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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: February 7, 2023 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 8-g <br /> SUBJECT: Adoption of Orange County's HOME-ARP Allocation Plan <br /> DEPARTMENT: Housing <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Attachment 1: HOME-ARP Allocation Plan Corey Root, Housing Director, (919) 245- <br /> Attachment 2: HOME-ARP Allocation Plan 2490 <br /> Resolution <br /> PURPOSE: To consider adoption of a resolution authorizing the submission of the HOME-ARP <br /> Allocation Plan. <br /> BACKGROUND: The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 appropriated $5 billion nationwide to <br /> provide housing, services, and shelter to individuals experiencing homelessness and other <br /> vulnerable populations. The funds were allocated by formula to jurisdictions through the U.S. <br /> Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) <br /> Program. This funding is called "HOME-ARP". In September 2021, HUD awarded the Orange <br /> County HOME Consortium (which consists of the County — the "lead entity" for the Consortium — <br /> and the Towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough) a total of $1,371,401 in HOME-ARP <br /> funds. <br /> Led by the Local Government Affordable Housing Collaborative (a group made up of one elected <br /> official from each jurisdiction that comprises the Consortium), the Orange County HOME <br /> Consortium was required to develop an Allocation Plan to identify priority housing and service <br /> needs in the community that may be supported with HOME-ARP funds, and to describe the <br /> process that will be used to distribute HOME-ARP funds. The Consortium's $1.3 million in HOME- <br /> ARP may not be used for eligible housing projects or activities until an Allocation Plan is approved <br /> by HUD. The Allocation Plan determines how the HOME-ARP funds will be awarded to projects <br /> or activities and broadly describes which types of eligible uses the Consortium plans to prioritize. <br /> Once the Allocation Plan is approved, staff will follow the process outlined in the Plan. <br /> As part of the development of the Plan, Orange County consulted with stakeholders that work with <br /> the "Qualifying Populations". County and Town staff actively engaged stakeholders by presenting <br /> at meetings, soliciting feedback through a survey, and incorporating feedback from the Towns' <br /> community engagement processes around ARPA funding. <br /> The County held two public hearings, the first in Fall 2021 and the second in Fall 2022. Since <br /> then staff have drafted the HOME-ARP Allocation Plan based on the feedback received during <br /> the public hearings and public comment period, on the other community engagement and <br /> stakeholder consultation efforts (including a survey and presentations at community meetings), <br />