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2 <br /> in Orange County. He said that they are not aware of any research to show the effectiveness of <br /> previous affordable housing projects. He said that in looking forward, it would be nice to know if <br /> the things the county is spending money on are actually helping. He said they would like to know <br /> if previous projects have actually helped affordability in the specific areas that have been targeted. <br /> He said they want to know which areas of the county have been helped the most. He said they <br /> plan to start that in May. He said that advocacy is another key point and making sure the <br /> community's thoughts get to the Board of County Commissioners. <br /> Commissioner Richards asked how the research project would be structured. <br /> Matthew Ferguson said that the members of the Affordable Housing Board would look <br /> through the records of previous board meetings to see which projects have been approved and <br /> the money that was spent. He said they will then look at the housing data to see how the homeless <br /> population has been impacted and what is the population that needs housing assistance. He said <br /> the project will not be contracted out. <br /> Vice-Chair Greene encouraged the Affordable Housing Advisory Board to take advantage <br /> of resources that already exist. She said that the Chapel Hill Housing Authority and the <br /> Partnership to End Homelessness already have a lot of data. She said it was a great idea to go <br /> back and look at 20 years of expenditures. She asked if the board is looking at housing for the <br /> whole county, including municipalities. <br /> Matthew Ferguson said yes. <br /> Commissioner Hamilton said it is important to define affordable housing and being clear <br /> on that. <br /> Chair Bedford thanked the board for reviewing applications for the affordable housing <br /> funds. She said that the questions brought up by the Affordable Housing Advisory Board were <br /> similar to the questions she had. She said she thought the board did a good job of reconciling <br /> the issue of naturally occurring affordable housing with what was in the rubric. She said she <br /> thinks the board will be reviewing, updating, and bringing the rubric back to the BOCC in the <br /> future. She said that advisory boards can learn from each other and encouraged the Affordable <br /> Housing Advisory Board to meet with other groups. <br /> Commissioner Portie-Ascott thanked the Affordable Housing Advisory Board for their work <br /> and the proposed research project. She asked if the board would establish goals on the number <br /> of affordable housing units needed in the county. <br /> Matthew Ferguson said that could be at a later stage, but right now they want to focus on <br /> what has been done previously and then can begin looking forward. <br /> Vice-Chair Greene said that was something they would hope they could find a contractor <br /> to do for all the jurisdictions in the county. She said that Chapel Hill has done a housing study <br /> which gets down to very specific levels of income and the types of housing needed. <br /> Commissioner Fowler said she appreciated the clearly delineated goals and looks forward <br /> to hearing more from the board. <br /> Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked if the research will review how zoning impacts <br /> affordable housing. <br /> Matthew Ferguson said that once they have the data, they could look at if there were <br /> zoning changes during the study period. He said that it is not currently part of the project, but it <br /> could be kept in mind as they move forward. <br /> Commissioner Fowler said having a discussion with the Planning Board could be <br /> beneficial for the research project. <br /> Alice Mahood from the Orange County Housing Authority Board said one of the biggest <br /> accomplishments is initiating a waiting list for the first time since 2017, increased their voucher <br /> utilization from 575 to 630 in just a single year, they held their first event with a client meet and <br /> greet and plan to hold more, they have issued all 19 emergency housing vouchers, they have 4 <br /> new participants approved for the home ownership program and for the first time since she's been <br /> on the board that they have a full board. She said that they have two residents on the board, and <br />