Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
58 <br /> Community Input and Feedback <br /> Orange County held five community engagement and input sessions across the County at <br /> community centers throughout February.Staff engaged over 50 residents through the public input <br /> process and guided conversations around HOME eligible uses, County needs, and resident issues. <br /> Additionally,the County distributed a resident survey to understand the needs and funding <br /> priorities of community members. 133 survey responses were received and 55 people attended in- <br /> person community feedback sessions. <br /> Engagement Session Feedback <br /> The community engagement sessions highlighted critical housing challenges in Orange County, <br /> particularly for low-income homeowners and renters.Across all meetings, concerns revolved <br /> around housing affordability, home repairs, displacement, infrastructure, and access to program <br /> funding. Below is a summary of key themes and takeaways, contextualized within the broader <br /> housing landscape. <br /> • Housing Preservation <br /> o Home repair programs are essential to prevent displacement and maintain <br /> affordable homeownership. <br /> o Targeted funding for repairs, particularly for low-income and elderly homeowners, <br /> should be prioritized. <br /> o Simplifying application processes and providing technical assistance can improve <br /> program accessibility. <br /> o Contractors in low-income neighborhoods should be included in bids for repair <br /> work. <br /> o Landlord engagement is needed to ensure rental properties are maintained, as <br /> renters lack access to home repair funding. <br /> • Affordability <br /> o Rising rents and lack of affordability are displacing long-term residents and low- <br /> income renters. <br /> o The current definition of"affordable" (80%AMI) may be too high—suggestions to <br /> redefine affordability for households at 60%or even 30%AMI. <br /> o Stronger tenant protections and incentives for affordability restrictions could <br /> mitigate displacement. <br /> o Down payment assistance programs should be expanded to help renters transition <br /> to homeownership. <br /> o Infrastructure improvements should be prioritized for low-income areas, ensuring <br /> equitable access to essential utilities. <br /> • Community <br /> o Ongoing community engagement is essential to build trust and ensure programs <br /> reflect community needs. <br /> o Smaller organizations that provide impactful community-driven housing solutions <br /> should not be overlooked. <br /> o Public meetings should be more accessible, including evening and weekend <br /> scheduling,virtual options, and multilingual support. <br /> 55 <br />