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33 <br /> 1 Slide #14 <br /> Questions? <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> NOR]1-1 CAROLINA <br /> 2 <br /> 3 Vice-Chair Hamilton said she is in support of Phase I for the project, but wanted more <br /> 4 information for Phase II, and would want to know what services or projects the county would not <br /> 5 do because of the costs for the facility. <br /> 6 <br /> 7 Vice-Chair Hamilton made a motion to authorize staff to enter into negotiation with UNC <br /> 8 for a ground lease of up to ten years for the 2700 Homestead Road property and direct staff to <br /> 9 develop a budget amendment to fund the compliance and design study. Commissioner Fowler <br /> 10 seconded the motion. <br /> 11 <br /> 12 Commissioner Greene said she was happy to see the proposal and that this has been <br /> 13 an unaddressed need for 20 years. She thanked Ivy Taylor, Director of Local Relations, for her <br /> 14 work and interest in developing this proposal. She said this would be a year-round Project <br /> 15 Homeless Connect, which was a way to emulate a day center one day out of the year. She said <br /> 16 other local governments around the country operate day centers, and they combine resources <br /> 17 to efficiently serve those who badly need assistance. <br /> 18 <br /> 19 PUBLIC COMMENTS: <br /> 20 Ivy Taylor highlighted the university's dedication to being good neighbors and engaging <br /> 21 in collaborative partnerships to address multifaceted challenges within the community. She said <br /> 22 that the university's mission includes charting a bold course for leading change to improve <br /> 23 society and to help solve the world's greatest problems, beginning in their own backyard. She <br /> 24 expressed gratitude for the opportunity to collaborate with the county, town, nonprofit sector, <br /> 25 and faith communities in addressing these issues and asked for favorable consideration on the <br /> 26 agreement to move forward. <br /> 27 Alyssa Hinton said she leads the Activate program at IFC. She said their mission is to <br /> 28 elevate voices of those most impacted by systemic inequities, especially our unhoused <br /> 29 neighbors and to build grassroots power for transformative change. She said policies and laws <br /> 30 that threaten to reinstate vagrancy laws punish poverty rather than solve it. She said these <br /> 31 approaches deepen trauma, increase displacement, and perpetuate cycles of incarceration. <br /> 32 She said that at IFC they have a vision of care, not control. She said they support a humane, <br /> 33 community driven response to homelessness. She said there is a need for climate-resilient <br /> 34 stations for heating and cooling, creating sanctioned safe sleeping zones designated for car or <br /> 35 tent sleeping, and establishing a community resource center offering showers, laundry, storage, <br /> 36 and safe gathering spaces. She requested expansion of the CARE team. She said IFC has <br /> 37 over 340 signatures from residents affirming the need for intervention. She said in Orange <br />