Agenda - 09-01-20; 8-a - Minutes

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1 2 1) approve the development of an Eviction Diversion Program in Orange County; 3 2) approve Budget Amendment#9-A appropriating $187,950 from the Social Justice 4 Reserve for the Program; and 5 3) authorize staff to seek funding for the Eviction Diversion Program from the Towns, 6 and donations from the communities and businesses. 7 8 Annette Moore presented the item, along with Caitlin Fenhagen, Criminal Justice 9 Resource Director, and Emila Sutton, Housing Director: 10 11 BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 Pandemic has had a devastating effect on the global 12 economy. In February 2020, Orange County along with Buncombe County led the state with the 13 lowest unemployment rate of 2.9%. Because of COVID-19, Orange County's unemployment 14 rate in March 2020 increased to 3.4%. With the increase in unemployment, staff have seen an 15 increase in requests for food and housing assistance, particularly in the communities that 16 cannot receive government assistance. The Orange County Housing and Community 17 Development Department (OCHCD) in particular has seen the number of requests for 18 emergency housing assistance through the Housing Displacement Fund more than quadruple 19 in April (table below) and calls to the Housing Helpline (aka Coordinated Entry) have increased 20 sharply from 250 in April to more than 650 in May. The Housing Helpline receives 21 approximately three to five calls per week from residents specifically seeking legal counsel for a 22 housing issue, and this number is rising. Finally, the Clerk of Court's Office has seen a dramatic 23 increase in eviction filings and is adding additional court hearing dates to address this increase. 24 25 Eviction destabilizes the lives of families and has consequences for the entire community. 26 Those most affected by evictions are the most vulnerable populations. Numerous studies show 27 the negative impact of eviction on health, child development and achievement, and well-being.1 28 There is also research showing that preventing eviction can reduce costs to the health care 29 system, lower costs and reduce the burden on shelter and other emergency housing programs, 30 ease the administrative burden on the courts, reduce job loss, reduce negative educational 31 outcomes, and prevent the decline of communities that occurs when people are displaced.2 A 32 2018 study by the Philadelphia Bar Association found that if the City of Philadelphia allocated 33 $3.5 million per year to fund counsel for eligible low-income tenants facing eviction, the city 34 would save $45.2 million per year, a return of$12 for every $1 spent.3 Research also shows 35 that housing assistance, such as that provided through the Risk Mitigation and Housing 36 Displacement Fund, reduces hardship and increases economic opportunity for low-income 37 families.4 The Risk Mitigation and Housing Displacement Fund currently, and the Eviction 38 Diversion Program when in operation, will provide cost savings to the community, help stabilize 39 and preserve the housing market in Orange County5, and most importantly help Orange County 40 residents remain in their homes and avoid the negative impacts of eviction. 41 42 The Departments of Human Rights and Relations and Housing and Community Development 43 have been working toward bringing forward a proposed Eviction Diversion Program to the 44 Board of County Commissioners since last year. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and its 45 economic impact on the community, there is a critical need for this program now. Eviction 46 diversion programs were started around 2010 to address the number of evictions from the 47 recession. 48 49 The Human Rights and Relations, Housing and Community Development (HCD), and Criminal 50 Justice Resource Departments, along with the Clerk of Court, the Chief Magistrate, Carolina 51 Student Legal Services, NC Pro Bono Resource Center, Orange Chatham Legal Aid, 52 Commissioner Mark Marcoplos and Jamie Paulen met to discuss the impending eviction crisis