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25 <br /> CR-25 - Homeless and Other Special Needs 91.220(d, e); 91.320(d, e); 91.520(c) <br /> Evaluate the jurisdiction's progress in meeting its specific objectives for reducing and ending <br /> homelessness through: <br /> Reaching out to homeless persons (especially unsheltered persons) and assessing their <br /> individual needs <br /> The Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness (OCPEH) coordinates among homeless service <br /> providers, directs grant activities for the Continuum of Care (CoQ and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) <br /> annual competition, and administers four direct service programs.The latest Orange County Plan to End <br /> Homelessness was adopted in May of 2019.The plan is structured into eight main objectives with 12 <br /> action steps to ensure that homelessness is a rare, brief and one-time experience and to sustain an end <br /> to homelessness in Orange County.The plan is available at: https://www.ocpehnc.com/plan. <br /> The Continuum of Care completes an annual "Point in Time Count" each January to determine the <br /> number of people experiencing homelessness on one night in Orange County.The 2021 Point-In-Time <br /> Count was conducted in January of 2021.This count identified 176 people who experienced <br /> homelessness in Orange County, including 12 veterans.There were 36 people living unsheltered and 140 <br /> people in shelters. <br /> The Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness provides Coordinated Entry via a centralized <br /> access point,the Housing Helpline, which connects residents with housing resources and other services. <br /> The Helpline is accessible by phone (919-245-2655) or e-mail (housinghelp@orangecountync.gov) and <br /> in-person on a limited basis due to the Covid pandemic. In order to provide the needed resources to <br /> County residents,the Department and Housing Helpline staff collaborate with other community service <br /> providers, including:the Orange County Departments of Social Services,Aging, and Health; Habitat for <br /> Humanity; CASA; EmPOWERment; Community Home Trust; Compass Center; Inter-Faith Council for <br /> Social Services; Durham Veterans Affairs Healthcare; UNC Hospitals, Community Empowerment Fund; <br /> and the two County public school districts. Housing Helpline staff direct people to the resources they <br /> need to prevent homelessness,to divert people from homelessness,to emergency housing referrals, <br /> and to permanent housing referrals via case conferencing using a by-name list at the HOME Committee. <br /> Permanent housing referrals are available for veterans programs, including HUD-VASH and SSVF,for <br /> Housing Choice Vouchers,for Permanent Supportive Housing, and for Rapid Re-housing. <br /> In the fall of 2020, in partnership with the Orange County Criminal Justice Resource Department, OCPEH <br /> launched the Street Outreach, Harm Reduction and Deflection program.The program connects people <br /> living unsheltered in Orange County with housing and services.The three team members, including two <br /> peer navigators and a clinical coordinator, use a relationship-based model, provide ongoing <br /> engagement, response, and case management to people living unsheltered with the goal of reducing <br /> harm and deflecting individuals from criminal justice system involvement. <br /> CAPER 23 <br /> OMB Control No:2506-0117(exp.09/30/2021) <br />