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housing crisis in Orange County. The need for this program is especially for people earning less <br />than $22,000 a year. There are approximately zero units on the private market that are <br />affordable. There are fewer than 500 subsidized units that are income restricted. The gap is <br />4,900 units for households with less than $22,000 a year. They have supported efforts to win <br />money for and subsidized and build new permanent affordable housing. People still need a <br />place to live while they are affordable housing service providers are winning money and <br />building new houses. <br />Master Leasing is a way to take advantage of the fact that in Orange County there is a lot of <br />existing housing that with subsidy could be affordable for households earning less that $22,000 <br />a year. This is essentially a large scale sublet strategy. With Master Leasing, they are proposing <br />to find an entity that with subsidy is able to partner with private sector landlords and bulk rent <br />lots of housing units and then sublease those units to people who need housing at a subsidized <br />rate. They will handle the screening and placement of tenants while the landlord or property <br />owner continues with normal maintenance and upkeep of the property. This is a way to house <br />people faster with substantially less up -front cost than you would otherwise find in more <br />permanent affordable housing. This is a midterm solution while affordable housing gets built in <br />Orange County. This concept is not new and already exists in Orange County. <br />Hank Ellis addressed the Caramore Community. It is a transitional community located on Smith <br />Level Road in Carrboro. There are about fifty (50) clients in their community. The clients live <br />one to two years in apartments that they lease from five different landlords. They lease forty <br />apartments in 10 units. Each unit contains four apartments. Each apartment is a part of a unit <br />with its own bedroom and bathroom, common living room and a common kitchen. <br />One landlord is in his second three -year lease. He is guaranteed paid rent even if there is a <br />vacancy. If the landlords have any problems they make one phone call to the administrator and <br />the administrator intervenes and usually able to solve problems within twenty -four hours. The <br />landlords are happy because Caramore inspect the apartments to make sure that the tenants <br />are taking good care of the property. The property damages are minor. Caramore is not the <br />only master leasing in the area. CASA and Behavioral Alliance also have Master Leasing. This <br />process has been good for the landlords and the tenants. <br />Patrick Watkins, resident at IFC community talked about transitional living. Mr. Watkins <br />expressed that residents are actively seeking housing and there is no affordable housing. If <br />there is no option available, tenants are stuck in the gridlock. There are other people that need <br />a bed at IFC Community House. The Master Leasing- Program is not a band aid; it is a <br />permanent fix that will be continuing. Mr. Watkins stated that it is a worthwhile investment to <br />put what you can into the program to see that people who come from different walks of life <br />2 <br />