employees of the Town of Chapel Hill live in Chapel Hill/Carrboro zip codes. Only 46% of DO NOT SUBMIT THIS PAGE 12/15/2016 9:57:17 AMII'age 20 ,r 32