Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
<br />ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: March 8, 2018 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 6-a <br /> <br />SUBJECT: Request to Utilize Social Justice Funds for Emergency Assistance Payments <br /> <br />DEPARTMENT: Social Services <br /> <br /> <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br /> <br />Historical Use of Social Justice Fund <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> <br />Nancy Coston, 919-245-2802 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />PURPOSE: To consider allocating $125,000 from the Social Justice Fund for emergency <br />assistance payments for Orange County residents. <br /> <br />BACKGROUND: The Department of Social Services (DSS) supports individuals and families <br />experiencing financial crises through emergency payments for rent, utilities, deposits and other <br />essentials. Although federal and state sources provide some of this support, the County <br />provides most of these funds. <br /> <br />As of the end of January, the County had served over 800 Orange County residents and at the <br />current rate would serve nearly 1,400 during fiscal year 2017-18. In fiscal year 2016-17 these <br />funds served 1,240 clients. Although some of the increase in emergency assistance this year is <br />explained by demand, much is related to rising housing costs. In previous years, a greater <br />percentage of funds was spent on utilities but now a greater percentage is spent on rents, <br />deposits and related costs. <br /> <br />From July through January of the current fiscal year, DSS has made $120,919 worth of rent <br />payments on behalf of 325 households as compared to $94,812 during all of the previous year. <br />In addition to rent, the County has also spent $93,546 on electric bills and $19,680 on water bills <br />thus far this fiscal year. <br /> <br />DSS has also assisted with some extremely difficult situations this year and those cases have <br />been more costly. Often these included serious safety issues for a child, a senior or a person <br />with a disability. Extreme weather also contributed to higher needs as DSS tried to assure that <br />all families were safe during the recent cold temperatures. <br /> <br />Based on current spending trends, DSS will need approximately $125,000 in additional funds to <br />meet the need for the remainder of the fiscal year and is requesting this amount from the <br />existing Social Justice Fund. <br /> <br />1