HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 09-15-20; 5-d - Public Hearing on CDBG-CV Grant Application for Emergency Housing AssistanceORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date:September 15, 2020
Action Agenda
Item No. 5-d
SUBJECT: Public Hearing on CDBG-CV Grant Application for Emergency Housing
Assistance
DEPARTMENT: Housing and Community
Development
ATTACHMENT(S):
Attachment 1: Summary of CDBG-CV
Grant
Attachment 2: Summary of Emergency
Housing Assistance (EHA)
Fund
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Emila Sutton, Director, Housing and
Community Development, (919) 245-
2490
PURPOSE: To hold a public hearing on a potential application from Orange County for Federal
Community Development Block Grant – Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) funds.
BACKGROUND: On August 25, 2020, Governor Roy Cooper announced the availability of $28
million from federal Community Development Block Grant – Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) funding to
be disbursed by the North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency (NCORR) to support
rental and utility payments and prevent evictions for those with a demonstrated need (see
Attachment 1). The funding will be distributed to eligible community agencies around the state
that will work directly with North Carolinians on an application and disbursement process.
Orange County staff proposes to apply for the CDBG-CV funds to be used with the County’s
existing Emergency Housing Assistance fund, which provides financial assistance to help
Orange County residents with low incomes secure and maintain stable housing (see Attachment
2). Assistance is available to households in Orange County that earn no more than 60% of the
area median income, have an urgent need for housing assistance, and do not have adequate
savings to cover the cost of their housing need.
Before submitting an application, Orange County must hold two (2) public hearings to obtain
public comments. The first public hearing – this hearing – occurs at the beginning of the
application process. The second public hearing must be held after the application is drafted but
prior to its submission.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: If Orange County is awarded CDBG-CV funds, up to $900,000 would
become available for Emergency Housing Assistance.
SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goals are applicable
to this item:
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GOAL: FOSTER A COMMUNITY CULTURE THAT REJECTS OPPRESSION AND
INEQUITY
The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race or color;
religious or philosophical beliefs; sex, gender or sexual orientation; national origin or
ethnic background; age; military service; disability; and familial, residential or economic
status.
GOAL: ENSURE ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY
The creation and preservation of infrastructure, policies, programs and funding necessary
for residents to provide shelter, food, clothing and medical care for themselves and their
dependents.
GOAL: CREATE A SAFE COMMUNITY
The reduction of risks from vehicle/traffic accidents, childhood and senior injuries, gang
activity, substance abuse and domestic violence.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: There are no Orange County Environmental Responsibility Goal
impacts applicable to this item.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board conduct the public hearing
and accept comment on the potential for Orange County to apply for CDBG-CV funds to be
used for Emergency Housing Assistance.
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Attachment 1
INTRODUCTION
NC Commerce’s Rural Economic Development Division (REDD) will administer the Community
Development Block Grant Coronavirus (CDBG‐CV) funds awarded to the State by the U. S. Department
of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to support North Carolina’s COVID‐19 response efforts. This
allocation was authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), Public
Law 116‐136, which was signed by President Trump on March 27, 2020, to respond to the growing
effects of this historic public health crisis. Initially, REDD makes available approximately $27.5 million
through awarding grants to non‐entitlement communities (i.e., incorporated municipalities under
50,000 and counties under 200,000 in population).
The North Carolina CDBG‐CV Program is designed to help a non‐entitlement municipality or county to
prepare, prevent, or respond to the health and economic impacts of COVID‐19. The activities must be
most critical to their locality and primarily for their low‐ and moderate‐income residents. Beginning
September 1, 2020, REDD will award CDBG‐CV funds on a first‐come, first‐served basis with a focus on
local needs identified by the community in collaboration with state and local health officials. Applicants
may view current COVID‐19 metrics on the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
website at https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/ .
AREAS OF FOCUS FOR CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE
As noted by Governor Roy Cooper, “efforts to support families, small business, and economic recovery
remain critical” during the COVID‐19 pandemic. In support of these public health and economic recovery
goals, North Carolina CDBG‐CV Program projects must incorporate at least one of the following as an
area of focus:
□ Support families and communities through telehealth support and other public services.
□ Protect the most vulnerable and high‐risk populations.
□ Assist small businesses with economic recovery.
