HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 02-07-2023; 8-g - Adoption of Orange County’s HOME-ARP Allocation Plan 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: February 7, 2023
Action Agenda
Item No. 8-g
SUBJECT: Adoption of Orange County's HOME-ARP Allocation Plan
DEPARTMENT: Housing
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Attachment 1: HOME-ARP Allocation Plan Corey Root, Housing Director, (919) 245-
Attachment 2: HOME-ARP Allocation Plan 2490
Resolution
PURPOSE: To consider adoption of a resolution authorizing the submission of the HOME-ARP
Allocation Plan.
BACKGROUND: The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 appropriated $5 billion nationwide to
provide housing, services, and shelter to individuals experiencing homelessness and other
vulnerable populations. The funds were allocated by formula to jurisdictions through the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) HOME Investment Partnership (HOME)
Program. This funding is called "HOME-ARP". In September 2021, HUD awarded the Orange
County HOME Consortium (which consists of the County — the "lead entity" for the Consortium —
and the Towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough) a total of $1,371,401 in HOME-ARP
funds.
Led by the Local Government Affordable Housing Collaborative (a group made up of one elected
official from each jurisdiction that comprises the Consortium), the Orange County HOME
Consortium was required to develop an Allocation Plan to identify priority housing and service
needs in the community that may be supported with HOME-ARP funds, and to describe the
process that will be used to distribute HOME-ARP funds. The Consortium's $1.3 million in HOME-
ARP may not be used for eligible housing projects or activities until an Allocation Plan is approved
by HUD. The Allocation Plan determines how the HOME-ARP funds will be awarded to projects
or activities and broadly describes which types of eligible uses the Consortium plans to prioritize.
Once the Allocation Plan is approved, staff will follow the process outlined in the Plan.
As part of the development of the Plan, Orange County consulted with stakeholders that work with
the "Qualifying Populations". County and Town staff actively engaged stakeholders by presenting
at meetings, soliciting feedback through a survey, and incorporating feedback from the Towns'
community engagement processes around ARPA funding.
The County held two public hearings, the first in Fall 2021 and the second in Fall 2022. Since
then staff have drafted the HOME-ARP Allocation Plan based on the feedback received during
the public hearings and public comment period, on the other community engagement and
stakeholder consultation efforts (including a survey and presentations at community meetings),
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and from the ARPA public participation processes being conducted by the Towns of Carrboro and
Chapel Hill.
Staff incorporated public feedback into the Plan and the Collaborative approved the attached draft
Plan. Staff are requesting approval by Town and County governing boards, and upon receiving
approval will submit the Plan to HUD. HUD is responsible for final approval of the Plan, at which
point, the Consortium may begin to use its HOME-ARP funds. To use the funds, the County will
submit draw requests to HUD through its finance system on a reimbursement basis. Any HOME-
ARP funds not disbursed by September 30, 2030 will revert back to HUD.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There are no financial impacts anticipated with this item.
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
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 adopt and authorize the
Chair to sign the attached Resolution authorizing submission of the HOME-ARP Allocation Plan.
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Attachment 1
Orange County (NC) HOME-ARP Allocation Plan
Participating Jurisdiction: Orange County, NC HOME Consortium
Date: February 3, 2022
Background
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 appropriated$5 billion to provide housing, services, and shelter to
individuals experiencing homelessness and other vulnerable populations. These funds were allocated by
formula to jurisdictions that qualified for funding through the HOME Investment Partnership Program
(HOME Program)from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development(HUD). This special
round of funding is called the "HOME-ARP"program. In September 2021, HUD awarded the Orange
County, NC HOME Consortium (which consists of Orange County and the Towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill,
and Hillsborough)$1,371,401 in HOME-ARP funds.
Eligible activities that may be funded with HOME-ARP include: (1)development and support of
affordable housing, (2)tenant-based rental assistance; (3)provision of supportive services(such as
housing counseling, homelessness prevention, child care,job training, legal services, case management,
moving costs, rental applications, and rent assistance);and(4)acquisition and development of non-
congregate shelter units.
Funds must primarily benefit individuals and households in the following qualifying populations:
• Experiencing homelessness (as defined in 24 CFR 91.5 "Homeless"(1), (2), or(3))
• At risk of homelessness (as defined in 24 CFR 91.5 "At risk of homelessness")
• Fleeing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking, (as
defined in 24 CFR 5.2003)
• Other populations with high risk of housing instability(including highly cost-burdened low-
income households, households who have moved two or more times in the last 60 days, and
households living in a hotel/motel)
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Consultation
Before developing its plan, the Orange County, NC HOME Consortium must consult with the local Continuum of
Care(CoC), homeless and domestic violence service providers, veterans'groups,public housing agencies(PHAs),
public agencies that address the needs of the qualifying populations, and public or private organizations that
address fair housing, civil rights, and the needs of persons with disabilities.
Summary of the consultation process
An electronic survey was widely distributed to agencies and organizations that work with people
experiencing homelessness, people fleeing domestic violence,justice-involved individuals, veterans,
people with low incomes, and other qualifying populations. Staff from the Orange County Department
of Housing and Community Development also attended standing meetings of several relevant groups to
present on HOME-ARP and solicit input on priority needs.
Organizations consulted and summary of feedback
Agency/Organization FOrganization Type Consultation Feedback
2
5
Orange County Housing Public Housing Authority Survey Greatest unmet housing/service
Authority needs:Case management;
Permanent supportive housing;
Education on tenant-landlord
relations; Rapid rehousing;
Affordable housing in general
Biggest gaps:Affordable units that
accept rental assistance
Highest funding priority:Services;
Non-congregate shelter
Other feedback:
• Ranked affordable housing
development last because it is
something local governments
could facilitate by expediting the
permitting process and allowing
more development
• Need more rental housing in
general to drive rents down,and
need policies that will allow
developers to build reasonably-
priced rental housing
• Fund project-based voucher
units, acquisition of rapid re-
housing units
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6
Orange County Homeless Service Meeting Biggest gaps: 1 BR units priced
Partnership to End Provider within the guidelines for subsidies
Homelessness Leadership and where landlords are willing to
Team take rental assistance; Rental
assistance overall; Rental assistance
for undocumented folks and folks
who are ineligible for HCV due to
conviction histories; More PeeWee
Homes;Case management for
people to obtain and maintain
housing; Ensuring landlords
continue to take vouchers; Policies
to put more power in the hands of
tenants
Other feedback:
• With Alliance as new LME/MCO
for the County, need to figure out
what their funds can cover in
terms of housing and they will
intersect with other local funding
4
7
Orange County Homeless Service Survey Greatest unmet housing/service
Partnership to End Provider needs:Single occupancy units; Help
Homelessness with housing search process, move-
in,and maintaining tenancy;24-
hour bathroom and 7 day per week
shower/laundry facilities in the
south and north parts of the County
Biggest gaps: More shelter; Low-
barrier shelter for singles and
families; More permanently
affordable units
Highest funding priority:
Development of affordable housing
Other feedback:
• Need affordable senior housing
with indoor hallway and
elevators, near grocery stores and
health care services
• Community lacks Permanent
Supportive Housing Vouchers and
TCLI
• Need services for folks who toe
the line of not being able to care
for themselves and are required
(Olmstead)to be given the option
to live in the community
Orange County Housing Service Provider Meeting Other feedback:
Affordable Housing • Incorporate the OC Forward plan
Coalition
5
8
Orange County Housing Advisory Board Meeting Greatest unmet housing/service
Affordable Housing needs: Physical and mental health
Advisory Board services;Affordable housing supply;
Rental assistance;Supports for
people with disabilities
experiencing domestic violence
Biggest gaps: Rent and utility
assistance;Affordable housing with
access to transportation
Highest funding priority: Rental
assistance; Development of
affordable housing
Other feedback:
• Prioritize rental assistance as it
provides immediate help
• Identify properties that could
easily convert to non-congregate
shelter(e.g.,office building or
floor)or work with hotels to
temporarily house people
• Non-congregate shelter should
make space for youth
transitioning out of the foster
care system,and should be
explicitly LGBTQ-friendly
• Prioritize housing preservation as
it saves community and is more
cost effective than building
• Build multi-unit dwellings/tiny
homes with access to outdoors
• Get regulations on the books to
encourage and enforce affordable
housing integration in future
developments; planning
regulations do not make
integrated affordable housing a
priority; more mixed-income
housing
• Encourage landlords to accept
vouchers and expand voucher
programs(broaden eligibility
criteria)
• Fully adopt Housing First model
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9
Town of Chapel Hill Housing Advisory Board Meeting Greatest unmet housing/service
Housing Advisory Board needs: Permanent supportive
housing units and service provision;
Services and units for people with
high barriers to finding and
maintaining housing(such as
criminal record,substance use,
behavioral health); Project-based
vouchers
Other feedback:
• Create point structure for
awarding HOME-ARP funds that
incentivizes developers to partner
with service providers
• If considering funds for
development gap financing, be
aware that if the funds require
deeper income targeting,they
may not actually fill the funding
gap(e.g.,an extra $200k HOME-
ARP may be less in the long run
than the higher rents that could
be gotten if units did not have to
be targeted toward 30%AMI
households)
Town of Carrboro Housing Advisory Board Meeting Other feedback:
Affordable Housing • Concerned with access to these
Advisory Committee funds; residents(particularly
Black residents)consistently
struggle to access housing funds
and encounter barriers with local
administrators
• Focus on engaging landlords,as
one driver of homelessness is
landlords not accepting vouchers
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10
Emergency Housing Homeless Service Meeting Greatest unmet housing/service
Assistance Partners Provider needs: Long-term funding for
Other Organization security deposits/utility
Addressing the Needs of deposits/first month's rent;
Qualifying Populations Affordable units; Hotel assistance
for temporary stabilization;
Permanent housing units/subsidies
for people below 30%AMI;
Permanent supportive housing;
Landlords willing to accept vouchers
8
11
Community Homeless Service Survey Greatest unmet housing/service
Empowerment Fund Provider needs: Increased bed space and
Other Organization opportunities for transitional
Addressing the Needs of housing for people experiencing
Qualifying Populations homelessness
Biggest gaps: Housing inventory for
those at and below 30%AMI (from
the data we see at least 13%of all
new units need to be geared for
30%AMI and below to meet the
current need—need will only rise as
more families are destabilized by
evictions)
Highest funding priority:
Development of affordable housing
Other feedback:
• Housing market is forcing out
families that have been here for
generations
• Need for 30%AMI housing
cannot be overstated
• Rental assistance will keep
families housed and, hopefully,
prevent additional people from
becoming homeless
• Money alone is not sufficient to
support a transition from
homelessness to housed—
services are essential
• Funding CEF and similar
organizations(IFC,
EmPOWERment,etc.) ensures
that needed services continue
and that organizations can focus
on work rather than on
fundraising
9
12
Interfaith Council for Homeless Service Survey Greatest unmet housing/service
Social Services Provider needs:Affordable housing
Biggest gaps: Landlords unwilling to
rent to the unsheltered due to
stigma
Highest funding priority:
Development of affordable housing
PeeWee Homes Housing Service Provider Survey Greatest unmet housing/service
needs:Web of support for aging in
community
Biggest gaps: Provision of Livable
Design to support those aging
and/or with disabilities
Highest funding priority:
Development of affordable housing
Other feedback:
• Need more affordable housing
across the income spectrum,and
supports and services
• Jackson Center is an asset-could
HOME-ARP funds buy land bank
houses?
• Could HOME-ARP funds support
construction of PeeWee Homes
Hill Street homes,or building
PeeWee Homes in rural areas?
10
13
The Arc of the Triangle Organization Serving Survey Greatest unmet housing/service
People with Disabilities needs: Extremely limited housing
options(and long waitlists)for
people with disabilities who cannot
work; Lack of affordable housing
options near transportation,stores,
etc.
