HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 11-10-2022 Work Session; 1 - Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness – 2022 Data UpdateORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date:November 10, 2022
Action Agenda
Item No. 1
SUBJECT: Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness – 2022 Data Update
DEPARTMENT: Housing
ATTACHMENT(S):
Attachment A: 2022 Homeless Infographic
Attachment B: Orange County Homeless
System Gaps Analysis
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Rachel Waltz, Manager, Orange County
Partnership to End Homelessness,
(919) 245-2496
PURPOSE: To provide an overview of the work of the Orange County Partnership to End
Homelessness (OCPEH), including updated data about homelessness in Orange County
submitted to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) earlier this
year, and current homeless system gaps.
BACKGROUND: The Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness (OCPEH) was created
in 2008 to coordinate funding and activities to end homelessness in Orange County. OCPEH is
jointly funded by Orange County (39.5%) and the Towns of Carrboro (14.3%), Chapel Hill (39.7%),
and Hillsborough (6.5%).
The 2022 Homeless Point-in-Time count showed a decrease in the number of people
experiencing homelessness, down from 176 people in 2021 to 133 in 2022. There are many
success stories, including filling the homeless system gaps and expanding program offerings now
available in the community. Looking at numbers from previous years, there are also significant
barriers and challenges in the work to prevent and end homelessness, and little progress overall
in decreasing the number of people experiencing homelessness as this number is virtually flat
since 2017.
OCPEH Manager Rachel Waltz will present the updated data and discuss how current data relate
to identified gaps in the homeless service system, including permanent supportive housing, rapid
re-housing, and street outreach programs.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with receiving the update.
SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goals are applicable
to this item:
GOAL: FOSTER A COMMUNITY CULTURE THAT REJECTS OPPRESSION AND
INEQUITY
1
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 receive the update as
information and provide any comments or questions.
2
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
20182017 2019 2020 2021
2022 HOMELESSNESS IN ORANGE COUNTY
7%
93%
33%
66%
45%46%
88%
10%
2%
95%
5%
8%
0%0%
1%1%HOUSEHOLD TYPE
Families
Adults Only
7%
93%
33%
66%45%46%
88%
10%
2%
95%
5%
8%
0%0%
1%1%GENDER
Female
Male
Transgender &
Gender
Non-Conforming
7%
93%
33%
66%45%46%
88%
10%
2%
95%
5%
8%
0%0%
1%1%
AGE
17 and Younger
18-24
25 and Older
On one night…
0 20 40 60 80 100
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
RACE
WhiteBlack or African-American Multiple Races American Indian or Alaska Native
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific IslanderAsian
% of People in Orange County Overall 2.6%.6%
77%12%8%
.1%
UnshelteredSheltered
The Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness conducted the latest Point-in-Time (PIT) Count on January 26, 2022 and submitted 2022 PIT data to the Dept. of
Housing & Urban Development (HUD) in May 2022. The Point-in-Time Count provides a high-level snapshot about people experiencing homelessness on one night,
usually the last Wednesday in January.
For more information about homelessness in Orange County, contact Rachel Waltz, rwaltz@orangecountync.gov, (919) 245-2496.
The Point-in-Time (PIT) Count is a nationwide, annual count of people experiencing sheltered homelessness (emergency shelter and transitional housing) and unsheltered
homelessness (places not meant for human habitation like vehicles, sheds, or outside) on one night. PIT data track demographic information and trends over time.
SPECIAL POPULATIONS
Chronically Homeless
Families
Veterans Experiencing Homelessness
83%
VETERANS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
ETHNICITY
70%21% 9%
% of People in Orange County Overall
Non-Latinx Latinx Not Answered
98%
2%% of People Experiencing Homelessness in Orange County
33%
45%
38%
42%
27%
40%
59%
46%
51%
49%
67%
55%
2022
0
50
100
150
200
202220212020201920182017
90
37 113
39
102
29
105
19
140
36
103
30
POINT-IN-TIME COUNT DATA 2017-2022
Progress
Stalled
3
How we are doing overall…
Data from FY2021 System Performance Measures covers outcomes from October 2020 - September 2021 recorded in the Homeless Management Information System
(HMIS) database. The Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness submitted FY2021 SysPM data to the Dept. of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) in
February 2022. System Performance Measures track homeless system-level outcomes over a 12-month period.
