Minutes 05-21-19 Regular Meeting

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14 gouging. She said she found a flyer at her job for senior housing through Habitat at what is now Crescent Magnolia. She said her application was processed and approved in 2017, while the property was still under construction. She said she had such faith in Habitat for Humanity to bring this project to fruition, and her closing date is in September 2019. She said she is here to speak on behalf of her future neighbors, and Habitat has stepped up the game for senior housing for aging in place in Orange County. She said elderly citizens matter, and aging in place is possible when affordable housing is available. She asked if the BOCC would continue to support Habitat in its good and important work. She said she has received education, resources, and dignity from this wonderful organization. John Lyon said he and his wife will be closing on their home in the fall, as part of the Crescent Magnolia community. He said by working with Orange County Aging Department and support groups he found out about this community. He said if he could find a handicap accessible home, the Department on Aging would bring in services to help him and his wife, who has dementia. He said they attended Habitat owners’ classes and sweat equity classes, and are able to have all their needs met through this new community. He thanked the BOCC for its support of Habitat, and asked if it would continue to do so. Doug Call said Habitat will be completing its 300th home this year, and he invited the BOCC to the dedication of the first eight units at Crescent Magnolia scheduled for the second weekend in July. He said he volunteers at Habitat and is on the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Advocacy Committee. He said a safe and affordable home has untold value and impact. Corey Root said she is the Coordinator of the Partnership to End Homelessness (PTEH), which is a partnership between entities and service providers. She thanked the BOCC for providing rapid re-housing from the HOME funds last year. She said the PTEH conducts a gap analysis of the homeless service system annually. She said rapid re-housing is a gap that has increased since last year. She said rapid re-housing is short-term financial assistance, support services, and housing identification. She said rapid re-housing is the number one gap, and the PTEH has looked at its budget to look at a fully funded program, which would be $1,074,150 to serve 90 households. She said there is a list of 99 households who are currently connected with service providers, and 97 would be appropriate for rapid re-housing. She said the system is ready to go, and a robust, best-practice model program is all that is needed. Delores Bailey, Executive Director of EmPowerment, Inc., thanked the Board of County Commissioners for suggesting funding for acquisitions for their rental program. She said through the support of all local entities, as well as partner organizations, EmPowerment’s affordable rental inventory will rise to at least 57 units by the end of the next fiscal cycle. Commissioner Price referred to the list of community development priorities, and asked if “clearance and revitalization” could be made a higher priority within this generally low priority area. Commissioner Price said in the homelessness category, she would like to stress the importance of keeping families together whenever possible. Sherrill Hampton said 2015 Consolidated Plan was completed before she worked for the County, and the Housing Department will be working with the collaborative and making the RFP in the fall, which can look at all of the information that came out of MAP and other data sources. Commissioner Dorosin said he is the BOCC representative on the HOME committee, and gave kudos to Sherrill Hampton. Commissioner Dorosin called out EmPowerment as an exemplary service provider, and said the Board set priorities, and one in particular was affordable rental housing. He said Empowerment is the provider that has really been able to provide direction and resources for rental housing. He said this is difficult and expensive, but crucial, work. He said EmPowerment is becoming a Certified Housing Development Organization (CHDO), which is an intensive