Agenda - 11-05-20; 8-a - Minutes

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10 addressed. He said he is excited about this program, but would like a slightly zoomed out 1 perspective of the plan ahead. 2 Commissioner Dorosin referred to the $257,000 grant, and asked if it will all go to 3 staffing costs. He asked if there are other costs, and if there is additional grant funds available 4 to meet them. He said sustainability is vital. 5 Corey Root said there are a number of gaps that are exacerbated by COVID, so the next 6 logical step needs to come from the Partnership to End Homelessness (PTEH) leadership team. 7 She said more non-congregant shelter is greatly needed, and people experiencing 8 homelessness are at a higher risk for COVID. She said there are continued gaps around 9 housing resource programs and permanent support housing, which could be the next priority. 10 Commissioner Dorosin asked if non-congregant housing means single room housing. 11 Corey Root said the CDC recommends having individual rooms for those experiencing 12 homelessness. She said the County moved people into hotels in May, and FEMA is covering 13 those costs. 14 Caitlin Fenhagen said the majority of the grant is for salary and benefits, but $10,000 is 15 for program services such as transportation, emergency supplies, staff mileage, etc. 16 Commissioner Greene said this is great news. She said looking ahead this is a great 17 opportunity to redirect police funding; to do a community reset. She said this type of work 18 should not be law enforcement’s role, but rather social workers’. 19 Commissioner Marcoplos said this is really great work. He asked if homelessness is 20 rising, and if the coming year will make the crisis more acute. 21 Corey Root said the latest numbers are from January 2020. She said they count once 22 per year and it was 124, down from 132. She said numbers have been relatively flat over the 23 past decade. She said she expects numbers to rise in the coming year, but homelessness often 24 lags behind as an indicator by about 18-24 months. She said staff will keep a very close watch 25 on the numbers. She said having the street outreach team will provide real time data, especially 26 for those who are experiencing unsheltered homelessness. 27 Chair Rich said this is a great update. She said it will be a challenge to find ongoing 28 funding, but she has great confidence in the staff. 29 Caitlin Fenhagen said law enforcement partners have been particularly supportive of this 30 program, along with the downtown partners, and, of course, the Commissioners. 31 32 3. Government Alliance on Racial & Equity (“GARE”) Progress Report: Advancing 33 Racial Equity and Transforming Government Progress Report 34 35 PURPOSE: 36 A Progress Report on the work of the Orange County Government Alliance on Race & Equity 37 (“GARE”) staff cohort that has trained with other North Carolina jurisdictions since October 2019 38 to advance racial equity and create a plan to undo structural racism in County government. 39 40 BACKGROUND: 41 The Government Alliance and Race & Equity (“GARE”) is a national network of governments 42 working to achieve racial equity and advance opportunities for all. GARE features three 43 emphases: 44  Supporting jurisdictions that are at the forefront of work to advance racial equity. 45  Building pathways for new jurisdictions to begin doing racial equity work, including 46 cohorts of new jurisdictions. 47  Expanding and strengthening local and regional collaborations that are broadly inclusive 48 and focused on achieving racial equity. 49 50