□ Address testing, tracing, and trends.
FUNDING PRIORITIES BY ELIGIBLE ACTIVITY
The State has established the following funding priorities by eligible activity:
Public Service: The priority in this category is subsistence payments to prevent evictions and
utility disconnections. Food distribution, testing and diagnosis, and employment training for
health care workers on the frontlines are also prioritized.
Public Facilities: The priority in this category is broadband services and enhancing internet
access that supports increased connectivity to schools, jobs, and healthcare. This category also
includes building rehabilitation or improvements to support activities such as repurposing
buildings into patient treatment centers.
Economic Development: The priority in this category is to provide financial assistance to
businesses with 100 or fewer employees, including microenterprises with five or fewer
employees. The focus is to support businesses that manufacture medical supplies, and to help
small businesses impacted by COVID‐19 create and retain jobs.
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ORANGE COUNTY HOUSING&COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Emergency Housing Assistance (EHA)
The Emergency Housing Assistance fund was created under the Risk Mitigation and Housing
Displacement Fund to help Orange County residents with low incomes secure and maintain
stable housing. Assistance is available to households in Orange County that (1) earn no more
than 60% of the area median income (AMI), (2) have an urgent need for housing assistance,
and (3) do not have adequate savings to cover the cost of their housing need.
The most current income limits for Orange County are:
• 1-person household: $38,220
• 2-person household: $43,680
• 3-person household: $49,140
4-person household: $54,540
• 5-person household: $58,920
• 6-person household: $63,084
• 7-person household: $67,680
• 8-person household: $72,000
Eligible Costs
Emergency Housing Assistance may pay for security deposits, utility connections and arrears,
rental payments and arrears, and, in certain emergency situations and upon OCHCD approval,
other urgent housing-related costs (e.g., moving costs), especially for hard-to-house individuals
and families, such as large families with children, seniors, people with disabilities, veterans, and
people with justice system involvement. Emergency Housing Assistance may not duplicate any
assistance provided by any other program.
Maximum Assistance
The total amount of assistance provided to any household may not exceed $6,500. Rent and
utility payments may only cover arrears and/or payments for the current month or next
upcoming month; assistance will not be granted for months further in the future. For example, if
an applicant applies on June 15, assistance may be granted to cover any arrears for past rent
owed, rent owed in the current month (June), rent to be owed in the upcoming month (July), but
not for rent owed in future months (August or beyond). However, applicants may request
assistance again in future months, if needed, up to the $4,000 maximum.
How to Apply for EHA
Option is Online Application Portal
1. Go to our online application
portal: https://portal.neighborlysoftware.com/0RANGECOUNTYNC/Participant/
2. Create an account, confirm it using the link that will be sent to your email, and
sign into your account.
3. Under "Start a New Application", select Emergency Housing Assistance, and
create an application. Along with submitting the application, you will be required
to provide:
a. Documentation verifying total gross household income
b. Documentation verifying total household savings/assets/cash
c. Copy of the lease or other documentation from the landlord showing the
amount of funds needed (as applicable)
d. Statement or invoice from utility provider (as applicable)
4. Be sure to click "Complete & Continue" after each section of the application is
complete. You can also click "Save" to come back and complete a section later.
5. Submit your application through the portal once all sections are complete.
Option 2: Apply by Email
1. Complete an Emergency Housing Assistance application (which can be
downloaded from the "Documents" section) and provide:
a. Documentation verifying total gross household income*
b. Documentation verifying total household savings/assets/cash*
c. Copy of the lease or other documentation from the landlord showing the
amount of funds needed (as applicable)
d. Statement or invoice from utility provider (as applicable)
2. Submit your application and attachments by email
to HousingHelp@orangecountync.gov
* See the EHA Application for a checklist of the acceptable source documentation
Documents
• EHA Application (English)
• Solicitud para Asistencia de Vivienda de Emergencia (Espanol)
• EHA and Housing Helpline Flyer
• Folleto del Programa de Asistencia de Vivienda de Emergencia y la Linea de Ayuda de
Vivienda (Espanol)
• EHA and Housing Helpline Progress Report
• Risk Mitigation and Housing Displacement Fund Policies
Questions?
Contact the Housing Helpline at HousingHelp@orangecountync.gov or 919-245-2655
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