Biggest gaps: Long-term supportive
housing options;Affordability
Highest funding priority: Non-
congregate shelter; Development of
affordable housing
Other feedback:
• Research shows Housing First
model has most success in
keeping people housed and is
more cost effective
• Expand rental assistance to cover
people who do not currently
qualify based on income but still
cannot afford a typical rent
• Landlords should not be allowed
to deny potential renters because
they receive rental assistance
• Develop supportive housing
throughout community to
promote integration and building
of natural supports
• Service needs include supports
finding/moving into housing,
transportation, help with
chores/home repairs
• Emergency housing is not a
permanent fix
• Individual rooms(non-congregate
shelter) provides privacy and
dignity to people experiencing
homelessness
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14
Orange County Criminal Other Organization Survey Greatest unmet housing/service
Justice Resource Addressing the Needs of needs: Bridge housing;Affordable
Department Qualifying Populations housing; Permanent supportive
housing; Low-barrier shelter; DV
shelter;Case management to locate
housing, apply for housing, and set
up utilities(obtaining and moving
furniture as well)
Biggest gaps:See OCPEH gaps
analysis; Emergency shelter;Shelter
options for people on the sex
offender registry; Case managers to
assist with housing searches and
application process; Financial
assistance with rental application
fees
Highest funding priority: Non-
congregate shelter; Development of
affordable housing
Other feedback:
• Hotel rooms with supportive
services and case management
• Affordable housing very difficult
to locate—takes a lot of time and
effort and some people do not
have the capacity(and therefore
remain houseless)
• Prioritize construction of single-
person units
• Non-congregate shelter would be
helpful for people with significant
medical or mental health needs
who cannot function in a
congregate setting
Local Reentry Council Other Organization Meeting Greatest unmet housing/service
Addressing the Needs of needs:Short-term bridge housing
Qualifying Populations with services
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15
Triangle J Council of Other Organization Survey Greatest unmet housing/service
Governments Addressing the Needs of needs: Displacement of
Qualifying Populations manufactured home owners
(especially on rented land);
Affordable housing for aging
population (could address through
senior LIHTC development or home
repair funds)
Biggest gaps: Legal services for
eviction prevention and mediation
(plus rental assistance)
Highest funding priority:
Development of affordable housing
Other feedback:
• Could create more affordable
housing with a 4%tax credit
project in partnership with one of
the Towns;the County could
assist with providing land or
infrastructure funding
• Building affordable housing will
only become more difficult as
time progresses,due to lack of
land and additional subsidy
needed to serve extremely low-
income households
• Prioritize creating senior-focused
and/or supportive housing
options as our population ages
13
16
Rogers-Eubanks Other Organization Survey Greatest unmet housing/service
Neighborhood Addressing the Needs of needs: Home repairs
Association Qualifying Populations
Biggest gaps: Lack of housing
inventory
Highest funding priority:
Development of affordable housing
Other feedback:
• Workforce housing is a top
priority,specifically
homeownership assistance
• Need housing for Veterans
• Need county-wide mental health
services
Refugee Community Other Organization Survey Greatest unmet housing/service
Partnership Addressing the Needs of needs: DV housing:families with
Qualifying Populations multiple kids cannot safely leave
due to having children and no DV
shelter in our county,and short-
term solutions(e.g., hotel for 3
nights)are not enough—need
longer-term housing solutions and
childcare to be able to work
Biggest gaps: No DV shelter; Lack of
language access; Lack of affordable
housing
Highest funding priority:
Development of affordable housing
Other feedback:
• More apartments with affordable
rents(e.g., EmPOWERment's
model)
• Rental assistance for DV survivors
• More units for larger families
• Improve language access
14
17
Chapel of the Cross Other Organization Survey Greatest unmet housing/service
Addressing the Needs of needs:Access to affordable
Qualifying Populations housing;Shelter beds
Biggest gaps:Supportive services
for people with behavioral health
concerns to help stabilize housing;
Need more focus on building
affordable multifamily units and/or
rental assistance
Highest funding priority:
Development of affordable housing;
Rental assistance
Other feedback:
• Bring services to unhoused
people where they are at
• Get more landlords to accept
subsidies from tenants to help
stabilize the rental market and
make housing more affordable
for low-wage workers
• Expanding rental assistance
programs will help low-income
working people obtain housing
with access to public
transportation
• Consider sliding scale rental
subsidies with a minimum
monthly amount for families with
children under age 6 to help with
child care or other costs
• Provide financial assistance for
security deposits
• Fund financial counseling and
services for immigrants/refugees
• Non-congregate shelter should
focus on providing separate
rooms for single mothers with
small children who are in
untenable situations
• Don't waste money building
anything new; use funds to
improve housing options we
already have
15
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Public Participation
The Orange County, NC HOME Consortium must provide for and encourage citizen participation in the development
of the HOME-ARP allocation plan. Before submission of the plan, the Consortium must provide residents with
reasonable notice and an opportunity to comment on the proposed HOME-ARP allocation plan of no less than 15
calendar days. The Consortium must follow its adopted requirements for"reasonable notice and an opportunity to
comment"for plan amendments in its current citizen participation plan. In addition, the Consortium must hold at
least one public hearing during the development of the HOME-ARP allocation plan and prior to submission.
