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32 <br /> AP-85 Other Actions <br /> Introduction <br /> The Orange County HOME Consortium has developed the following actions to address obstacles to <br /> meeting underserved needs, foster affordable housing, reduce lead-based hazards, reduce the number <br /> of families living in poverty, develop institutional structures, and enhance coordination between public <br /> and private housing and social service agencies. <br /> Actions planned to address obstacles to meeting underserved needs <br /> Despite efforts by the County,Towns, and other affordable housing actors and service providers, there <br /> remain significant obstacles to meeting the needs of underserved people and communities. <br /> Previously, the Consortium identified about$114,000 in HOME funds from 2016 that were allocated to <br /> the County for single-family rehabilitation but were never spent.The County reallocated those funds for <br /> tenant-based rental assistance through the Rapid Rehousing program to better address resident needs. <br /> The County also scaled up and secured significant federal and state funding (about$4 million in calendar <br /> year 2020) for emergency housing assistance, both through the local Emergency Housing Assistance <br /> (EHA) program,the statewide HOPE program, and federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and CDBG- <br /> CV funds,to help stabilize households who are experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness so <br /> they can lower their exposure to COVID-19 by having a safe, non-congregate place to stay. Since 2020, <br /> the County has disbursed over$18,000,000 in funds toward the EHA program. After the expiration of all <br /> state and federal pandemic funds,the County now funds EHA locally at approximately$500,000 <br /> annually, which is enough to assist about 150 households at risk of eviction. <br /> Actions planned to foster and maintain affordable housing <br /> Using FY 2021-2022 HOME funds, the Consortium will help local nonprofit agencies undertake the <br /> following projects to foster affordable housing: <br /> • CASA—Rental Construction: Funds will be allocated to CASA for the pre-development and <br /> construction costs of 22 units for households at or below 80%of the Area Median Income. <br /> • Pee Wee Homes—Rental Construction: Funds will be allocated to Pee Wee Homes to finance <br /> construction of three (3) rental units at 106 Hill Street in Carrboro. Units will be leased to <br /> households experiencing homelessness and earning less than 30%AMI <br /> • Administration—2025:Administration, planning, and policy setting for HOME funds. <br /> Actions planned to reduce lead-based paint hazards <br /> The Consortium ensures that County rehabilitation staff and the contractors they work with are <br /> knowledgeable and up-to-date on lead-based paint (LBP) requirements of all federal housing programs, <br /> distributes information on LBP hazards to all households that participate in County housing programs, <br /> conducts LBP inspections and assessments as necessary, and implements environmental control or <br /> abatement measures for LBP hazards as applicable in all federally-funded projects.This strategy allows <br /> Annual Action Plan 30 <br /> FY 2025-2026 <br />