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7 <br /> Erika Brandt said the total possible points are 32, and some criteria are mutually <br /> exclusive. <br /> PUBLIC COMMENT: <br /> Delores Bailey said she is so thankful for the emergency housing program. She said <br /> EmPOWERment owns 58 affordable housing units throughout Orange County, and all are full. <br /> She said EmPOWERment is seeking $700,000 for 10 units. She said EmPOWERment has <br /> followed the Board's request and has found a project that collaborates with government land, <br /> provides more units, and has funding to leverage. She said this is in partnership with the Pine <br /> Knoll community, and is named PEACH. She said all units will be affordable. She said the <br /> PEACH apartments are necessary, and the funding is critical. <br /> Phillip Walker said he is a lifelong resident of Chapel Hill, and would like to continue to <br /> live in Chapel Hill. He said it is very difficult to afford housing here. He said he has worked for <br /> the University of Nortn Carolina - Chapel Hill for 11 years, and makes $9.50/hour. He said <br /> EmPOWERment has been working with him for 5 years, and an apartment in the PEACH <br /> apartments would have huge impact on his life, and that of his 14-year-old son. <br /> Dan Levine said he works for Center for Community Self-Help, the lead organization <br /> coordinating the Homestead Housing Collaborative. He said he has lived in Orange County for <br /> a long time, and sees the need for affordable housing in the area. He said the bond funds have <br /> been well used thus far, and he hopes the $1.5 million will be awarded. He said the funds will <br /> be stewarded well, and the project will provide the most units to those with the lowest income. <br /> He said the full $1.5 million is needed to secure other funding, and fulfill the project. He said the <br /> Town of Chapel Hill has provided the land, money, as well as staff support. <br /> Douglas Call said he volunteers with Habitat for Humanity, and is pleased that Habitat is <br /> recommended for funding, but the funding awarded is only 54% of the request made. He said <br /> over the past 3 years Habitat has built over 300 homes, and has expanded its services to <br /> include the repair of homes over the past 5 years. He said Weavers Grove in Chapel Hill is <br /> Habitat's most ambitious project ever, and will accommodate over 100 families in affordable <br /> housing, and 136 families in market rate housing that will be selling for less than median price in <br /> the area. He said this affords homeownership to families that may not otherwise be able to <br /> achieve it. He said the Orange County Bond award will be well leveraged, since it will lower the <br /> per unit cost. He asked the BOCC to raise the award amount to the full request of$1.5 million. <br /> Danita Mason-Hogans said the PEACH project will have great impact on many families <br /> with deep roots in Chapel Hill. She said her great, great Uncle James Nun was born in 1882 <br /> and died in 1975. She said her uncle was part of a community in Chapel Hill that has been <br /> mistreated for many generations. She said Dolores Bailey's ancestry is also a part of this <br /> history. She said Orange County has the largest wealth disparities, and changes must be made <br /> to include local people in the conversation. She encouraged the BOCC to change the narrative <br /> for those who have needed help for so long. <br /> David Bright said he is an EmPOWERment Board member, and expressed thanks to the <br /> County for its partnership. He said he sees affordable housing as a way for those who are <br /> economically disadvantaged to grow. He said he was also on the Weaver Street Board and <br /> heard from employees who struggled to find affordable housing. He said the Pine Knoll <br /> community is greatly involved in the PEACH project, and the project will allow those who serve <br /> the community to also live in the community. He said 10 units may seem small, but it is not. He <br /> said EmPOWERment is financially sound, and is ready for bigger projects. <br /> Graham Smokoski said he is with Center for Community Self-Help, and is available for <br /> questions. <br /> Paris Miller said she is a Board member with EmPOWERment, and voiced her support <br /> for the PEACH apartments project. She said EmPOWERment is a small grass roots <br />