Agenda - 03-18-2025; 8-a - Minutes

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5 1 go in a lot of different directions. She asked how they can focus on what they can bring best and 2 not duplicate efforts within the county. 3 Jemm Merritt said other issues that have come up are diversity of LGBTQ folks not feeling 4 that their identify was respected or valid. She said they do not want to repeat efforts. She said 5 that dividing into subcommittees has proven helpful because they can focus on individual things. 6 Vice-Chair Hamilton asked where people might not feel welcome. 7 Jemm Merritt said the example she referenced was in a private business. She said that 8 someone was trying to pick up their prescription for HRT and they had a bit of an issue with 9 someone at the pharmacy. 10 Chair Bedford said if the HRC has a need for an increased budget, they should share that 11 information with the director of the Office of Equity and Inclusion. She said she appreciated that 12 they were thinking of concerns in the community. 13 Lynn Nilssen of the Affordable Housing Advisory Board said they are undertaking a 14 historical analysis of how much affordable housing the county has approved since 2001. She 15 said they would like to get an understanding of how much affordable housing is currently in the 16 county. She said they helped review outside agency applications. She said they received 17 presentations on the homelessness coalition and the consolidated plan. She said they are 18 meeting with other organizations that are working on affordable housing issues. She said they 19 would like to work with Justice United in the future as well as other advisory boards and 20 commissions. She said they evaluated CIP applications and made suggestions on how to 21 improve the evaluation matrix going forward. She said the previous year was a transitional year 22 for staff and the board. She said they would like to collaborate with the Human Relations 23 Commission, the Planning Board, and the Economic Development Advisory Board. She said that 24 there are many factors that go into affordable housing. She said they would like to hold a listening 25 session to understand the needs in the community, and they would like to do so in conjunction 26 with the Human Relations Commission. She said they would like to meet with the Board of 27 Commissioners after to relate what they learned during the listening session. She said they would 28 like to make policy suggestions for improving affordability of housing. She said they will provide 29 a report for the historical analysis of affordable housing in the county, where it exists and how 30 much of it there is. 31 Chair Bedford said that when the Affordable Housing Advisory Board saw the mismatch 32 between the rubric, and she thought they did a great job and their analysis, and it matched the 33 Board of Commissioners' thoughts. She said having members of the public provide their time 34 and energy to county needs is valuable and appreciated. 35 Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked what number of affordable housing units is needed in 36 the county, excluding the municipalities. 37 Lynn Nilssen said they would first provide the number of affordable housing units in the 38 county, then they can begin analyzing the gaps. 39 Commissioner Fowler thanked the board for bringing both successes and challenges. 40 Commissioner Carter said thanked them for partnering with the planning board and 41 economic development because this is a critical juncture in time. 42 Blake Rosser, Housing Director, represented the Orange County Housing Authority Board. 43 He said the board oversees the housing choice voucher program. He said they had a meet and 44 greet with participants in the Fall of 2024. He said they convened a resident advisory board in 45 2024, per HUD requirements, to provide input and comments on the annual and five-year plans. 46 He said they participate in landlord roundtables quarterly. He said they filled all their board 47 vacancies and currently have one recent vacancy. He said they have two program participants 48 on the board for the first time and the perspective they offer is fantastic. He said the voucher 49 program collaborates with the Partnership to End Homelessness through the Housing Authority. 50 He said the use of the voucher program is the highest it has been in over a decade. He said they 51 are working with one resident in an effort to create home ownership. He said they have 10+ clients