HomeMy WebLinkAbout03 08 22 AHAB Minutes Orange County Affordable Housing Advisory Board (AHAB) Minutes
Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at 6:00 PM
Virtual Meeting
Members Present: Olivia Fisher, Dion Graham, Mae McLendon, Holly Meschko, Jenn
Sykes (Chair), Arthur Sprinczeles, Paul Voss
Members Absent: Keith Cook, Saru Salvi, Tim Woody
Staff Present: Corey Root (Housing Director)
I. Call to Order/Introductions:
Chair Sykes called the meeting to order at 6:01 PM.
II. Approval of the February 8, 2022 AHAB Meeting Minutes
With corrections to Jenn Sykes name spelling, a motion was made to approve the
minutes from February 8, 2022 [Voss, McLendon]. All in favor, none opposed.
III. Board Member Updates
Jim Eichel resigned from the AHAB effective tonight, he was an effective and enjoyable
member of this group and will be missed. Thank you, Jim, for your service to our
community.
The Marion Cheek Jackson Center hosting an information session on Jay on Saturday,
March 19 on the lawn of the 512 West Rosemary — food and music provided.
The Housing Department is partnering with the Orange County Arts Commission on the
HOME? Art Exhibit, Ms. Root will send info to AHAB Committee members.
IV. Two Cents for Housing
The Orange County Affordable Housing Coalition (OCAHC) sent a request to the
County Manager and County Commissioners (and the Managers and elected boards for
the Towns of Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough) asking all jurisdictions "to
dedicate at minimum two cents of the property tax rate in the FY22-23 budget for
funding affordable housing (not including funds spent on local government staffing)."
Chair Sykes will reach out to OCAHC Co-Chairs, Dan Levine and Kimberly Sanchez, to
invite them to present to AHAB at an upcoming meeting. Board members would like
more information on the specifics of the request, how OCAHC members are publicizing
and spreading the word about this request. The Affordable Housing Advisory Board
cannot pass resolutions, but can send a letter to the Board of County Commissioners
supporting initiatives and proposals.
V. Homeless Systems Gaps
Ms. Root presented the Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness system
gaps, discussing each gap and current proposals to fill the gaps. Ms. Root will be
including requests to fill these gaps in the Housing Department budget requests using
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding.
VI. Future Meeting Topics & Logistics
Staff asked AHAB members for topics they would like to discuss in future meetings this
year. Members would like to hear from agencies who applied for Outside Agency
funding in the coming months — staff will invite agencies for 30 minute blocks and ask
them to present their agency overall and talk about the program applied for via the
Outside Agency process (20 minutes), and also allow time for questions from AHAB
members (10 minutes). Members would like to hear from the Orange County Affordable
Housing Coalition in April, and plan to take the traditional month of July off from
meeting.
Prior to starting online meetings because of Covid, AHAB meetings were in person and
alternated between Chapel Hill and Hillsborough locations. AHAB members would like
to continue to meet virtually for as long as is possible, and meet in person quarterly.
Pre-pandemic, AHAB met in the community once per quarter, at community centers
and libraries. The Housing Department would provide refreshments at these meetings
and invite the community to come in to discuss affordable housing issues. Ms. Root will
work on an in-person community meeting in the coming months at either Hargraves
Center in the Northside neighborhood in Chapel Hill or the Rogers Road-Eubanks
Neighborhood Association (RENA) in Northern Chapel Hill.
VII. Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 7.42 PM.
Submitted by Corey Root
NAME OF BOARD/COMMISSION: Affordable Housing Advisory Board (AHAB)