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8 <br /> 1 more community members. Additionally,the funding, staffing and support needs have increased. <br /> 2 Under the coordination of Heather Pack Aponte, the County's Homeless Programs Coordinator, <br /> 3 the CWC program was open 56 nights this winter and served 217 individuals.The program would <br /> 4 not have been possible without the work and collaboration of many dedicated permanent staff, <br /> 5 temporary staff and volunteers. <br /> 6 <br /> 7 Caitlin Fenhagen introduced the item. <br /> 8 <br /> 9 The commissioners read the following proclamation in turn: <br /> 10 <br /> 11 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> 12 PROCLAMATION <br /> 13 APPRECIATION FOR COLD WEATHER COT COLLABORATION <br /> 14 <br /> 15 WHEREAS, in 2023, Orange County started a Cold Weather Cot program to ensure unhoused <br /> 16 community members had access to safe and warm overnight shelter when temperatures reached <br /> 17 32 degrees or below; and <br /> 18 <br /> 19 WHEREAS, Orange County has operated this warming shelter every winter since 2023 at a <br /> 20 different, but accessible, location in Chapel Hill that is open to anyone in need throughout the <br /> 21 County; and <br /> 22 <br /> 23 WHEREAS, the Town of Chapel Hill provided the former Chapel Hill Police Department at 828 <br /> 24 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard for this winter's Cold Weather Cot location and between <br /> 25 November and March, 217 individuals were served over 56 nights; and <br /> 26 <br /> 27 WHEREAS, Orange County's Housing Department has coordinated and managed the Cold <br /> 28 Weather Cots program since its start and has seen an increased need and more challenges each <br /> 29 year, with an average overnight population of 40 guests; and <br /> 30 <br /> 31 WHEREAS, the Cold Weather Cot program would not be possible without the work of Heather <br /> 32 Pack Aponte, the County's Homeless Programs Coordinator, a dedicated team of temporary <br /> 33 overnight coordinator staff, the Street Outreach, Harm Reduction and Deflection (SOHRAD) staff, <br /> 34 other Housing department leadership and staff, and from multiple County departments providing <br /> 35 support as needed including Asset Management Services, Social Services, Health, Aging, and <br /> 36 Community Justice Resources; and <br /> 37 <br /> 38 WHEREAS, the faith community, including University Baptist Church, University Presbyterian <br /> 39 Church, First Baptist Church, Holy Trinity Lutheran, Kehilah Congregation, St. Matthew's Episcopal <br /> 40 Church and Hillsborough Presbyterian Church, all provided critical support including the <br /> 41 preparation of nightly home-cooked meals; and <br /> 42 <br /> 43 WHEREAS, many community groups and individuals, including Triangle Mutual Aid, Alpha Pie/the <br /> 44 Gathering Place, Community Empowerment Fund, Inter-faith Council for Social Service, and the <br />