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4 <br />the County, or at a minimum, a two bedroom apartment in Chapel Hill the same set of families <br />would have to spend at least 37% of their monthly income. In both instances, these families <br />would have to spend more than 30% of their gross monthly income on rent. US HUD standards <br />define affordable as occurring when a renter spends no more than 30% of their gross monthly <br />income on total housing cost (rent & utilities). <br />Affordable Housing Needs <br />According to the 1990 census, Orange County had the highest percentage of very low- income <br />households with housing problems in North Carolina; 77 percent of residents in this category <br />cited cost burden and overcrowding as major issues. In 2000, the County has approximately <br />12,280 low-income households with a cost burden and overcrowdedness remaining the primary <br />impediments to obtaining affordable housing. <br />Further, according to a 1989 report from the North Carolina Rural Economic Development <br />Center, 1,052 units in Orange County lacked indoor plumbing. The County considers this <br />estimate to be a good approximation of the problem. <br />The lack of affordable housing forced renters to live in substandard units. Housing problems <br />were reported in 86 percent of very low-income households, and 97 percent of large families <br />were forced to live in overcrowded, substandard units. The majority these families were also cost <br />burdened. <br />Homeless Needs <br />The numbers of homeless persons in Orange County have increased dramatically. During fiscal <br />year 1998-1999, the InterFaith Council Community House reported serving 801 individuals, 700 <br />adults and 101 children. Of this number, 535 were African American, 198 were White, and 48 <br />were Hispanic, and 20 of other race and ethnicity. The IFC Community House is the only <br />emergency housing resource for families in Orange County. <br />The greatest increase in the homeless population in Orange County continues to be women, <br />children, and families, frequently victims of domestic violence. Thus, the opening of Project <br />Homestart last year was welcomed into the community. Project Homestart is a transitional <br />housing program for homeless families that provides a structured setting for families to receive <br />support before they live independently. <br />Public and Assisted Housing Needs <br />Orange County's only conventional public housing program consists of 336 units. The majority <br />of Chapel Hill's public housing units are two- and three-bedroom units and are located in Chapel <br />Hill except for one community in Carrboro. <br />The county's Section 8 program, administered by the Orange County Housing and Community <br />Development Department, included 623 vouchers. There are an additional 543 other assisted <br />housing units in the County that have benefited from the HUD Section 202 Program; the Low <br />Income Housing Tax Credit Program; the Farmers HOME 515 Program; the HUD Section 236