For more information about homelessness in Orange County, contact Rachel Waltz, rwaltz@orangecountync.gov, (919) 245-2496.
2022 HOMELESSNESS IN ORANGE COUNTY
The Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness, aligned with the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness strategic plan, Home, Together,
works to make homelessness Rare, Brief & One-Time. System Performance Measure data inform our progress on these goals.
11%Returned to
homelessness
within 2 years
ONE TIME
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
From
Shelter 26% 11% 43% 6% 14% 6%
From
Transitional
Housing
0% 0% 26% 25% 30% 20%
From
Permanent
Housing
0% 3% 3% 10% 3% 9%
Total
Returns 10% 6% 18% 14% 9% 11%
Number
of Exits 196 102 72 100 176 83
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
20222021202020192018
272
138 162
354382
753
384
785
272
567
785
384
Average days
(Highest Ever)
Median days 50
100
150
200
250
20222021202020192018
140
86 91 83
170 170
64
182
121
231
BRIEF Length of time in shelter or
transitional housing (days)
Length of time homeless (days)
MedianAverage
36%Exited to
permanent
housing
ONE TIME
325244
People entering shelter and housing programs
Of those, people experiencing homelessness for the first time
RARE
150
200
250
300
350
202220212020201920182017
252
214 196 205
271
324
166
220 222
282
244
325
People experiencing homelessness for the first timePeople served in one year
37%
106 Exits
29%
67 Exits
35%
81 Exits
33%
77 Exits
36%
70 Exits
2016 2017 2018
2019 2020
22%
48 Exits
2021
36%
106 Exits
2022
37%
106 Exits
29%
67 Exits
35%
81 Exits
33%
77 Exits
36%
70 Exits
2016 2017 2018
2019 2020
22%
48 Exits
2021
36%
106 Exits
2022
4
1
Update to Homeless System Gaps Analysis
December 2021
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Orange County has made great strides in filling gaps in the homeless service system over the past two years. Service
providers and local governments have significantly expanded programs and services to address the needs of people
at-risk of and experiencing homelessness. Community members and other funders have also stepped up to finance
new and expanded programs.
At the same time, demand for homelessness prevention, services, and housing has also increased. The COVID
global pandemic exposed existing inequality and overwhelmed existing supports and systems. There are currently
fifteen gaps to be filled to meet the current need and end homelessness in Orange County.
Filling the gaps will provide the right mix of client-centered and evidenced-based programs which will in turn result in
homelessness in our community becoming rare, brief and one-time.
FILLED:
• Housing Access Coordinator
• Homelessness Diversion Funding
• Street Outreach
TO BE FILLED:
• HOUSING
• Income Based Rental Units
• Rapid Re-housing
• Permanent Supportive Housing
• Youth Housing
• Landlord Incentives
• Housing Locator
• Furniture and Household goods
• SERVICES – TEMP. HOUSING
• Accessible, housing-focused shelter
• Medical respite beds
• Bridge Housing
• SERVICES - CONNECTIONS
• Housing Helpline staffing
• Crisis/Diversion Facility
• Integrated Service Center
• SERVICES - DIGNITY
• 24 hour bathrooms
• Memorial service funding
5
2
GAP
PROGRESS
SINCE JUNE 2019 STATUS NOTES
NEEDED
TO FILL
Housing Access
Coordinator
Position moved
from CEF to
Orange County
FILLED Funded via OC Partnership to
End Homelessness budget (local
governments)
Continued
program
Program Description:
The Housing Access Coordinator (HAC) position originated at the Community Empowerment Fund (CEF) in 2018
and moved to Orange County housing in 2020. This position works with landlords and property management staff
to recruit existing housing units in our community to use Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) as well as other
housing vouchers like Rapid Re-housing and veterans programs.
This position has a limited capacity to also work with people in housing search. The HAC would work closely and
directly with the Housing Locator position, which is a current Housing Gap to be filled.
