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93 <br /> SP-60 Homelessness Strategy - 91.415, 91.215(i) <br /> Describe how the jurisdiction's strategic plan goals contribute to: <br /> Reaching out to people experiencing homelessness (especially unsheltered) and assessing <br /> their individual needs <br /> The Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness (OCPEH) is the lead for the Orange County <br /> Continuum of Care (CoC). OCPEH's HOME Committee (no relation to the HOME Investment Partnerships <br /> Program) consists of about 20 housing and service providers that interact with people who are <br /> experiencing chronic and/or particularly vulnerable homelessness, many of whom have <br /> disabilities. Service providers involved include nonprofits, DSS and other county departments, UNC <br /> Hospitals,veterans' organizations, law enforcement, private attorneys, and more. The Committee meets <br /> monthly to collaborate on finding housing and services (e.g., medical, mental health, substance use, and <br /> legal services)for these people.The CoC uses its Coordinated Entry system to assess people's needs, <br /> score their level of need, and prioritize them for permanent supportive housing, and conducts street <br /> outreach program to reach people who are living unsheltered. However, OCPEH has identified street <br /> outreach as an area in the county's homeless services system in need of more funding. <br /> Addressing the emergency shelter and transitional housing needs of people experiencing <br /> homelessness <br /> Orange County's only emergency shelter is run by the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service (IFC). IFC also <br /> offers a transitional housing program for men.The Freedom House Recovery Center provides residential <br /> mental health and substance use services for men, women, children, and families (in addition to <br /> outpatient and crisis services), and there are several Oxford Houses in the county that provide <br /> transitional housing for people in recovery from substance use disorder.The county does not have a <br /> domestic violence shelter. <br /> Helping people experiencing homelessness (especially people and families experiencing <br /> chronic homelessness; families with children; veterans and their families; and <br /> unaccompanied youth) make the transition to permanent housing and independent living, <br /> including shortening the period of time that individuals and families experience <br /> homelessness, facilitating access to affordable housing units, and preventing individuals and <br /> families who were recently homeless from becoming homeless again. <br /> The CoC operates a Rapid Re-Housing program for veterans with state ESG money, but OCPEH has <br /> identified this area as a gap in need of increased funding and better alignment with best practice (i.e., <br /> flexible, individualized mix of services,financial assistance, and housing navigation). From January to <br /> April 2019,there were 105 people on the waiting list for Rapid Re-Housing compared with 65 people <br /> during the same time period in 2018, and there is currently no Rapid Re-Housing program for non- <br /> veterans. <br /> Service providers, such as IFC, Community Empowerment Fund (CEF), and Cardinal Innovations (the <br /> LME/MCO for Orange County), provide case management services to clients experiencing homelessness <br /> and can help connect them to housing. Orange County has also seen success in implementing a <br /> FFY 2020—2024 Orange County, NC HOME Consortium 90 <br /> Consolidated Plan <br /> OMB Control No:2506-0117(exp.06/30/2018) <br />