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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4 5 She said they hoped that the survey would be real, and she personally tried to weave personal experiences into this project, without being subjective. Commissioner McKee asked if the sample size could be identified. Female student said the survey was done in 2017 in mobile home parks in Orange County and the towns. She said the students would recommend that the next survey use more community partners to reach out to organizations that may work with these residents. Commissioner McKee said the two local school districts are on par with each other, and noted that people across the country move all the time, changing schools as they go. He asked if there is a reason why the students consider changing school systems to be so oppressive. He said buying land in Chapel Hill is radically different than buying land in Orange County. Female student said the students understand the cost factor, but there is a widely held belief that the Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) is a better school system, with better funding. She said there are other benefits to living in Chapel Hill such as public transportation and community partners. Female student said about 96 surveys were completed and returned. Commissioner McKee said he understood the perception that the CHCCS is the primary school system, but he went to Orange County Schools (OCS) and he challenges the perception that CHCCS is a better system. Female student said people do move for all types of reasons, and in this particular case, it is more to do with the nature of how and why people are being moved. She said these residents want to remain in Chapel Hill, but will not be able to, which makes it racially inequitable. Shodeah Kelly said she moved 9 different times, and moving each time requires forming new friendships, and relationships, different curriculums that left gaps in her knowledge, and as a minority she was not given an opportunity to advocate for herself. She said it leads to a fragmented foundation on which to build educational pursuits. Commissioner McKee said he agrees and understands the stress, but he wants to prevent the quest for perfection from getting in the way of the possible. Chair Dorosin said this is a critical issue for the community. He said this is Orange County's gentrification, and low wealth residents are being displaced. He said finding other options is critical. Commissioner Price said she attended a seminar today that focused on housing and real estate trends, and one of the recommendations was to purchase land/land trust to help keep housing affordable. Commissioner Jacobs suggested that Allison De Marco have someone from OCS come and speak to her class. He said moving is not such an onerous thing, and the County could help more people for less money. Commissioner Burroughs thanked the students for coming tonight, and said it is not so much that it is hard to move, but for folks who are already economically distressed it can be a greater hardship. She said it is not so much about the schools, but about the people. Lucas Risinger said that the residents advocated staying in their community, and it is important to treat minorities the same way as a white community. Female Student said she does not claim to know all of the costs of moving, but it is easy to assume that costs would be larger because of the barriers these residents already face (gaining employment, being undocumented, etc.). She thanked the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) for being willing to engage in this conversation. 2. Proposed Guidelines for the New Orange County Local Rent Supplement Program (OC-LRSP) Sherrill Hampton, Housing Director, introduced Javon Holley, Program Manager for the new Housing Choice Voucher Program.