GAP
PROGRESS
SINCE JUNE 2019 STATUS NOTES
NEEDED
TO FILL
Homelessness
Diversion
Funding
$13,000 in
diversion
funding provided
by Carolina
Homelessness
Prevention
Initiative (CHPI)
FILLED Ongoing CHPI leadership development
and funding continuing
Funded via CHPI (nonprofit)
Continued
program
Program Description:
Homelessness diversion funding is flexible funding that allows people to find safe alternatives to emergency
shelter. Orange County has reduced the number of people entering the homeless system through flexible
diversion funds provided by the Carolina Homelessness Prevention Initiative (CHPI) as well as effective utilization of
Emergency Housing Assistance and the Eviction Diversion program. CHPI was started by a group of undergraduate
students at UNC who wanted to help people experiencing homelessness.
After conversations with service providers and OCPEH staff, CHPI decided to tackle homelessness diversion, a gap
at that time. CHPI has a system of ongoing member recruitment and leadership development to ensure ongoing
continuation of this completely student-led and operated 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
GAP DETAILS
FILLED GAPS
Since the first homeless system gaps analysis in 2017, three gaps have been filled.
6
3
GAP
PROGRESS
SINCE JUNE 2019 STATUS NOTES
NEEDED
TO FILL
Street Outreach Program started
October 2020,
3 FTE (1 clinical
coordinator +
2 peer support
navigators) -
ocpehnc.com/
street-outreach
FILLED Funded initially via Emergency
Solutions Grant COVID funding (Oct
2020 – November 2021); Orange
County providing continuation
funding with American Rescue Plan
(ARP) Need ongoing annual program
funding July 2022 and beyond.
$299,562
additional
annual
funding
for July
2022 and
beyond;
Program Description:
The Street Outreach, Harm Reduction, and Deflection (SOHRAD) program began operations in October 2020 with
three full-time positions – a clinical coordinator and two peer support navigators. SOHRAD works with people
who are living unsheltered to connect them with housing and services. Since beginning client work in November
2020 and through mid-September 2021, SOHRAD staff served over 200 people including helping 48 people
enter housing, and assisted with over 50 deflections from law enforcement involvement, including arrest and jail.
Funding for a fourth full-time position was approved by Town of Chapel Hill in January 2022.
Program Budget:
Salary & benefits for 3 Peer Street Navigators $185,763
Salary & benefits for 1 Clinical Coordinator $81,174
Training / Mileage $7,500
Supplies for engagement $25,125
TOTAL $299,562
GAP DETAILS
FILLED GAPS
Since the first homeless system gaps analysis in 2017, three gaps have been filled.
7
4
GAP
PROGRESS
SINCE JUNE 2019 STATUS NOTES
NEEDED
TO FILL
Income-based
rental housing
Some units
available in the
community from
Town/County
subsidies and
HUD subsidies,
but referrals were
not coordinated
or prioritized and
the community
need outstrips
the number of
available units;
There has been
a significant
expansion in
the availability
of Housing
Choice Vouchers
(HCV) since Oct
2020 with 100%
of vouchers
available through
coordinated entry
PARTIALLY
FILLED
Progress has been made with
Master Leasing but barriers exist
in the application process that
exacerbate the lack of affordable
housing options for people with
criminal justice backgrounds and
eviction histories
9,553
households
are currently
“rent
burdened”
meaning
they spend
more than
30% of their
income on
housing costs
Program Description:
Having an adequate supply of housing that people can afford is one of the key drivers of ending homelessness.
People are less likely to become homeless if they are not rent burdened and more likely to exit homelessness faster
if they can find housing that is affordable. Income based rental housing uses household income to determine
amount of rent paid by clients. The greatest need exists for units that are affordable for households at no more
than 30% of the area median income.
Program Budget:
Depends on approach
GAP DETAILS
CURRENT GAPS: HOUSING
Orange County has made significant progress on filling some system gaps, there is also more work to be done.
Here is the current status with some gaps added from previous editions of the Gaps Analysis.
8
5
GAP
PROGRESS
SINCE JUNE 2019 STATUS NOTES
NEEDED
TO FILL
Expanded Rapid
Re-Housing
Best practice
program started
April 2020, as of
September 2021
have 2 FTE case
managers
PARTIALLY
FILLED
Best practice program funded via
combination of Emergency Solutions
Grant COVID (ESG-CV) funds, HOME
funds for Tenant Based Rental
Assistance, and County Maintenance
of Effort (MOE) funding; ESG-CV
funding for case manager and
financial assistance to end February
2022; Program targeted long-term
shelter stayers, plus others on HOME
Committee list; Need funding for a
total of 6 case managers plus client
financial assistance to serve 180
households per year (30 per case
manager per year)
$1,373,133
additional
annual
funding
Program Description:
Rapid Re-housing provides a flexible mix of short-term rental assistance and case management with services
provided in a trauma-informed, client-centered manner. As of September 2021, there are over 160 households
each month who are connected to service providers and in need of permanent housing, almost all of whom would
be well served by Rapid Re-housing.
