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15 <br /> Slide #22 <br /> Housing Department - page 171 <br /> Housing Choice Vouchers Under Lease Court-Scheduled Evictions Diverted <br /> 800 400 <br /> 700 350 350 350 <br /> 610 835 <br /> 600 300 300 <br /> 540 274 <br /> 500 499 490 489 <br /> 250 <br /> 400 200 <br /> 300 150 <br /> 200 100 <br /> 100 50 <br /> 0 <br /> FY2016-17 FY2017-18 FY2016-19 FY2019-20 FY202621 FY2021-22 FY2022-23 FY202324 FV2024-25 0 <br /> PM. Budget2022-202a 2022-2023 Actual 2023-20249udgel 2023-2024 Projected 2024-2025 Budget <br /> • 47 voucher holders are currently conducting housing search <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> 22 NORTH CAROLINA <br /> Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked why the number of evictions for the FY24 projection <br /> and the FY25 budget is the same (350). <br /> Travis Myren said that the FY24 budget goal was 274 but that it has increased to 350 at <br /> the year-end and they expect to do the same for next year. <br /> Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked what the strategy is to keep this if there is no additional <br /> eviction assistance. <br /> Blake Rosser, Interim Housing Director, said this was before they knew that there would <br /> be no EHA funding coming in, so he expects it to be quite a bit less. He said the request is$55,000 <br /> and there will be about $150,000 leftover. He said the current spend rate is $80,000 - $90,000 a <br /> month. He said they would have to scale it back somehow. He said they would have to create a <br /> strategy to stretch it out as far as possible. <br /> Chair Bedford said the county is going to add another attorney in the department and if <br /> that would increase the numbers. <br /> Blake Rosser said a second attorney will be helpful and they may be able to touch more <br /> people, but without the funds to pay funds in arrears to landlords, it is unlikely that as many <br /> landlords will be accepting agreements. He said the second attorney will also be for outreach, <br /> education, appeals, and other areas from eviction diversion. <br /> Chair Bedford asked if $163,000 is moved, would they have enough personnel to cover <br /> that work. <br /> Blake Rosser said there is no one right way to deal with it. He said one method is to <br /> reduce the scope and it is easier to handle by someone on staff. He said if they wanted to go full <br /> speed as they are currently, he would suggest that they use part of the funds on temporary <br /> personnel to help current staff. <br /> Chair Bedford said there will still be a Housing helpline, which will be a handout and <br /> referrals to CASA and other housing providers. <br /> Bonnie Hammersley said that before they received ARPA, they budgeted $70,000 in <br /> housing assistance. She said that puts it into perspective. She said that one of the things they <br /> need with eviction diversion is case management. She said that if they do not have the funds to <br />