HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRO-2021-001 Proclamation Recognizing and Expressing Appreciation to Cordelia Heaney ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING AND EXPRESSING APPRECIATION
TO CORDELIA HEANEY
WHEREAS , the Compass Center for Women and Families in Orange County supports
victims of domestic violence with temporary housing , crisis counseling , safety planning ,
support groups , and the Triangle community with career and financial education , legal
resources , and more ; and
WHEREAS , Cordelia Heaney joined the Compass Center as Executive Director in 2015 ;
and
WHEREAS , under Ms . Heaney ' s leadership , the Compass Center has changed lives by
helping people navigate their journey to health , self- respect , and safety , empowering
them and their families to lead productive lives ; and
WHEREAS , Ms . Heaney has promoted equal access to the services of the Center
regardless of gender , gender identity , or economic status ; and
WHEREAS , Ms . Heaney grew the Center' s revenue from approximately $ 700 , 000 to
almost $ 2 million ; and
WHEREAS , Ms . Heaney has grown the organization to include its first Black African
American Communities Services Coordinator, a support group coordinator for the Latinx
Program , a full -time communications professional , a finance coordinator , and part-time
positons in economic advocacy and enhanced services ; and
WHEREAS , Ms . Heaney directed a major fundraising campaign to establish the Safe
Homes , New Lives program , a sustainable program for emergency shelter , restoring a
critical function that had been missing in the community for thirty years ; and
WHEREAS , this program will consist of six apartments in Orange County to serve as
temporary housing for up to 150 survivors of domestic violence a year , with a crisis
housing coordinator on staff to coordinate and facilitate the work ; and
WHEREAS , even given the difficult circumstances of the pandemic , the program has
opened its first apartment , and it has reached its $ 675 , 000 goal for the first three
apartments and is working toward the fourth ; and
WHEREAS , the rationale for this " scattered housing " approach is based on extensive
research conducted at Ms . Heaney' s behest by Professor Rebecca Macy and a team
from the UNC School of Social Work ; and
WHEREAS , the "scattered housing " approach shares overlapping goals with Orange
County ' s practice of " rapid rehousing " for people experiencing homelessness , and Ms .
Heaney has worked in collaboration with the Partnership to End Homelessness on the
issue of housing ; and
WHEREAS , Ms . Heaney is leaving the Compass Center on January 31 , 2021 to return
to New Orleans for a new professional opportunity ;
NOW THEREFORE we , the Orange County Board of Commissioners , do hereby
recognize and express deep appreciation , gratitude , and respect for Cordelia Heaney for
her dedicated leadership and her service to the people of Orange County , and we wish
her all the best in her future endeavors .
This the 19t " day of January , 2021 .
Renee Price , Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners