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11 <br /> He said they will need law enforcement buy-in to make sure those diversions occur, and the facility <br /> operates properly. <br /> Vice Chair McKee said that he wants to make sure that the process is clear up front so <br /> they can assure that there is a seamless operation that helps those who need it but does not <br /> impinge on Sheriff's Office staff. <br /> Chair Bedford said that the Sheriff's office, the Chiefs of Police, the EMS, Magistrates <br /> office, Cait Fenhagen, and the UNC student vice president have been at every monthly meeting. <br /> Vice Chair McKee said he just wanted to make sure things flow smoothly with all the <br /> different entities involved. <br /> Commissioner Price said there are models where law enforcement brings individuals to a <br /> facility for a warm hand off. She said it's a quick hand off, and then up to the health professionals. <br /> Commissioner Hamilton said RHA is a provider that runs these types of facilities, and they <br /> are being consulted for the plans. She said they will not be involved with construction. She said <br /> that when they get to the point where they need to operate, they would solicit bids. <br /> Travis Myren said that was correct. <br /> Chair Bedford asked about CPL architects and if they have built any other NC facilities. <br /> Adam Chahulski, with CPL Architects, said they built the Lenoir crisis center. He said that <br /> they partnered with RHA to build facilities and it is a partnership where they can learn from each <br /> other. He said the firm has about 500 people with 19 offices and 25 dedicated solely to health <br /> care design. <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Fowler, seconded by Commissioner Richards, to: <br /> 1. Authorize the expenditure of up to $172,325 for advance planning services to develop a <br /> Behavioral Health Crisis Diversion facility and direct the County Attorney's Office to draft a <br /> contract with CPL Architects and RHA Health reflecting terms similar to those in Attachment <br /> 1; and <br /> 2. Upon completion and approval of the contract by the County Attorney's Office, authorize the <br /> County Manager to sign the contract. <br /> VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> 7. Reports <br /> a. Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness —2022 Data Update <br /> The Board received an overview of the work of the Orange County Partnership to End <br /> Homelessness (OCPEH), including updated data about homelessness in Orange County <br /> submitted to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development(HUD) earlier this <br /> year, and current homeless system gaps. <br /> BACKGROUND: The Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness (OCPEH) was created <br /> in 2008 to coordinate funding and activities to end homelessness in Orange County. OCPEH is <br /> jointly funded by Orange County(39.5%)and the Towns of Carrboro(14.3%), Chapel Hill (39.7%), <br /> and Hillsborough (6.5%). <br /> The 2022 Homeless Point-in-Time count showed a decrease in the number of people <br /> experiencing homelessness, down from 176 people in 2021 to 133 in 2022. There are many <br /> success stories, including filling the homeless system gaps and expanding program offerings now <br /> available in the community. Looking at numbers from previous years, there are also significant <br /> barriers and challenges in the work to prevent and end homelessness, and little progress overall <br /> in decreasing the number of people experiencing homelessness as this number is virtually flat <br /> since 2017. <br />