ORD-2023-040-Approval of Budget Amendment #3-A to Fund the Bridge Housing Opportunity at 2032 Homestead Road in Chapel Hill in Collaboration with Alliance Health and Caramore

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Advocate , whose property contains several Pee Wee Homes . In addition , the property at 2032 Homestead Road is in close proximity to Inter-faith Council ( IFC ) properties , as well as Orange County ' s Southern Human Services Center and Seymour Center . Since assuming ownership , Caramore has provided enhancements to the home and ensured its upkeep . Over the last several months , Alliance Health , Caramore and Orange County human services leaders have been discussing whether this property could be utilized to fill critical housing , behavioral health and reentry needs . It was determined by these stakeholders that the property could best serve the community as a new collaborative Bridge Housing program for individuals with behavioral health diagnoses . With escalating numbers of residents in Orange County experiencing homelessness with behavioral health needs seeking stabilization and support on their way to permanent housing , this program will provide critical housing and interventions for their support . The Bridge Housing program at 2032 Homestead Road will serve six individuals in four bedrooms for up to five months . Four (4 ) of the beds will serve individuals identified by Orange County , and two (2 ) beds will serve individuals identified by Alliance Health . The program will be staffed seven ( 7 ) days a week with two (2 ) positions providing case management and peer support through individual and group programming . Orange County housing , behavioral health , reentry and social service providers will have full access to the home to provide necessary additional supports . Referrals to fill the four (4 ) Orange County-funded beds will be placed via Coordinated Entry to ensure alignment with Orange County priorities , reduce duplication of efforts , and facilitate faster connection to permanent housing . The program would be managed by Caramore under a contract with Alliance Health . As Alliance Health already has an existing relationship with Caramore , this additional program collaboration would be far more cost- effective than retaining a new provider . Since 1974 , Caramore has been in Chapel Hill providing vocational and residential support services to adults living with mental illness . The Caramore model of services is client- centered and effective , with its services being advocacy- oriented and community- based . Over the years , thousands of Caramore clients have successfully transitioned to independent living and employment . The Homestead property and the collaboration between Alliance Health , Caramore and Orange County provides a truly unique opportunity to provide a centrally- located , short-term supportive housing model that fills a significant gap in the Homeless System Gaps Analysis . The Town of Chapel Hill has been notified of this proposal for the property at 2032 Homestead Road , and Housing Director Sarah Vinas has ensured Orange County that there are no issues from a zoning perspective and that implementation efforts can proceed without community engagement or additional notification being required . The financing of this Bridge Housing program will be a partnership between Orange County , Caramore and Alliance Health . This chart below details the costs associated with a necessary renovation , the costs to Caramore during the two - month renovation , the start- up costs and the annual operating expenses for the six- bed program .