Agenda 06-18-19 Item 8-a - Minutes

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14 Steve Drake said he is one of the Directors of Habitat for Humanity, who is requesting 1 HOME Funds. He said Habitat builds several homes annually in Orange County, and sells 2 them to eligible families at an affordable price. He said one of the reasons this work can be 3 done is due to the Orange County HOME funds. He said Habitat uses these funds as second 4 mortgage assistance, which reduces the overall price of the homes, making them more 5 affordable for the families. He said Habitat is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, and 6 looks forward to building its 300th home. 7 Regina Miller said she became a homeowner through Habitat five months ago. She 8 said she is a single mother of two, who moved here after a divorce and lived with family. She 9 said she had stable employment and salary, but her bank would only lend her a small amount. 10 She searched for many homes in her price range, and found one an hour away. She said she 11 was so defeated, but then found out about Habitat, applied for a home and was able to become 12 a homeowner. She said Habitat’s programming was incredibly helpful in building some 13 confidence to advocate for funds for Habitat, and for her future neighbors. 14 Anna Marie Pellett said she is currently employed by UNC Healthcare as a 15 housekeeper. She said she has lived in Chapel Hill for 12 years, and has endured rental price 16 gouging. She said she found a flyer at her job for senior housing through Habitat at what is 17 now Crescent Magnolia. She said her application was processed and approved in 2017, while 18 the property was still under construction. She said she had such faith in Habitat for Humanity to 19 bring this project to fruition, and her closing date is in September 2019. She said she is here to 20 speak on behalf of her future neighbors, and Habitat has stepped up the game for senior 21 housing for aging in place in Orange County. She said elderly citizens matter, and aging in 22 place is possible when affordable housing is available. She asked if the BOCC would continue 23 to support Habitat in its good and important work. She said she has received education, 24 resources, and dignity from this wonderful organization. 25 John Lyon said he and his wife will be closing on their home in the fall, as part of the 26 Crescent Magnolia community. He said by working with Orange County Aging Department and 27 support groups he found out about this community. He said if he could find a handicap 28 accessible home, the Department on Aging would bring in services to help him and his wife, 29 who has dementia. He said they attended Habitat owners’ classes and sweat equity classes, 30 and are able to have all their needs met through this new community. He thanked the BOCC 31 for its support of Habitat, and asked if it would continue to do so. 32 Doug Call said Habitat will be completing its 300th home this year, and he invited the 33 BOCC to the dedication of the first eight units at Crescent Magnolia scheduled for the second 34 weekend in July. He said he volunteers at Habitat and is on the Board of Directors and 35 Chairman of the Advocacy Committee. He said a safe and affordable home has untold value 36 and impact. 37 Corey Root said she is the Coordinator of the Partnership to End Homelessness 38 (PTEH), which is a partnership between entities and service providers. She thanked the BOCC 39 for providing rapid re-housing from the HOME funds last year. She said the PTEH conducts a 40 gap analysis of the homeless service system annually. She said rapid re-housing is a gap that 41 has increased since last year. She said rapid re-housing is short-term financial assistance, 42 support services, and housing identification. She said rapid re-housing is the number one gap, 43 and the PTEH has looked at its budget to look at a fully funded program, which would be 44 $1,074,150 to serve 90 households. She said there is a list of 99 households who are currently 45 connected with service providers, and 97 would be appropriate for rapid re-housing. She said 46 the system is ready to go, and a robust, best-practice model program is all that is needed. 47 Delores Bailey, Executive Director of EmPowerment, Inc., thanked the Board of County 48 Commissioners for suggesting funding for acquisitions for their rental program. She said 49