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28 <br /> AP-65 Homeless and Other Special Needs Activities <br /> Introduction <br /> The Orange County Partnership to End Homeless (OCPEH) coordinates the Orange County Continuum of <br /> Care (CoC).The organization is jointly funded by four local governments: Orange County and the Towns <br /> of Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough. <br /> Describe the jurisdictions one-year goals and actions for reducing and ending homelessness <br /> including: <br /> Reaching out to homeless persons(especially unsheltered persons) and assessing their <br /> individual needs <br /> OCPEH's HOME Committee (no relation to the HOME Investment Partnerships Program) consists of 20 <br /> housing and service providers that interact with people who are experiencing chronic and/or particularly <br /> vulnerable homelessness, many of whom have disabilities. Service providers involved include nonprofits, <br /> DSS and other county departments, UNC Hospitals,veterans' organizations, law enforcement, private <br /> attorneys, and more.The Committee meets monthly to collaborate on finding housing and services (e.g., <br /> medical, mental health, substance use, and legal services) for these people.The CoC uses its <br /> Coordinated Entry system to assess people's needs, score their level of need, and prioritize them for <br /> permanent supportive housing, and conducts a street outreach program to reach people who are living <br /> unsheltered. However, OCPEH has identified street outreach as an area in the County's homeless <br /> services system in need of more funding. <br /> Addressing the emergency shelter and transitional housing needs of homeless persons <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 homeless persons(especially chronically homeless individuals and families,families <br /> with children, veterans and their families, and unaccompanied youth)make the transition to <br /> permanent housing and independent living, including shortening the period of time that <br /> individuals and families experience homelessness,facilitating access for homeless individuals <br /> and families to affordable housing units, and preventing individuals and families who were <br /> recently homeless from becoming homeless again <br /> OCPEH identified Rapid Rehousing as a gap in need of increased funding and better alignment with best <br /> practice (i.e.,flexible, individualized mix of services,financial assistance, and housing navigation). In May <br /> 2020, OCPEH launched a Rapid Rehousing program (funded with HOME and state ESG)that works <br /> through the CoC's HOME Committee to provide short-to mid-term rental assistance to the community's <br /> most vulnerable people experiencing homelessness.The CoC also operates a Rapid Rehousing program <br /> Annual Action Plan 26 <br /> FY 2025-2026 <br />