Program Budget:
Salary & benefits for 5 case managers $333,633
Expected ESG funding for RRH services ($ 40,500)
SUBTOTAL - case manager funding needed $293,133
Client financial assistance -
$1200/household/month x 12 months x 5 case managers $1,080,000
TOTAL $1,373,133
GAP DETAILS
CURRENT GAPS: HOUSING
Orange County has made significant progress on filling some system gaps, there is also more work to be done.
Here is the current status with some gaps added from previous editions of the Gaps Analysis.
9
6
GAP
PROGRESS
SINCE JUNE 2019 STATUS NOTES
NEEDED
TO FILL
Permanent
Supportive
Housing (PSH)
2 current
programs serve
Orange County:
IFC (best practice
program) and
Community Link
PARTIALLY
FILLED
Need additional funding for program
expansion, helpful to identify non-
HUD source for services funding to
serve as match for CoC-funded PSH
$200,000
Program Description:
Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) serves people experiencing chronic homelessness, providing housing
subsidy and case management. The Inter-Faith Council for Social Service (IFC) is requesting funds for 3 FTE case
managers to allow expansion of best practice PSH program. The current program cannot expand due to the need
for match funding. The program currently has 2 FTEs funded by Continuum of Care (CoC) funding. Providing local
funding for PSH services would allow the CoC dollars to be used for rental assistance, and adding another FTE
case manager (3 total) would provide the staff capacity needed to administer additional rental assistance from
reallocated CoC funds. Permanent Supportive Housing demand has been exacerbated by COVID, from an average
of about 25 households per month in February 2020 who are experiencing chronic homelessness and have high
service needs to about 40 households per month in September 2021. There have been zero program referrals to
PSH in the past two years because current programs are full.
Program Budget:
Salary & benefits for 3 case managers + IFC overhead $200,000
GAP
PROGRESS
SINCE JUNE 2019 STATUS NOTES
NEEDED
TO FILL
Youth Housing
Program
Program that
served Durham
revamped to
adopt Rapid Re-
housing model
UNFILLED Need program expansion funding to
cover youth in Orange County
$162,160
Program Description:
Funding LGBTQ Center of Durham for housing, therapy, and case management for youth (age 18-24) exiting
homelessness in Orange County; program serves both LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ youth. The Center completely
revamped their youth housing program in response to COVID - changing from a host home program model to
rapid re-housing inclusive of rental assistance and services.
Program Budget:
Staff Salaries 1/3 Program Director and Case Manager $33,997
Therapy Services Contract services with mental health service providers $36,663
Housing $1000/month for 7 clients for 12 months $84,000
Admin and overhead $ 7,500
TOTAL $162,160
GAP DETAILS
CURRENT GAPS: HOUSING
Orange County has made significant progress on filling some system gaps, there is also more work to be done.
Here is the current status with some gaps added from previous editions of the Gaps Analysis.
10
7
GAP
PROGRESS
SINCE JUNE 2019 STATUS NOTES
NEEDED
TO FILL
Sustained
funding for
Landlord
Incentive
Program (LIP)
Implemented
LIP in April 2020
(flyer) to increase
units available for
people exiting
homelessness
and people with
Housing Choice
Vouchers
PARTIALLY
FILLED
Funding requested via County
American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding,
to be decided Fall 2021
$200,000
annually
for 200
units
Program Description:
The Landlord Incentive program provides landlords with $1000 signing bonus for new leases and $500 for
renewing leases for Housing Choice Voucher participants and participants in other programs like Rapid Re-
housing, veterans programs, and for clients working with the Local Reentry Council and Compass Center. The
County has funded LIP with CARES Act and HCV funds that all expire at the end of 2021. LIP is managed by the
Housing Access Coordinator. COVID eviction moratorium created stagnation in unit turnover -- providing Landlord
Incentives for new and renewing leases has proven an effective strategy during COVID to create unit availability for
people with Housing Choice and other vouchers.
