Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
1 <br /> ORD-2023-040 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: November 14, 2023 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 6-b <br /> SUBJECT: Approval of Budget Amendment #3-A to Fund the Bridge Housing Opportunity <br /> at 2032 Homestead Road in Chapel Hill in Collaboration with Alliance Health <br /> and Caramore, Inc. <br /> DEPARTMENTS: Housing, Criminal Justice <br /> Resource <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Partnership to End Homelessness Gaps Rachel Waltz, 919-245-2496 <br /> Analysis Caitlin Fenhagen, 919-245-2303 <br /> Cost Estimates <br /> Alliance PowerPoint Presentation <br /> PURPOSE: To approve Budget Amendment #3-A to provide start-up and short-term operational <br /> funding for a Bridge Housing program at 2032 Homestead Road in Chapel Hill in collaboration <br /> with Alliance Health and Caramore, Inc. <br /> BACKGROUND: Bridge Housing and therapeutic support is an evidence-based, best practice <br /> for ensuring stabilization for individuals exiting homelessness, incarceration and institutions. This <br /> short-term, low barrier housing coupled with supportive services is designed to enhance <br /> opportunities for an individual's successful transition into permanent housing. The model provides <br /> safe and temporary housing for 60 to 120 days with a focus on recovery supports, developing <br /> independent living skills, connections to housing navigation, case management and peer support. <br /> Bridge Housing has been identified as a critical need in the Orange County Partnership to End <br /> Homelessness System Gaps Analysis for several years. Currently, there is no accessible, non- <br /> voucher Bridge Housing serving residents in Orange County seeking to exit homelessness or <br /> seeking short-term stabilization following reentry from incarceration or institutionalization. <br /> In July 2023, Ann Oshel, the Alliance Health Vice President for Community Health and Well-Being, <br /> approached Orange County regarding a residential property at 2032 Homestead Road in Chapel <br /> Hill that was vacant and owned by Caramore, Inc. Ms. Oshel suggested that the property could <br /> be reimagined to fill an Orange County housing need. The residence had been previously <br /> operated since 2015 as a licensed, long-term group home for persons with mental illness. The <br /> property was owned by Gary Gaddy and Sandra Herring with the intended purpose of providing <br /> long-term supportive housing for individuals with mental health needs. The group home closed <br /> prior to COVID and was abandoned by the provider. The owners then gifted the property to <br /> Caramore Inc., in 2019 with the expressed purpose of serving individuals with behavioral needs <br /> facing housing crisis. The five-bedroom, brick ranch home on .75 acres of land is centrally located <br /> on Homestead Road in Chapel Hill, next to a city bus stop, and neighboring the Church of the <br />