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- ~ <br />Eight ACHIEVE! partner agencies will provide direct services .to program participants <br />under the Education and Support Services component of the program: the Women's <br />Center, Community Financial Counseling, Orange County Literacy Council, the <br />Employment Security Commission, Durham Technical Community College, the Orange <br />County Dispute Settlement Center, H.R. Consulting and Orange-Person-Chatham Mental <br />Health Area Program. <br />The first participant orientation session is scheduled for March 23, 2000. <br />The County will employ the services on a independent contractor to serve as full-time <br />case manager providing one-on-one case management to the z5 participant families - <br />assessing needs and assisting participants in accessing program services and community <br />resources. The case manager will establish and maintain a database that tracks family <br />activity and movement to self-sufficiency over the 18-month program periad. Clinical <br />supervision and support from OPC Mental Health will be provided as needed for client <br />requiring their services. The case manager will coordinate with staff from Orange <br />Community Housing Corporation and Habitat for Humanity to insure that families <br />participating in the rental assistance and homeownership components stay on track with <br />their rental obligatYons and their pursuit of homeownership. The Case Manager will <br />report directly to the Project Administrator. <br />Su a 'c <br />It is estimated that 35% of the families in Orange County cite transportation as a <br />barrier to self-sufficiency and 51 % of families with small children identif ed <br />childcare as their greatest need. Based on this information, the Orange County <br />TANF Housing Program recognizes the need for support services to families <br />enrolled in the program. <br />In an effort to support the educational elements of the plan funds have been <br />earmarked for transportation, childcare, and participation expenses. These funds <br />are to cover the cost related to the families participation in the Housing Project <br />and not for employment related activities. The Case Manager would administer <br />funds for support services. <br />Rental Assistance <br />The Rental Assistance Program would be administered by the current Orange County <br />Section $ Program administrator, the Orange County Housing and Community <br />Development Department, utilizing current U.S Department of Housing and Urban <br />Development regulations, with a few enhancements. Specifically, the target population, <br />20 TANF or TANF eligible families would receive rental assistance for a period of up to <br />18 months . <br />The Orange Community Housing Corporation, a local housing non-profit will locate the <br />rental units; contact and educate landlords about the TANF Housing Program, negotiate <br />an 18 month lease; sign the lease, pay a security deposit, and sublease the properties to <br />qualified families participating in the program. Additionally, families will be able to <br />access the educational opportunities provided through the ACHIEVE program. This <br />approach to providing rental assistance seeks to overcome the common barriers <br />encountered by most low-income families during their housing search. Using the non- <br />