Agenda - 04-07-20; 6-d - Approval of Budget Amendment #7-A for the Transfer of Funds from the Orange County Local Rent Supplement Program to the Risk Mitigation and Housing Displacement Fund

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16 17 1 Javon Holley said it will take about 60-90 days to determine eligibility of an applicant, 2 and to do so, they will ask for proof of age, homelessness, or domestic violence. 3 Commissioner Price referred to the requirement that an applicant must meet necessary 4 criteria as determined by a professional licensed by the state, and asked if the licensed 5 professional can only be from North Carolina. 6 Sherrill Hampton said this program is only for Orange County residents, and staff would 7 like to see certification by a professional in the local area; however, if one has moved to the 8 area and has certification from out of state, that would also be acceptable. 9 Javon Holley said an out of state certification would be acceptable, as long as the 10 person is not living in Orange County. 11 Javon Holley referred back to the question of occupancy standards, and said the 12 program is flexible, and will allow for staff to ensure that the resident is matched with correctly 13 sized housing. 14 Sherrill Hampton said the federal program is not as flexible, and sometimes one with a 15 one-bedroom voucher is placed in a two-bedroom unit, and when the rent is raised, the voucher 16 is insufficient to cover the cost. She said the local program should be able to address this 17 problem. 18 Javon Holley referred to slide 6 on tenant selection, which will be prioritized by 19 application date and time, after other prioritization factors mentioned earlier, are also weighed. 20 Sherrill Hampton said residents on the current federal waiting list can still apply for the 21 Orange County voucher, but they must remain on the federal listing. She said there are 771 22 individuals on the federal waiting list. 23 Sherrill Hampton referred to slide 7 on criminal background, and staff will follow federal 24 guidelines on completing criminal and sex offender background checks on all persons in the 25 program. She said if a person needs to be denied because of a background check, staff will 26 notify them in writing. She reviewed the other reasons that one may be denied for the program. 27 Sherrill Hampton referred to slide 8, noting that all residents must pay rent of$50, and 28 staff will employ rent reasonableness. She said all financials will be carefully reviewed to 29 ensure this. 30 Sherrill Hampton said these vouchers are not portable, and residents will be allowed one 31 move per year. She said rent increases will only be accepted every other year. She said if a 32 resident can appeal if their assistance is terminated, which is true of the federal program as 33 well. 34 Commissioner Rich asked if the 15 vouchers are going to apply to all areas of the 35 County. 36 Sherrill Hampton said all over the County, as well as 10 miles outside of the County 37 boundaries. 38 Commissioner Rich asked if staff is working with the municipalities, or if this is just an 39 Orange County program. 40 Sherrill Hampton said it is just Orange County program, but staff is working with all the 41 providers who work with residents of all areas. She said housing could be all over the County, 42 but the housing has to be able to pass the Section 8 inspections. 43 Commissioner Rich asked if there is a plan in place to make the landlords and residents 44 aware of program. 45 Sherrill Hampton said the annual landlords meeting will take place on November 28t", at 46 which time staff will announce this proposed program. She said outreach will be done to 47 providers in January, and this information will be on the web, with a separate email address and 48 newspaper ads. 49 Commissioner Price asked what would happen if there is a family that needs a 4- 50 bedroom apartment, and will this program have the same criteria as HUD regarding the number 51 of square feet per bedroom per child.