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Home My WebLink AboutAgenda - 02-09-2006-7bORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: February 9, 2006 Action Age b Item No. SUBJECT: NC Helping Neighbors Fund Distribution: Katrina Relief in Orange County DEPARTMENT: County Manager PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): County Notification Draft Distribution Plan INFORMATION CONTACT: Gwen Harvey, Assistant County Manager, 245-2307 Nancy Coston, DSS Director, 245-2802 PURPOSE: The Governor's Office has announced the distribution of a total of $251,859 to impacted counties across the state based upon their FEMA registrations (evacuees) following Hurricane Katrina. These funds consist of private donations and charitable giving into the NC Helping Neighbors Fund. The allotment due to Orange County is $4,756. BACKGROUND: The Manager's Office received formal notification of the NC Helping Neighbor Ftand Distribution draft plan on January 24. A proposed distribution plan is due to the Governor's Office no later than Febniary 10. Upan approval of the plan, the County will be issued its allocation check. The Department of Social Services has been designated as the Lead Agency for developing an equitable distribution plan, publicizing the availability of the funds, and administering the distribution of funds throughout the local community. Community partners and other governmental agencies have been advised of the allocation proposal for their information, and will be involved in helping to promote awareness and access to the funds among eligible persons. County staff and local partners are presently aware of only two college student evacuees residing in Orange. Attached is a copy of the draft distribution plan prepared by DSS in consultation with the Social Services Board and partner agencies including IFC, OCIM, and the Orange County Chapter of the American Red Cross. The plan specifies spending criteria and spending limits per household according to state guidelines. Counties are to report on haw the money was spent and return all unspent monies to the Governor's Office by the end of March. FINANCIAL IMPACT: Nane of these monies can be used for administrative expenses. One hundred percent of the allocation due the county, $4,756, will ga to Hurricane Katrina evacuees currently residing in Orange County under policies overseen by the Social Services Board. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the distribution plan for NC Helping Neighbor Funds for Katrina evacuees residing in Orange County. N(: Helping Neighbors Ftand County FEMA Registrations fCATRINA County Allotment Mecklenbur 1375 $50,696 Wake 822 $30,307 Cumberland 506 $18,656 Guilford 409 $15,080 Buncombe 338 $12,462 Durham 284 $10,471 Fors th 247 $9,107 Onslow 191 $7,042 New Hanover 173 $6,379 Oran e 129 $4,756 Cabarrus 121 $4,461 Gaston 102 $3,761 Henderson 101 $3,724 Brunswick 86 $3,171 Union 82 $3,023 Craven 77 $2,839 Haywood 71 $2,618 Macon 70 $2,581 Catawba 65 $2,397 Transylvania 61 $2,249 Nash 59 $2,175 Wa ne 59 $2,175 Jackson 57 $2,102 Alamance 55 $2,028 Moore 50 $1,844 Watauga 49 $1,807 Cleveland 47 $1,733 Lincoln 46 $1,696 Rowan 43 $1,585 Carteret 40 $1,475 Pitt 38 $1,401 Davidson 36 $1,327 Randolph 35 $1,290 Dare 33 $1,217 Hoke 32 $1,180 Johnston 32 $1,180 Lee 31 $1,143 Rutherford 30 $1,106 Burke 28 $1,032 McDowell 26 $959 Chatham 25 $922 Cherokee 24 $885 Caldwell 22 $811 Lenoir 22 $811 Pasquotank 22 $811 Robeson 20 $737 Harnett 19 $701 Swain 19 $701 Beaufort 18 $664 Wilkes 18 $664 Yance 17 $627 3 County FEMA Registrations KATRINA County Allotment Person 16 $590 Surry 16 $590 Ashe 15 $553 Columbus 15 $553 Granville 14 $516 Halifax 14 $516 Stanly 14 $516 Davie 13 $479 Duplin 13 $479 Richmond 13 $479 Scotland 13 $479 Stokes 13 $479 Wilson 13 $479 Cla 12 $442 Hertford 11 $406 Rockin ham 11 $406 Graham 10 $369 Pender 10 $369 Franklin 9 $332 Alexander 8 $295 Camden 8 $295 Currituck 8 $295 Madison 8 $295 Avery 7 $258 Polk 7 $258 Sampson 7 $258 Yadkin 7 $258 Bertie 6 $221 Bladen 6 $221 Ed ecombe 6 $221 Chowan 5 $184 Greene 5 $184 Jones 5 $184 Martin 5 $184 Warren 5 $184 Alleghany 2 $ 74 Caswell 2 $ 74 Hyde 2 $ 74 Mont ome 2 $ 74 Per uimans 2 $ 74 Anson 1 $ 37 Mitchell 1 $ 37 Pamlico 1 $ 37 T well 1 $ 37 Vance 1 $ 37 Washington 1 $ 37 6831 $251,859 * Allotments based on FEMA registrations NC HELPING NEIGHBORS FUND DISTRIBUTION PLAN ORANGE COUNTY Lead County Agency: Lead Agency Contact: Phone: Email: Address to mail check: Orange CountYDeot of Social Services Nancy Coston 919-245-2802 ncoston(a2co.orange. nc. us Attention: Ken Chavious Orange Co. Finance Dept Hillsborough, NC 27278 A. Spending and Distribution For what items will Hurricane Katrina evacuees be allowed to use the money? x Food/Food Supplies x Prescriptions/Medical Supplies not covered by insurance x Medical Services x Rental Assistance/Mortgage payment for home x Cash Assistance x Utility Payments (electricity, water, heating fuel) x Car Repair x Other: (please list below) Transportation costs; essential household items 2. What are the greatest unmet needs of Hurricane Katrina evacuees in your community, and by what criteria and guidelines will you distribute money to meet these needs? See Distribution Criteria for distribution guidelines. Transitional housing costs, utilities, transportation and special medical needs. 3. How will you determine the cap per household? If you have already determined the cap, what will it be? The amount per family will be generally capped at $300 per request. Amounts up to $800 will be approved if the Director of Social Services finds that there are extenuating circumstances. The Social Services Board will oversee the policies for the distribution of funds. 5 B. Publicity and Minority Outreach How are you publicizing the availability of the money to Hurricane Katrina evacuees in your community, specifically to Spanish-speaking and other minorities? Please check those that apply. X Contact members of the County Commission, City Council, and major boards/councils for the county informing them of the funds and soliciting their help to get the information out to the community.. X Contact non-profit organizations that are providing assistance to Hurricane Katrina evacuees and ask them to help spread the information. X Contact ministers in the county and ask them to announce in their churches. X Place posters/announcements/flyers in public places. X Other (please list below) Share information with other human service agencies within the county who may be assisting families. Send information to families who have already contacted agencies with specific requests. C. Other issues Please use this space to expand on sections of this report or to submit questions, Some families have utilized existing emergency programs within the community and may have already used the maximum available to them.. These funds can be used to assist the families further. County Manager's Signature Date / / DISTRIBUTION PLAN DUE BY FEBRUARY 10, 2006 Please submit to: Office of the Governor, Intergovernmental Relations Attention: Lisa Nolen Phone: 919-733-5201 Fax: 919-733-2120 Email: Lisa.Nolen@ncmail,net