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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: June 6, 2023 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 8-q <br /> SUBJECT: Amendments to the Orange County 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 /> 2490 <br /> PURPOSE: To approve proposed amendments to the HOME-ARP Allocation Plan approved at <br /> the Board's February 7, 2023 meeting to remove a named preference and prioritization method. <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 via the HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) Program. This funding is <br /> called "HOME-ARP." In September 2021, HUD awarded the Orange County HOME Consortium <br /> (which consists of the County and the Towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough) a total <br /> of $1,371,401 in HOME-ARP funds. People in these four qualifying populations are eligible for <br /> HOME-ARP funding: (1) experiencing homelessness, (2) at-risk of homelessness, (3) fleeing, or <br /> attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human <br /> trafficking, and (4) veterans and families that include a veteran family member that meet one of <br /> the preceding criteria. <br /> The Local Government Affordable Housing Collaborative (a group made up of one elected official <br /> from each jurisdiction that comprises the Consortium) developed a HOME-ARP Allocation Plan <br /> to identify priority housing and service needs in the community that may be supported with HOME- <br /> ARP funds, and to describe the process that will be used to distribute HOME-ARP funds. The <br /> Consortium's $1.3 million in HOME-ARP may not be used for eligible housing projects or activities <br /> until an Allocation Plan is approved by HUD. The Allocation Plan determines how the HOME-ARP <br /> funds will be awarded to projects or activities and broadly describes which types of eligible uses <br /> the Consortium plans to prioritize. Once HUD approves the HOME-ARP Allocation Plan, staff will <br /> follow the process outlined in the Plan to distribute funding. <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 />