Public comment period:The draft Orange County HOME-ARP Allocation Plan was made available for
public display and comment on the Orange County Housing and Community Development Department
(OCHCD) website at http://orangecountVnc.gov/2831/HOME-ARP and available in hard copy upon
request at the OCHCD office.The public comment period ran November 16—December 1, 2021. Public
notice of the public comment period was published in English in The Herald Sun on Friday, October 29,
2021 and in Spanish in La Noticia on Wednesday, November 3, 2021.
Public hearing:A first Public Hearing on the draft HOME-ARP Allocation Plan was held on November
16, 2021. Public notice of the hearing was published in English in The Herald Sun on Friday, October 29,
2021 and in Spanish in La Noticia on Wednesday, November 3, 2021.The public comment period ran
November 16— December 1, 2021.
The Orange County HOME Consortium intends to hold a second Public Hearing in March 2022 to get
feedback on this draft allocation plan, specifically the funding timeline and process, before finalizing the
plan to submit to HUD.
Description of efforts to broaden public participation
Information about Orange County's HOME-ARP funding is being widely distributed,through traditional
avenues such as public notices, as well as more tailored avenues including emails to stakeholders and
residents, presentations at community meetings, and an online survey.
Summary of comments and recommendations received through public participation process
The Consortium must consider any comments or view of residents received in writing, or orally at a public hearing,
when preparing the HOME-ARP allocation plan.
In addition to receiving survey feedback from stakeholder agencies and organizations,the Consortium
also received feedback from individual residents of Orange County.This feedback is summarized below.
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19
Method of Feedback
Consultation
Residents Survey Greatest unmet housing/service needs:
• Affordable rental housing for households with just one adult;
• Families have trouble finding affordable housing in the area and
often get denied because of an eviction or other background
information.
• Communication with people applying for housing assistance
Biggest gaps:There is not enough affordable housing available in
the area and sometimes the referral process is complicated.
Highest funding priorities:
• Non-congregate shelter
• Development of affordable housing
• Rental assistance
Other feedback:
• Need more variety of affordable housing (apartments,
townhomes, houses, condos, etc.)
• Chapel Hill has prioritized student housing development and
many students can't even afford student housing (student
housing has primarily focused on amenities, but should focus on
quality units with adequate square footage, accessibility, etc.)
• Need case management for the people experiencing chronic
homelessness
• Need for family non-congregate with dedicated transportation
services
• Assistance especially with rental deposits
• Need more individual rooms for emergency shelter
• Improving referral processes and partnerships for service
provision,funding nonprofit service providers
• Need lower-barrier shelters (e.g.,family shelters not allowing
men or men's shelters not allowing children)
• Can personally attest to need for financial assistance; rent for
income-based housing is going up$200 and I make minimum
wage
• Need for food assistance as well as housing
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20
Summary of comments or recommendations not accepted and reasons why
All comments or recommendations will be accepted and a response to each comment will be provided.
