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

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I and potential solutions. The group determined an eviction diversion program would offer the 2 best solution. The two most pressing issues are: (1) ensuring attorneys are available to meet 3 the demand; and (2) identifying funds to enable tenants to stay in residence once they have 4 demonstrated some financial capacity to meet rental obligations going forward and the landlord 5 has agreed to let the tenant stay. 6 7 The second aspect is currently being addressed by HCD's Risk Mitigation and Housing 8 Displacement (RM-HD) fund in helping to pay for arrears so low-income renters stave off 9 eviction and remain in their housing. In order to meet the first need, legal counsel needs to be 10 made available to tenants facing eviction. In most cases, low-income renters either represent 11 themselves in court, or don't show up for their hearing, most often resulting in an eviction 12 moving forward. Providing legal support and counsel will enhance greatly the existing work of 13 HCD and RM-HD fund in paying arrears and will ensure that tenants remain in housing by 14 having legal representation. The Orange County Eviction Diversion Program would bring 15 together an Orange County temporary employed bi-lingual attorney, Legal Aid of North Carolina 16 ("Legal Aid"), and pro bono attorneys to represent tenants in court and to act as in court 17 mediators to negotiate agreements between tenants and landlords to avoid eviction. County 18 staff is working with the 18th Judicial District Bar and the NC Pro Bono Resource Center to 19 assist with identifying local pro-bono attorneys, including bi-lingual attorneys, to meet additional 20 community needs. Referrals to the program would come through the existing HCD and Orange 21 County Partnership to End Homelessness' Housing Helpline (a.k.a "Coordinated Entry"). Every 22 person who calls into the Housing Helpline goes through a needs assessment that is best 23 practice and evidence based. In addition, outreach offering legal assistance will be made to 24 every individual tenant with a summary ejectment hearing date. 25 26 As noted, HCD staff will use funds the Board has already allocated for rental arrears for this 27 project through the RM-HD Fund (the sub-fund called "Emergency Housing Assistance", 28 formerly "Housing Stabilization Fund"). The Board approved a one-time transfer of funds 29 ($100,000) from the Local Rent Supplement Program into the RM-HD Fund on April 7, 2020. 30 Since that time, approximately forty thousand ($40,000) in emergency housing assistance has 31 been utilized by Orange County residents experiencing a housing crisis through the Housing 32 Helpline (a.k.a. "Coordinated Entry"). 33 34 In FY19-20, over one hundred and fifty seven thousand dollars ($157,000) in assistance has 35 been funded. The table below illustrates the increase in funding since January 2020. There are 36 approximately $35,400* in Emergency Housing Assistance funds remaining, but with new 37 requests coming in every day, this estimate changes daily— and sometimes dramatically. At 38 this time, a large majority of requests are coming from low-income residents who have been out 39 of work due to COVID-19 and business closures. The Urban Institute estimates that more than 40 5,000 Orange County residents lost employment due to COVID-19, and most of those jobs are 41 in the food service, retail, and accommodation industries6, which make up a significant portion 42 of the County's economic base.7 43 44 6 Urban Institute (2020, April 24). Where Low-Income Jobs Are Being Lost to COVID-19. 45 https://www.urban.org/features/where-low-income-jobs-are-being-lost-covid-19 46 7 Orange County Consolidated Plan. Market Analysis (MA-45): Non-Housing Community 47 Development Assets. http://orangecountync.gov/DocumentCenter/View/10806/Orange-County- 48 NC-Consolidated-Plan-Final-Draft?bidld= 49 Current Emergency Housing Assistance fund criteria is as follows. Full policies can be found 50 here: https://www.orangecountync.gov/2359/Risk-Mitigation-and-Housing-Displacement 51