Program Budget:
100 new leases, $1000 each $100,000
200 renewal leases, $500 each $100,000
TOTAL $200,000
GAP
PROGRESS
SINCE JUNE 2019 STATUS NOTES
NEEDED
TO FILL
Housing Locator Orange County
allocated the
County portion for
this position in the
FY21-22 budget
UNFILLED Housing Locator allow the HAC to
concentrate on system-level unit
recruitment
$67,000
Program Description:
The Housing Locator would provide client-level assistance in locating units for people exiting homelessness,
people with Housing Choice Vouchers, and other people at risk of homelessness who contact the Housing
Helpline. The position will work in coordination with the Housing Access Coordinator (HAC) to develop and
maintain landlord relationships. This will allow the HAC to focus more completely on system-level landlord
recruitment, which is currently difficult due to demand for providing direct housing navigation support for the
more vulnerable residents in housing search with vouchers in-hand. People are searching for units with Housing
Choice Vouchers and other rental assistance without being able to locate units. As of September 2021, there are
over 160 households experiencing homelessness who are connected to service providers and in active housing
search, up from average of 102 households in 2019.
Program Budget:
Salary & benefits for Housing Locator position $67,000
GAP DETAILS
CURRENT GAPS: HOUSING
Orange County has made significant progress on filling some system gaps, there is also more work to be done.
Here is the current status with some gaps added from previous editions of the Gaps Analysis.
11
8
GAP
PROGRESS
SINCE JUNE 2019 STATUS NOTES
NEEDED
TO FILL
Furniture and
household goods
Orange County
used state CARES
Act funding
for a furniture
and household
goods program
in November
2020 – over 71
households
applied in a 6
week period, of
whom 39 were
funded an average
of $800
PARTIALLY
FILLED
The Furniture Program, St. Thomas
More’s Caring and Sharing Center,
and CommunityWorx thrift store
offer some options for furniture and
household goods for people entering
housing. Gaps remain for returning
clients, clients in Ashley Forest, and
to meet community-wide need for all
people exiting homelessness
$160,000
Program Description:
People exiting homelessness often have little to no furniture or the other things needed to create a home, like
linens, dishes, and cleaning supplies. Having items to make a housing unit livable and comfortable contribute
greatly to housing stability. A best-practice program design would allow for a great deal of flexibility and client
choice in allowing people to pick both what they need and what they would like for their homes. Orange County
is on track to house over 160 households in 2021, the project budget estimates for 200 households understanding
some do not come through the HOME Committee. The project budget estimates $800 per household,
understanding some people will be fully or partially served by existing community programs, but that gaps
remain.
Program Budget:
200 households per year, $800 each $160,000
GAP DETAILS
CURRENT GAPS: HOUSING
Orange County has made significant progress on filling some system gaps, there is also more work to be done.
Here is the current status with some gaps added from previous editions of the Gaps Analysis.
12
9
GAP
PROGRESS
SINCE JUNE 2019 STATUS NOTES
NEEDED
TO FILL
Medical Respite
Beds
Group of UNC
Healthcare and
homeless/housing
service providers
meeting regularly
to advance plan;
UNC Healthcare
management
is interested to
pursue
UNFILLED Working now on nursing-home based
model 5 bed project proposal for
potential funding by UNC Healthcare
Budget
TBD
Program Description:
Beds with low level medical care available for people discharging from hospital without a place to live, 2-6 week
stays previewed for people who are able to complete their activities of daily living but need skilled care such
as wound care or IV medicine administered. Currently these patients are long-term stayers at the hospital or
discharged to homelessness – a medical respite program would free up needed hospital beds and also ensure
people experiencing homelessness are getting needed care. The program will be designed to meet community
need, particularly being able to serve people with behavioral health issues and/or criminal justice involvement
Program Budget: TBD
GAP
PROGRESS
SINCE JUNE 2019 STATUS NOTES
NEEDED
TO FILL
Accessible,
Housing-Focused
Shelter
Noncongregate
shelter program at
local hotel funded
by FEMA May
2020 – June 2021
PARTIALLY
FILLED
Changes to the Chapel Hill Good
Neighbor Plan are needed to allow IFC
to implement best practice, low barrier
approach and Emergency Shelter
designation at IFC Community House;
IFC also needs increased staffing to
provide low barrier shelter
$194,700
(revising
Good
Neighbor
Plan) to
$3.17
million
(building
new
shelter)
Program Description:
HUD recommends that emergency homeless shelters are accessible with low barriers to entry. Currently there is no
same-night shelter availability in Orange County – people wait days, weeks, or months to enter and the wait time
is highly variable. HUD further recommends that shelters are fully integrated into a housing-focused homeless
service system. Stipulations in the current Good Neighbor Plan (GNP) agreement between shelter operator IFC
and the neighbors of the men’s shelter, Community House regarding the designation and programming at IFC
Community House do not allow this currently. OCPEH will convene facilitated community conversations around
current restrictions to try to determine a way forward – changing the GNP, building a new shelter, or other
option(s).
