Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
9 <br /> WHEREAS, there are more than 18,000 sex offenders registered as living in North Carolina (NC <br /> State Bureau of Investigation, 2019); and <br /> WHEREAS, victim-blaming continues to be an enormous problem in instances of rape and <br /> sexual assault; and <br /> WHEREAS, the Orange County Rape Crisis Center, a nonprofit agency that has served this <br /> community since 1974, is working to stop sexual violence and its impact through support, <br /> education, and advocacy; <br /> NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, <br /> do hereby proclaim the month of April 2019 as "SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH," <br /> and encourage all residents to speak out against sexual violence and to support their local <br /> community's efforts to prevent and respond to these appalling crimes. <br /> This the 2nd day of April 2019. <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Dorosin, seconded by Commissioner Price for the <br /> Board to approve the proclamation designating April 2019 as "Sexual Assault Awareness <br /> Month" in Orange County and authorize the Chair to sign the proclamation. <br /> VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> b. Fair Housing Month Proclamation <br /> The Board considered voting to approve a proclamation designating April 2019 as Fair <br /> Housing Month in Orange County and authorize the Chair to sign. <br /> Annette Moore presented the information below: <br /> BACKGROUND: <br /> The month of April is National Fair Housing Month. April 2019 will mark the 51 st anniversary of <br /> the enactment of the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 and the 25th anniversary of the Orange <br /> County Civil Rights Ordinance. These laws grant every person a right to live where they choose, <br /> free from discrimination on the basis race, color, national origin, sex or gender, religion, familial <br /> status, or disability. The Orange County Civil Rights Ordinance, established in 1987, adds <br /> additional protections from discrimination based on age and veterans status. <br /> During Fair Housing Month the Human Rights and Relations Department and the Human <br /> Relations Commission, along with other community organizations, will co-sponsor a variety of <br /> events to commemorate Fair Housing Month. In addition to an Emergency Preparedness Power <br /> of Attorney Clinic, the County will also host and co-sponsor other events. <br /> The County also acknowledges its Community Partners in the Community Book Read — <br /> Empowerment, Habitat for Humanity, Marian Cheek Jackson Center, Orange County Affordable <br /> Housing Coalition, Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness, Orange County <br /> Affordable Housing Advisory Board and the Orange County Housing Authority. <br /> Annette Moore said HUD and Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) closed 7985 <br /> cases nationally, and received almost $9 million in monetary relief for complaints. She said at <br /> the end of 2017, there was 84 FAPS; 49 that serve a locality, like Orange County, and 35 that <br /> provide statewide services. She said FHAP closed in 2017 6329 of the 7985 cases. She said <br /> 6878 complaints were filed with FHAP, the greatest number of which was based on disability, <br /> which holds true in Orange County too (59.47%) and is twice as many as the next category, <br />