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33 <br /> Slide #14 <br /> Questions? <br /> ORANGECOUNTY <br /> 1u11II1" 1- <br /> Vice-Chair Hamilton said she is in support of Phase I for the project, but wanted more <br /> information for Phase II, and would want to know what services or projects the county would not <br /> do because of the costs for the facility. <br /> Vice-Chair Hamilton made a motion to authorize staff to enter into negotiation with UNC <br /> for a ground lease of up to ten years for the 2700 Homestead Road property and direct staff to <br /> develop a budget amendment to fund the compliance and design study. Commissioner Fowler <br /> seconded the motion. <br /> Commissioner Greene said she was happy to see the proposal and that this has been an <br /> unaddressed need for 20 years. She thanked Ivy Taylor, Director of Local Relations, for her work <br /> and interest in developing this proposal. She said this would be a year-round Project Homeless <br /> Connect, which was a way to emulate a day center one day out of the year. She said other local <br /> governments around the country operate day centers, and they combine resources to efficiently <br /> serve those who badly need assistance. <br /> PUBLIC COMMENTS: <br /> Ivy Taylor highlighted the university's dedication to being good neighbors and engaging in <br /> collaborative partnerships to address multifaceted challenges within the community. She said that <br /> the university's mission includes charting a bold course for leading change to improve society and <br /> to help solve the world's greatest problems, beginning in their own backyard. She expressed <br /> gratitude for the opportunity to collaborate with the county, town, nonprofit sector, and faith <br /> communities in addressing these issues and asked for favorable consideration on the agreement <br /> to move forward. <br /> Alyssa Hinton said she leads the Activate program at IFC. She said their mission is to <br /> elevate voices of those most impacted by systemic inequities, especially our unhoused neighbors <br /> and to build grassroots power for transformative change. She said policies and laws that threaten <br /> to reinstate vagrancy laws punish poverty rather than solve it. She said these approaches deepen <br /> trauma, increase displacement, and perpetuate cycles of incarceration. She said that at IFC they <br /> have a vision of care, not control. She said they support a humane, community driven response <br /> to homelessness. She said there is a need for climate-resilient stations for heating and cooling, <br /> creating sanctioned safe sleeping zones designated for car or tent sleeping, and establishing a <br /> community resource center offering showers, laundry, storage, and safe gathering spaces. She <br /> requested expansion of the CARE team. She said IFC has over 340 signatures from residents <br /> affirming the need for intervention. She said in Orange County, 21% of households earn less than <br />