Needs Assessment and Gaps Analysis
The Orange County, NC HOME Consortium must evaluate the size and demographic composition of qualifying
populations within its boundaries and assess the unmet needs of those populations. In addition, the Consortium
must identify any gaps within its current shelter and housing inventory as well as the service delivery system. The
Consortium should use current data, including Point-in-Time Count, Housing Inventory Count or other data
available through the Continuum of Care(CoC), and consultations with service providers to quantify the individuals
and families in the qualifying populations and their need for additional housing,shelter, or services.
Homeless Needs Inventory and Gap Analysis Table
Current Inventory Homeless Population Gaps Analysis
Family Adults Vets Family Adult Vets Victims Family Adults
Only Household Household of DV Only
(at least 1 (w/o child)
#of #of #of child) #of #of
Beds Beds Beds Beds Beds
Emergency 32 53 N/A
Shelter
Transitional 0 65 0
Housing
Permanent 40 38 15
Supportive
Housing
Other 5
Permanent
Housing
Sheltered 10 111 9 5
Homeless
Unsheltered 0 33 3
Homeless
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21
Current
Gaps
Sources:2021 Orange County,NC Point-in-Time and Housing Inventory Counts;Orange County Shelter Referral List;HMIS Program Data
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Housing Needs Inventory and Gap Analysis Table
Non-Homeless
Current Level of Gap
Inventory Need Analysis
#of Units #of #of 0-30%
Households AMI Units
Total Rental Units 19,990
Rental Units Affordable to Households Earning 0- 1,870
30%AMI (At-Risk of Homelessness)
0-30%AMI Renter Households with At least One 3,560
Severe Housing Problems(At-Risk of Homelessness)
Current Gaps 1,690
Sources:Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy(CHAS)data,2014-2018;Tables IBC,149,and 1
Size and demographic composition of qualifying populations in Orange County
The 2021 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count
found 176 people (comprising 154
households) experiencing 200 POINT-IN-TIME COUNT DATA Ila
homelessness in Orange County on 2017-2021
one night in January 2021—36 of
150
these people were living t
unsheltered and 140 were
sheltered. Looking at annual 100
Shehered
numbers, the street outreach team Unsheltered
served about 110 people in 12 so
months per caseload logs and 278
people entered shelter or housing
programs per FY20 HUD System a 2017 201E 2019 2020 2021
Performance Measures. People
experiencing homelessness are
disproportionately people of color; 67%of people experiencing homelessness in the 2021 Point-in-Time
(PIT) Count were Black or African-American, whereas just 12%of people in Orange County overall are
Black or African-American.The Latinx population is underrepresented, however—9%of Orange County
population overall identifies at Latinx compared with 5% of the homeless population.
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23
PIT data also show that people experiencing homelessness are overwhelmingly in adult-only households
(94%), and most are age 25 and older(84%) and male (72%).
0% 6%
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Unmet housing and service needs of qualifying populations
Feedback from the online survey and community meetings revealed four major areas of unmet housing
and service needs in Orange County: affordable housing supply, affordable housing access, supportive
services, and shelter and bridge housing supply. Further detail on each of these four areas is below.
Affordable Housing Affordable Housing Supportive Services Shelter and Bridge
Supply Access Housing Supply
• Affordable housing in • Rental assistance • Case management • Shelter beds in
general (particularly for people • Housing navigation general
• Permanent below 30%AMI) and tenancy support • Low-barrier shelter
supportive housing • Rapid rehousing (including education • Domestic violence
• Single occupancy • Project-based on tenant-landlord shelter
units vouchers relations) • Hotel assistance for
• Units near • Long-term funding for • Physical and mental temporary
transportation, providing assistance health services stabilization
stores,etc. with security • Supports for people • Bridge housing with
• Housing for aging deposits/utility with disabilities and services
population deposits/first month's domestic violence • Transitional housing
• Housing for people rent survivors
with disabilities • Landlords willing to • Support for aging in
• Stability for accept rental community
manufactured home assistance • Home repairs
park residents • 24-hour bathroom and
7 day per week
shower/laundry
facilities in the south
and north of County
21
24
Current resources available to assist qualifying populations, including congregate and non-
congregate shelter units, supportive services, tenant-based rental assistance, and affordable
and permanent supportive rental housing
Orange County has several resources available to help people experiencing homelessness.The Housing
Helpline is an in-person, phone, and email information and referral service for anyone in housing crisis
that uses HUD coordinated entry practices to route people to the resources they need—including rent
and utility assistance for people maintaining housing, homelessness diversion and eviction diversion for
people at risk of homelessness, and emergency response (shelter and/or street outreach) and
permanent housing referrals for people experiencing homelessness.
