HomeMy WebLinkAboutAHAB minutes 011012Affordable Housing Advisory Board
Minutes of January 10, 2012
Members Present: Patsy Barbee, Diane Beecham, Anna MacDonald Dobbs, Katherine Doom,
Nannie Richmond, Arthur Sprinczeles and James Stroud
Members Absent: Alex Babbitt, Lynda Baker, Jonzella Bailey- Pridham, Martha Hoylman,
Mark Johnson and Rashii Purefoy
Staff Present: Tara L. Fikes, Roxanne W. Reynolds
Welcome /Introduction
Patsy Barbee welcomed everyone to the meeting. She asked for brief introductions for the
benefit of the new members.
Public Comments
Katherine Doom asked for information regarding the Affordable Housing Advisory Board
Bylaws. Tara Fikes stated that this information would be available at the next meeting.
James Stroud announced that the grand opening /ribbon cutting for the Homeownership &
Economic Development Corporation, 960 Corporate Drive; Hillsborough would be held on
Friday, January 20, 2012 from 1 -3 pm. This is a HUD approved housing counseling agency for
the State of North Carolina that will be focusing on assisting individuals with crisis
interventions, budget and credit counseling and corporate housing for rental and purchase.
Approval of Minutes - December 13, 2011
James Stroud made a motion to approve the minutes of December 13, 2011 meeting and Diane
Beecham seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously.
Affordable Housing Bond Program — Follow -up
Fikes reported that she spoke with Susan Levy, Director Habitat for Humanity, to propose the
use of the housing bond funds remaining balance of $143,558 to develop rental housing for a
triplex /duplex on Rush Road. Susan Levy suggested that Habitat contact Community Alternative
for Supportive Abode (CASA) and other developers to see if they are interested in managing the
property. Fikes stated that the Advisory Board would need to share their recommendation with
the Board of County Commissioners regarding the remaining bond funds. More discussion will
occur at the February meeting.
Community Wide Media Strate2y
Anna McDonalds Dobbs reported that the PR campaign class would be available for this spring.
The Advisory Board agreed to send information to the class to guide their work. Anna stated that
a board member would need to meet with the class on January 30, 2012 from 9 -10 a.m. Diane
Beecham volunteered to meet with Nori Comello, PR Professor at UNC- School of Journalism to
discuss the Advisory Board goals.
The AHAB discussed the following ideas to present to the class:
• A survey to assess community's perception of affordable housing.
• Defining "affordable housing" in the community.
• How to explain the advantage of having affordable housing.
• Describe affordable housing to the different geographies in the county.
• What resources /information is available to reach the communities?
Department Report
The following items were reported:
• Fikes announced that Club Nova Apartments transferred to Community Alternative for
Supportive Abode (CASA) and they will manage and maintain the property.
• Fikes stated that the Whitted Forest foreclosure procedure was cancelled in December.
Residents are being transferred to other units in the complex due to needed repairs.
• Chair Patsy Barbee will present the 2012 Calendar to the Board of County
Commissioners (BOCC) on January 24, 2012.
• Orange and Wake Counties will be participating in the national 100,000 Homes
Campaign. This is an effort to find and place the most vulnerable homeless individuals
into 100,000 homes across the country by July 2013.
Katherine Doom stated that she would contact MDC a non - profit organization in Durham
regarding the resource book for the homeless /low income individuals in North Carolina.
Other Business
Nannie Richmond stated that Joint Orange Chatham Community Action Weatherization Program
(JOCCA) is doing a great job with the repairs on houses in Orange County.
James Stroud made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Nannie Richmond seconded the motion.
The motion was approved unanimously.
Respectfully submitted:
Roxanne W. Reynolds
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