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12 This Public Hearing is one of two (2) public hearings held as a part of Orange County’s 1 engagement of its residents concerning local housing and community developments needs and 2 the HOME Program. 3 4 PUBLIC COMMENT: 5 Jenny Prater said she has a Habitat for Humanity house, where she has lived since 6 2011. She has two children, and said she had been in a duplex apartment that was not very 7 nice in 2010. She said she looked for a home, but could not find anything in her budget that 8 was livable. She said some personal issues made her unable to get a loan, though she has a 9 good job at UNC. She said she is grateful for Habitat and the HOME funds, which have 10 provided her a stable home. 11 Marisa Martini said she works for Habitat as the Community Development Manager, and 12 thanked the Board of County Commissioners for its support. She reviewed the many homes in 13 Habitat’s inventory that have benefited from HOME funds, and said homeowners are here 14 tonight to share their stories. 15 Norbert Ronyambo shared his story of his ownership of a Habitat home, and thanked 16 the Board of County Commissioners for its support of affordable housing through HOME Funds, 17 which has enabled him to own a home in Orange County. 18 Jackie Jenks is Executive Director of InterFaith Council for Social Services (IFC), and 19 she thanked the BOCC for its support, and proposed uses of the HOME funds, which include 20 many of IFC’s partners and some much-needed projects. She reviewed statistics about IFC 21 residents, and the extreme lack of affordable housing and rentals for those in the lower income 22 levels. She said it is a very difficult situation for residents to be in, and she supports the County 23 in all of its efforts to support affordable housing in Orange County. 24 Nery Urrutia said he owns a Habitat home, and it is healthy, worthy, and smart for 25 Orange County to support projects like Habitat for Humanity. He said it is not healthy for 26 people to live under bridges, in the woods, or in their cars because rents are unaffordable in 27 Orange County. He said he works and is able to pay the bills and afford a home through 28 Habitat. 29 Robert Dowling, Community Home Trust (CHT) Director, said housing is becoming a 30 larger challenge in Orange County, and affordable housing stock is not increasing. He said the 31 bond will be put to good use, and they need all of the funding they can get for affordable rentals 32 and houses. He said Sherrill Hampton has recommended $60,000 for CHT, $40,000 of which 33 will go to the Northside Initiative, where CHT is partnering with Self Help credit union. He said 34 he hopes $40,000 will cover 2 houses. He said the remaining $20,000 will be used for resale of 35 existing inventory, and hopefully this will cover 2 homes. He said the subsidies are essential, 36 and he is thankful to the Board of County Commissioners for their support. 37 Delores Bailey said she is the Director of Empowerment, Inc., which is the owner of 42 38 scattered sites affordable rental properties. She said this Friday Empowerment will close on a 39 bond home. She thanked the BOCC for having the foresight to put aside money for mobile 40 home displacements. She also thanked the Board for helping Empowerment move forward on 41 9 new affordable rental properties this year, which were purchased with some HOME funds. 42 She thanked the County for all that it does. 43 44 A motion was made by Commissioner McKee, seconded by Commissioner Rich to close 45 the public hearing. 46 47 VOTE: UNANIMOUS 48 49