Program Budget: TBD
GAP DETAILS
CURRENT GAPS:
SERVICES - TEMP. HOUSING
13
10
GAP
PROGRESS
SINCE JUNE 2019 STATUS NOTES
NEEDED
TO FILL
Bridge Housing Reentry House
Plus opened
Summer 2021 to
provide bridge
housing to up to
3 participants at a
time, plus a house
manager who also
has a history of
incarceration
UNFILLED Orange County Local Reentry Council
(LRC) seeing 65 people exiting jail or
prison per year needed an average of
60 nights stay
$220,500
Program Description:
There is a critical need for short-term, low barrier reentry housing and supporting services to help reentering
individuals re-integrate into the community, especially during COVID. Bridge Housing funds allow for short-term
supportive stabilization housing at hotels for up to 60 days for 55 reentering individuals per year and supportive
services for 65 individuals through Reentry House Plus. Reentry House Plus has contracted with the SWIT (Success
While in Transition) program run by individuals who themselves have reentered successfully to provide a month-
long course and ongoing one-on-one case management and peer mentoring for these individuals in collaboration
with our Local Reentry Council. Bridge Housing and support is an evidence-based best practice for ensuring
stabilization and support for people reentering from incarceration, which has been identified as a critical priority
by U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary, Marcia Fudge.
Program Budget:
Hotels – 55 people per year, an average of 60 nights, $55/night $181,500
Services – SWIT classes, $600/person for 65 people $39,000
TOTAL $220,500
GAP DETAILS
CURRENT GAPS:
SERVICES - TEMP. HOUSING
14
11
GAP
PROGRESS SINCE
JUNE 2019 STATUS NOTES
NEEDED
TO FILL
Housing
Helpline
Staffing
Program moved
to Orange County
March 2020;
expanded to full
time hours (Monday-
Friday, business
hours) plus one day
a week in-person
in Chapel Hill as of
September 2021
ocpehnc.com/
housing-help
PARTIALLY
FILLED
Have ongoing funding for 2 FTE from
Continuum of Care grant; one-time 12
month funding for .5 FTE from ESG-CV;
Have requested .5 FTE funding from
ARP to make this 1 FTE; have funding
for 4 temporary staff through June
2022
$161,010
additional
annual
funding
to add 2
FTE July
2022 and
beyond
Program Description:
The Orange County Housing Helpline is the centralized access point for people in housing crisis, including people
who need to access emergency shelter, homelessness diversion, eviction diversion, and homelessness prevention
including rent and utility assistance. Since launching in March 2020 through mid-September 2021, Helpline staff
have fielded over 24,000 calls and 18,000 emails, serving over 8800 households. In September 2021 the Helpline
received an average of 82 calls and 47 emails per day of people in housing crisis. Helpline staff offer assistance
using a trauma-informed and client-centered approach. The increased volume of people in housing crisis due to
COVID results in increased need for Housing Helpline staff to answer calls and emails.
