BOH agenda 022416 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

decision - making role in both the education and community affairs of the children they represent. This empowers the children and families to exert some influence and control over their future. 5. Social Justice Fund This fund was resurrected by the commissioners in 2013. During the recent recession this fund had been depleted, leaving no safety net for the most needy citizens in the county. This fund is used in extreme cases where no other funding is available. For example, funding has been used to supplement state funds when the state reduced funding for childcare reimbursements, to fund The Family Success Alliance, and to support DSS General Assistance for families in crisis and not able to pay utility bills. Although this will not end poverty, it provides a hand up to pull people out of crisis status. lmmmmmml DISTRICT 2 CANDIDATES Bonnie Hauser There are countless reasons that people are poor, ranging from un/under employment, generational poverty, mental illness, sudden loss of employment, healthcare crises and more. No one wants to be poor, or worse, to stay poor. The challenge is to find ways to reduce poverty through better job and skill development and to improve affordability through better access to housing, transportation and essential services. I believe the county can do more by developing solutions for housing, transportation, and services that fit our communities. Every community is different, and solutions need to be adapted to fit. For example, good public transportation in Hillsborough looks different than Mebane or Chapel Hill. Ways that housing solutions can be adapted to our communities are discussed in Question 5. Orange County and the many not - for - profits that serve our communities have wonderful tools to help, but resources but they are not always getting where they are needed. The Family Success Alliance, Project Engage Senior Outreach, and the community center initiative that's building around Rogers Road, Efland, and Cedar Grove are helping. I'd like to foster similar initiaitves to provide tutors and to help feed low income children when school is out. A greater challenge is finding ways to serve the families of low wage contract employees that work for UNC and UNC Healthcare. I'd be interested in working with UNC and the towns to find ways to provide housing, healthcare and other services to help make life more affordable for the contractors. Cii7 Renee Price Many people are born into poverty, and have become part of a seemingly unending cycle. Others people find themselves living in poverty, unexpectedly, years after a life of comfort and security. People are of low- wealth for a variety of reasons —i.e., lack of education or skills to secure gainful employment; insufficient job opportunities paying a living wage; inability to be hired or promoted due to discrimination because of color, gender or age. Poverty, particularly persistent poverty, is indicative of the state of the local or regional economy, such as the demise of major businesses and employers. Poverty also is the consequence of a capitalistic society.