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IV. Old and New Business <br /> a. AHAB Vacancy Update <br /> Ms. Dewees announced that the Board currently has three vacancies. Four previous <br /> applicants are still interested and the Clerk's office has put out a call for additional <br /> applications. With the upcoming holidays, it may be a few months before the seats <br /> are filled. In the next month, the AHAB can nominate members through an online <br /> poll. <br /> b. Elect Vice Chair <br /> With Douglas Boemker's resignation from the board, the vice chair position is <br /> vacant. Chair Sykes noted that Ms. Fisher is the second vice chair and that the <br /> Board will assume Ms. Fisher will be the new vice chair. Chair Sykes and Ms. <br /> Dewees will confirm with Ms. Fisher that she is willing to serve in this role. <br /> c. Update on Outside Agency Funding and Process <br /> Ms. Dewees presented an update on the annual outside agency funding process. <br /> The Department is in the process of sending out the final funding agreements with <br /> performance metrics. Organizations funded are CEF, Center for Community Self- <br /> Help, Community Home Trust, EmPOWERment Inc., Habitat for Humanity of <br /> Orange County, and Rebuilding Together. Many of the performance measures in the <br /> funding agreement are quantifiable and measured progress can be shared <br /> throughout the year for increased transparency with the AHAB Board. <br /> d. Community Development Programs Update (slide deck attached) <br /> Ms. Brandt and Ms. Dewees provided an update on three of the Community <br /> Development programs: Longtime Homeowner Assistance (LHA), HOME-ARP, and <br /> Emergency Housing Assistance. <br /> The Longtime Homeowner Assistance (LHA) Program was created in response to <br /> community advocacy and concern about systemic racial inequities related to <br /> property taxes. <br /> Orange County homeowners who have experienced an increase in their county tax <br /> bill can apply to receive help paying the increase in the County portion of the bill. <br /> The program covers the increase in County taxes, not the entire bill or any taxes <br /> from other jurisdictions. The awards through the LHA program will be applied directly <br /> to the tax bill. <br /> Ms. Mahaley asked staff if these funds are available to people who are <br /> undocumented. Staff noted that the application does not ask about immigration <br /> status, so if they are otherwise eligible, it should not be an issue. <br />