Orange County NC Website
<br />5 <br />an e T F Housin ro am Im entation <br />ATTACHMENT 2 <br />Project Abstract <br />Orange County has developed a plan to provide continuum of services to TANF and <br />TANF eligible families ranging from alleviating homelessness to encouraging <br />homeownership. The Orange County TANF Housing Program will assist 20 families <br />obtain permanent rental housing; five (5) families to obtain homeownership; and up to 20 <br />families with rent and utility deposits to facilitate their future ability to obtain economic <br />self sufficiency. Jn addition, the program will also assist up to 125 families access <br />educational opportunities which will enhance their ability to provide for their families. <br />Specific program components include: <br />].. Educational and Supportive Services <br />Economic selfsufficiency is dependent upon the provision of educational and <br />support services and family_centered case management. Program participants will <br />have the opportunity to acquire education and job skills training; budgeting and <br />credit counseling; and life skills training in order to building long-lasting <br />independence from welfare resilience. <br />.2. Rental Assistance <br />The Orange County rental housing market, inflated by the ability of University of <br />North Carolina at Chapel Hill students able to pay market rents, creates a <br />tremendous challenge for TANF and TANF eligible families. To assist families <br />in addressing this challenge, intensive housing search assistance and subsequent <br />rental assistance vouchers will be provided to approximately 20 families leasing <br />standard rental property in Orange County. In addition, financial assistance for <br />rent and utility deposits will be provided to these families as well as others <br />(approximately 20 additional families) participating in the other components of <br />the program including educational and supportive services and homeownership. <br />3. Homeownership <br />Homeownership can also be challenging in this area due to high land and <br />infrastructure costs. Low-income families rely heavily on the ability of local non- <br />, profit organizations to assist them in locating affordable existing properties for <br />sale. The TANF Housing Program will continue to utilize the current intervention <br />strategies to assist approximately five (5) TANF families become homeowners in <br />partnership with Habitat for Humanity and other non-profit housing organizations. <br />Eligible families must have income- at or below 200% of the poverty level, working 20 <br />hours per week, or participating in job training or other work related activities 20 hours <br />per week. Priority will be given to lang term welfare recipients (those receiving <br />assistance for 20 months or more), families on transitional benefits, and the homeless. <br />Families will be identified by the partner agencies and referred for assessment and <br />eligibility determination. Priority will be given to long term welfare recipients (received <br />assistance 20 months or more), families on transitional benefits, and the homeless. <br />