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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: April 21, 2026 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 4-a <br /> SUBJECT: Proclamation of Appreciation for Cold Weather Cots Collaboration <br /> DEPARTMENT: Board of Commissioners <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Proclamation Jean Hamilton, Board Chair, 919-245- <br /> 2130 <br /> PURPOSE: To approve a proclamation recognizing and appreciating the collaborative work <br /> supporting the County's Cold Weather Cots program. <br /> BACKGROUND: Orange County started operating a Cold Weather Cots (CWC) program in FY <br /> 2023-2024 due to the increasing need for emergency cold weather shelter. The Inter-Faith Council <br /> for Social Services (IFC) operates two (2) shelters that provide 20 emergency cold weather cots <br /> in the winter (17 for men and 3 for women). However, these cots were consistently full and had a <br /> waiting list. <br /> As the community's unsheltered population increased, Orange County launched the current CWC <br /> program three (3) years ago to serve men and women on nights when the temperature was 32 <br /> degrees or below. For the first year, the BOCC Meeting Room at Southern Human Services was <br /> used as the site. In the second year, University Baptist Church in downtown Chapel Hill provided <br /> space to the County for the site. <br /> This winter, the Town of Chapel Hill provided its former police department building at 828 Martin <br /> Luther King, Jr. Boulevard for the CWC location. The Housing Department, in close collaboration <br /> with many partners, manages the CWC program. Each year, the program has grown and served <br /> more community members. Additionally, the funding, staffing and support needs have increased. <br /> Under the coordination of Heather Pack Aponte, the County's Homeless Programs Coordinator, <br /> the CWC program was open 56 nights this winter and served 217 individuals. The program would <br /> not have been possible without the work and collaboration of many dedicated permanent staff, <br /> temporary staff and volunteers. <br /> FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with consideration of this <br /> proclamation. <br /> ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLAN: This item supports: <br /> • GOAL 2: HEALTHY COMMUNITY <br />