Agenda - 04-16-2002 - 9a - Laserfiche WebLink

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13 the staff recommendation for use of Community Development funds. Comment: We believe that the Literacy Council operates a needed service for public housing and other lower-income Chapel Hill residents in an effective manner. We recommend that the Council allocate $11,500 to the Literacy Council. The Town Council previously appropriated $15,000 of 1999-2000 Community Development funds to the Literacy Council to establish the computer literacy lab program, and $9,000 of 2001-2002 funds to expand the program. The Literacy Council has provided computer literacy tutoring at South Estes, Trinity Court/Pritchard Park, and the Hargraves Community Center using equipment purchased with Community Development funds. The agency has also provided one-on-one tutoring for lower income Chapel Hill residents at various sites. During the 21 months of the initial grant, the Literacy Council served 65 lower income Chapel Hill residents. The Literacy Council has continued to outreach to public housing residents and other low-income citizens to try to recruit program participants. 3. Chapel Hill Police Department The Chapel Hill Police Department requested $5,160 to help fund a Summer Youth Work Program. The Police Department proposes to recruit approximately ten, 14-17 year old youths who reside in Pine Knolls, Northside, or public housing neighborhoods. The youths would work twenty hours per week in various Town departments including Police, Housing, Public Works, Parks and Recreation, the Fire Department, the Town Clerk, and the Library. The funds would pay the youths' salaries at a pay rate of$6.00/hour. Comment: We recommend that the Council provide $5,500 of Community Development funds for this program. We believe it would provide an enriching work experience for youth from the areas targeted for neighborhood revitalization. The Police Department has successfully operated this program since 1995. 4. EmPOWERment, Inc. EmPOWERment has requested $7,000 to provide a Transitional Housing Financial Education program to public housing residents who wish to move out of public housing into the housing market. Harvey Reid of H.R. Consulting, who would provide classes and one- on-one counseling to participants in the Town's Transitional Housing Program, would implement the program. At the March 26 public hearing, Harvey Reid stated that EmPOWERment was seeking funds to provide financial literacy counseling to public housing residents. Comment: Though provision'of financial education for public housing residents would be an eligible Community Development activity, we do not recommend funding this program at this time. A similar service is currently being provided by the Town's ACHIEVE program