Program Budget:
Salary & benefits for 2 Coordinated Entry Housing Specialists $161,010
GAP DETAILS
CURRENT GAPS:
SERVICES - CONNECTIONS
15
12
GAP DETAILS
CURRENT GAPS:
SERVICES - CONNECTIONS
GAP
PROGRESS
SINCE JUNE 2019 STATUS NOTES
NEEDED
TO FILL
Integrated
Service Center
IFC Commons
opened January
2021 providing
bathrooms,
showers, service
navigation
PARTIALLY
FILLED –
CEF Hub
providing
supportive
services
Continuing community conversations
to explore potential integration with
IFC Commons, Sober Center, Crisis
Center
Budget
TBD
Program Description:
An integrated service center is a central location where people in housing crisis could access many different
needed services including housing navigation, service connections, showers, lockers, medicine storage, medical
care, and food. Services would be provided in a trauma-informed and client-centered manner. Behavioral Health
Taskforce Day Center Workgroup has recommended the following positions to address people in crisis in early
engagement with additional service connections: Harm Reduction Therapist and Harm Reduction Peer Support
Specialist.
Program Budget: TBD
GAP
PROGRESS
SINCE JUNE 2019 STATUS NOTES
NEEDED
TO FILL
Crisis/Diversion
Facility
Orange County
Behavioral
Health Task Force
subcommittee
working since
2019 on program
to divert people
in behavioral
health crises from
jail and hospitals.
Stakeholders
are combining
conversations
about a Sobering
Center with this
project
UNFILLED UNC Healthcare seeing 10-15
encounters/5 people per week
presenting at Emergency Department
(ED) without medical conditions
beyond alcohol use; discussion of
rolling detox/sobering space into
long-term planning for best practice
Crisis/Diversion Facility
Facility to
receive
people
who
can be
diverted
from jail or
hospitals
Program Description:
A Sober Center would provide a detox/sobering space outside of the hospital Emergency Department. The Center
would feature medical detox and other low intensity medical care needed in addition to case management with
connections to street outreach and other service providers. UNC Emergency Medicine is interested in developing a
program in a community location -- not be proximate to the ED because of regulatory requirements.
Program Budget: TBD
16
13
GAP
PROGRESS
SINCE JUNE 2019 STATUS NOTES
NEEDED
TO FILL
24 Hour
Bathroom
with showers
and drinking
water Access in
Downtown
Need exacerbated
with COVID,
now returned to
pre-COVID levels;
Working group
coordinated
by the Town of
Chapel Hill came
up with pilot
program in 2019
PARTIALLY
FILLED
- IFC
Commons
bathroom
open;
Carrboro
Town
Commons
open
24-hour access and downtown
location are key elements; OCPEH will
touch base with Town of Chapel Hill
planning group to determine next
steps
Budget
TBD
Program Description:
Bathroom and shower access in downtown Chapel Hill/Carrboro for all community members, including people
experiencing homelessness.
Program Budget: TBD
GAP
PROGRESS
SINCE JUNE 2019 STATUS NOTES
NEEDED
TO FILL
Memorial Service
Funding
CEF held vigil
in December
2020 for people
that passed the
previous year;
community
member
expressed interest
in setting up
GoFundMe to
establish funding
PARTIALLY
FILLED –
CEF has
received
a $1500
grant from
UNC
DSS can assist with cremation if person
is unclaimed; can explore receiving
discounted rate while allowing person
to be claimed by community members
$5000
annually
Program Description:
Many people experiencing or with lived experience of homelessness are also medically fragile. Several times each
year members of our community pass away. Oftentimes this is followed by case managers having to scramble to
assemble funding and resources needed for a memorial service. Service providers have requested our community
to establish a fund to use in these circumstances that would allow memorial services to occur with less stress, to
provide needed closure for all community members.
Program Budget:
$1000 for 5 services/year
GAP DETAILS
CURRENT GAPS:
SERVICES - DIGNITY
17
14
The Orange County Partnership to End
Homelessness is a diverse group of community
stakeholders including services providers, local
governments and community members who work
to prevent and eliminate homelessness in Orange
County. This collaborative seeks to ensure that
homelessness is rare, brief and one time through
a coordinated system of assessment and service
delivery including prevention and diversion,
emergency shelter and rapid re-housing and
permanent housing options.
In 2016-2017 the Orange County Partnership to
End Homelessness (OCPEH) gathered a series
of meetings with people with lived experience
of homelessness, homeless service providers,
community leaders, and state homeless experts to
map the homeless service system in Orange County.
This process created the Orange County homeless
system map and the homeless system gaps analysis.
OCPEH staff work with community members
to update the gaps analysis annually, the latest
updated is previewed to be approved by the OCPEH
Leadership Team in October 2021.
BACKGROUND 18