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4 <br /> Overview <br /> FY 2024-25 saw a series of transitions as OCPEH experienced new leadership, personnel, and <br /> sites of operation with the Cold Weather Shelter. Community partners have experienced <br /> reductions in funding and donations, resulting in diminished_program capacity at a time when <br /> community need remains high. This period has also highlighted the importance of local and <br /> regional collaboration to address the rise of homelessness. <br /> The Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness (OCPEH) uses a variety of funding <br /> sources to support community-level planning, coordination and evaluation efforts. Funders <br /> include the federal and local government, foundations, and private partners. <br /> Challenges <br /> Due to the current federal administration, there is a serious risk that the HUD Continuum of Care <br /> (CoC) grant will be partially cut. The recently released Continuum of Care Notice of Funding <br /> Opportunity (NOFO) has mandated cuts to "permanent" housing of 70%, as well as only <br /> guaranteeing 30% of annual renewal funding. Permanent housing includes both the Interfaith <br /> Council's Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) program as well as OCPEH's Rapid Rehousing <br /> (RRH) program, and both agencies are eagerly awaiting clarification on the NOFO in order to <br /> determine how to shift application requests in order to maximize possible funding. The programs <br /> and positions currently funded by CoC Grants are: <br /> o PSH (IFC, 79% of funding) <br /> o RRH (OCPEH, 64% of funding) <br /> o Coordinated Entry/Housing Helpline (OCPEH, 80% of funding) <br /> o OCPEH Coordinator position (20% of funding) <br /> Successes <br /> As a small Continuum of Care, OCPEH expanded its impact by partnering with other local <br /> homeless systems on federal funding opportunities. County government has increased its <br /> commitment to address system needs and prioritized funding for two (2) main drivers of inequity <br /> in the current system by investing in Permanent Supportive Housing expansion and funding for <br /> Bridge Housing. <br /> OCPEH has also broadened partnerships with the community on various efforts: <br /> • with the faith community through last winter's Cold Weather Shelter(housed at University <br /> Baptist Church in Chapel Hill); <br /> • with many community partners and Alliance Health; <br /> • with a pop-up event in coordination with UNC Health for a newly-awarded Street Medicine <br /> grant; and <br /> • with the Town of Chapel Hill for use of its former police station for this year's Cold Weather <br /> Shelter. <br /> The Road Ahead <br /> Much of the future of homelessness programs in Orange County will be determined in the coming <br /> months after the results of the CoC grant. Federal grants make up over one-third of homelessness <br /> funding in the County, so any loss would be significant. <br /> OCPEH continues to work with regional partners to identify and recruit providers to Orange <br /> County to address system gaps. One such effort is underway with the potential use of 2700 <br /> Homestead Road in Chapel Hill for next winter's Cold Weather Shelter, and for potential future <br /> use as an Integrated Day Center along the lines of Raleigh's "Oak City Cares." <br />