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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: December 13, 2005 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. 9_Q <br />SUBJECT: Transfer Funds From the Critical Needs Reserve to Social Services for <br />Emergency Energy Assistance for Low-Income Families <br />DEPARTMENT: Social Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Report on Emergency Assistance <br />Programs <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Nancy Coston, 245-2800 <br />PURPOSE: To consider appropriating $102,865 in additional County funds to help address <br />increased emergency needs of low-income families due to rising energy costs and increased <br />numbers of eligible families. <br />BACKGROUND: The Department of Social Services (DSS), through its emergency assistance <br />programs, provides a safety net for families experiencing crises. A number of factors indicate <br />that the demand for emergency assistance will be high this year and greater than the funds <br />currently available. During the first four months of last fiscal year, DSS spent $74,140 on <br />emergencies, which compares to this fiscal year's spending for the first four months of $95,865. <br />Another area of concern is that the number of families receiving Food Stamps in Orange Ccunty <br />has continued to grow each year including an increase from 2,562 families in October of 2004 <br />to 2,904 families in October 2005, an increase of 13%, The Food Stamp program is usually a <br />goad indicator of the effect of economic conditions on low-income families and often forecasts <br />the level of need for other assistance, Additionally, there are significant increases projected in <br />energy costs, including approximately 50% in natural gas costs. The current number of needy <br />families, the increased spending for the current year, and the increased costs for fuel and <br />electricity are creating concern about the department's ability to meet the needs of the residents <br />of Orange County, particularly as the winter season begins. <br />The County Manager's office and Social Services staff recently held discussions with the <br />various energy providers as well as partner agencies providing assistance to Orange County <br />families. Efforts are underway by all parties to protect the most vulnerable families and to make <br />sure that the agencies and families effectively utilize all available avenues to assure that <br />families can obtain needed services during the coldest months, <br />