Orange County NC Website
42 <br /> H&CD staff will conduct a conference call with the aforementioned entities in early February to <br /> ascertain the impact to the projects and what actions may need to be undertaken at that time. <br /> There are approximately 537 to 550 voucher holders in the County Housing Choice (HCV) <br /> Voucher Program. HUD allocated 623 general vouchers and 5 Veterans Affairs Supportive <br /> Housing (VASH) vouchers to the Orange County Housing Authority (OCHA). The County <br /> received payment from HUD for January and anticipates, per HUD, receipt of the February 2019 <br /> payment. HUD payments are made the first of each month. The County pays its landlords and <br /> applicable HCV participants on the first of each month. The total amount of HUD-Held Reserves <br /> is $235,736. The OCHA will seek HUD permission to utilize its HUD-Held Reserves, as <br /> needed. HUD has limited the use of outside sources of funding in the Housing Choice Voucher <br /> (HCV) Program. HUD provides guidance for this in a Public and Indian Housing (PIH) Notice <br /> 2013-28 (Attachment 2). <br /> FINANCIAL IMPACT: The $100,000 from the Social Justice Fund will be used for non- <br /> reimbursable food expenses and will leave a balance of$128,000 in the Social Justice Fund. <br /> Nancy Coston, Social Services Director (DSS), said because of the way the continuing <br /> resolutions were written, there was an opportunity for the USDA to release some of the food and <br /> nutrition funds early, which caused a gap for people so their next distribution will not be in <br /> March; however, she heard today, that even if the government shuts down again on February <br /> 15'", the March distribution will occur. She said the $100,000 was to help the department with <br /> the stopgap until the March distribution can be sent out. She said there are 5000 households in <br /> Orange County that receive SNAP benefits, and staff is trying to make sure they can support <br /> their food pantry at DSS and other food banks. <br /> Sherrill Hampton, Housing and Community Development Director, said it is still very fluid <br /> for her department, and staff is waiting on more information from HUD; and if there is another <br /> shutdown, her department will need to have additional funding. She said there are roughly 195- <br /> 200 landlords, and there is a total of$350,000 per month between landlords and utility <br /> assistance. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin clarified that the February payments have been made and, <br /> without another shutdown, all will be fine with March. <br /> Sherrill Hampton said yes. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin clarified that there may be a gap in the food benefits, even <br /> without an additional government shutdown, but this is not the same with the housing <br /> department. <br /> Sherrill Hampton said no, not right now. She said there are about 4-5 HOME program <br /> projects that have been interrupted, and all involved have been notified. She said this impact <br /> will continue if there is another governmental shut down. <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Bedford, seconded by Commissioner Price for the <br /> Board to approve $100,000 from the Social Justice Funds to be used for food if the demand is <br /> greater than the capacity of the existing food programs. <br /> VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> 7. Reports <br /> NONE <br /> 8. Consent Agenda <br />