Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
9 <br /> <br />HCV program. 1 <br /> 2 <br />List of Specific Tasks, Events, or Functions Performed or Sponsored Annually 3 <br />• Review and provide input on the Consolidated Plan/Annual Plan Update and 4 <br />Performance Report 5 <br />• Review and approve changes to the Housing Authority policies, including revisions to 6 <br />the Administrative Plan in order to enhance program efficiency, compliance with HUD 7 <br />requirements, as well as meet program participants’ needs. 8 <br />• Review of the Section 8 Management Assessment before its submission to HUD. 9 <br />• Continue participation in landlord engagement events and activities in an effort to 10 <br />increase landlord participation in the HCV Program. 11 <br />• Continue participation in OCHA’s events and activities sponsored to help build HCV 12 <br />participants’ self-sufficiency. 13 <br />• Work with staff to increase HCV participants utilization of the voucher for 14 <br />homeownership opportunities. 15 <br />• Continue educating County residents and the BOCC on the changing landscape for 16 <br />Housing Authorities, various new regulations and their ramification on the County’s 17 <br />Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program. 18 <br />• Ongoing advocacy on behalf of low-income individuals and families in need of 19 <br />sustainable housing solutions. 20 <br /> 21 <br />Chair Dorosin referred to the 600+ housing vouchers allocated to Orange County, with 22 <br />only 500+ being used, and asked if clarification could be provided. 23 <br />Sherrill Hampton said the utilization rate is 86%, one reason for which is the high cost of 24 <br />rental units, in and around, Chapel Hill and Carrboro. She said they can go up to 110%, but it 25 <br />lessens the number of vouchers that can be put on the street. She said they do need to 26 <br />increase by 40 people, but she has to leave room in that pool as they would be over their 27 <br />allocation, or a greater supplement would be needed from the County due to the higher rents. 28 <br />Chair Dorosin said, as he understands it, the County is at 86% but could be doing 29 <br />better. 30 <br />Sherrill Hampton said she would like to get to 92-93%. 31 <br />Commissioner Marcoplos asked if more landlords are stepping up to take the vouchers. 32 <br />Sherrill Hampton said there are about 200 landlords participating in the program, and 33 <br />the risk mitigation fund has gone into effect, which she hopes will incentivize landlords. 34 <br />Commissioner Marcoplos asked if the risk mitigation fund has been helpful in recruiting 35 <br />landlords. 36 <br />Sherrill Hampton said yes. She said efforts are being made to better explain the 37 <br />voucher program to landlords. 38 <br />Commissioner McKee asked if local transportation an issue, and if a more robust local 39 <br />transportation system to rural areas would help. 40 <br />Sherrill Hampton said yes. 41 <br /> 42 <br />• Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee Vibeke Tally, Chair 43 <br /> 44 <br />Vibeke Tally elaborated on one item in her report: the quality of life of residents in 45 <br />nursing homes. She said the Committee is meeting individually with residents, and asking if 46 <br />they have visitors, do they participate in activities, etc. She said the Committee is also meeting 47 <br />with the activity staff, which plays a key role in the quality of life. 48 <br />Vibeke Tally said, in the past, the Committee has been asked to bring in more concrete 49 <br />activities, but it would like to expand this even more. She said exit interviews are conducted 50