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8 <br /> <br />volunteers. He said last year there were over 11,000 volunteer hours with the Council, which <br />has helped to make the community a richer place to live. He said the County is growing, as are <br />the needs of the arts. He said the Arts Council holds events and arguably drives more of the <br />business in the community. He said Hillsborough is literally and geographically the heart of the <br />County, and is synonymous with the County and the Council asks for full support from the <br />BOCC. <br /> Jamezetta Bedford spoke on behalf of the Mental Health Community Connections <br />(MHCC) Group, a collaboration between both school districts, families, health care providers <br />and community agencies. She said the purpose of this organization is to educate and <br />encourage support. She said May is Mental Health Awareness month, and the perception is <br />that mental health issues will not change, but the Board of County Commissioners can help to <br />change it by supporting the schools systems, Club Nova and departments who are involved in <br />mental health issues. She said the BOCC can also help by supporting training for the Sheriff’s <br />department and alternative programs through the Criminal Justice office. She said this problem <br />has many moving parts, but children and youth spend so much time at school, and together first <br />steps are being taken in moving towards improving children’s health. <br />Marisa Martini said she is the Community Development Manager for Habitat for <br />Humanity of Orange County. She thanked the BOCC for its commitment to affordable housing <br />and its support for Habitat, and to the County Manager for recommending a budget increase for <br />Habitat’s Home Preservation Program, which serves low income families, insuring that everyone <br />has a safe, decent, and dignified place to live. She said one project in the Home Preservation <br />Program this fiscal year was for Barbara McNeil in Efland, who requested help through Habitat <br />with her windows, back door and exterior paint, but when the Habitat representatives visited <br />with her, they learned she had no indoor plumbing and had been using an outhouse for 61 <br />years. She said Home Preservation projects typically have a maximum budget of $5,000, which <br />would have covered the projects requested by Mrs. McNeil, but it was clear that a bathroom was <br />needed. She said a strategy was created, partnerships developed, and through volunteers and <br />expanded programs, Mrs. McNeil received a bathroom and indoor plumbing in her home. She <br />thanked the BOCC for its help and support for affordable housing. <br /> <br />4. Adjournment <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Rich and seconded by Commissioner Burroughs <br />to adjourn the public hearing at 7:51 p.m. <br /> <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> <br /> Mark Dorosin, Chair <br /> <br />Sherri Ingersoll <br />Assistant Deputy Clerk II