Orange County has two congregate emergency shelters that serve men, women, and families operated
by the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service. Compass Center operates a non-congregate shelter program
for people fleeing domestic violence. In January 2022,the County currently operates non-congregate
shelter for overflow cold weather cots and a hotel program for people experiencing homelessness who
are Covid positive.
The Orange County Street Outreach, Harm Reduction and Deflection (SOHRAD) program connects
people living unsheltered with services and housing and helps to deflect law enforcement interactions.
The Criminal Justice Resource Department (CJRD) administers the Local Reentry Council that provides
case management and housing resources for people exiting jail and prison. CJRD also manages the
Lantern Project, a deflection, diversion, and reentry program that connects people with histories of
substance use who are justice involved with therapeutic supports as soon as possible,the Restoration
Legal Counsel who provides pro bono legal assistance to individuals facing barriers due to a criminal
record and/or driver's license suspension, and a Clinical Coordinator and Youth Behavioral Health Liaison
who provide clinical services to people who are incarcerated.The Chapel Hill Police Crisis Unit assists
people living unsheltered and others who have law enforcement contact. Orange County Outreach
Court is a therapeutic court model that connects people with low-level charges with services—in
exchange for engaging with service providers and housing plans, people have their court charges
dismissed.
The UNC Center for Excellence in Community Mental Health HomeLink program serves people who are
experiencing or at-risk of homelessness with mental health, occupational therapy, housing, and
employment and training resources.The Community Empowerment Fund works one-on-one with
people to achieve goals like savings plans and housing. Freedom House provides behavioral health
services including detox and crisis treatment.
There are also many permanent housing programs in Orange County, including the Orange County Rapid
Re-housing program, and Volunteers of America's Supportive Services for Veterans and their Families
program.The Orange County Housing Authority partners with the Durham VA to provide HUD-VASH
vouchers for veterans, and issues Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs) and Emergency Housing Vouchers
(EHVs)to people exiting homelessness.The Orange County Emergency Housing Assistance program
(funded by the County and the Town of Chapel Hill, Town of Carrboro and Town of Hillsborough)
provides security deposits and first month's rent for people exiting homelessness, in addition to ongoing
rent and utility assistance payments for all people at or below 30%of Area Median Income . Compass
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Center provides a housing program and rapid re-housing for people fleeing domestic violence.The Inter-
Faith Council for Social Service operates a Permanent Supportive Housing program.The Orange County
Homelessness Prevention and Housing Stability programs provides services and financial support for
people at risk of homelessness.The Housing Access Coordinator works with landlords and property
managers to make more units available for people exiting homelessness.
Affordable housing in Orange County is provided by organizations including Community Home Trust,
CASA, EmPOWERment,the Center for Community Self-help, Habitat for Humanity, PeeWee Homes, and
DHIC.
Gaps within the current shelter and housing inventory as well as the service delivery system
Feedback from the online survey and community meetings revealed four major areas of unmet housing
and service needs in Orange County: affordable housing supply, affordable housing access, supportive
services, and shelter and bridge housing supply. Further detail on each of these four areas is below.
Affordable Housing Affordable Housing Supportive Services Shelter and Bridge
Supply Access Housing Supply
• Affordable housing • Rental assistance • Housing navigation • Shelter beds in
(particularly 30%AMI) (particularly for people and tenancy support general
• Multifamily housing in who are • Language services • Low-barrier shelter
general undocumented or have • Physical and mental • Domestic violence
• Permanent supportive conviction histories) health services shelter
housing • Utility assistance • Legal services for • Shelter for people on
• Single occupancy units • Financial assistance eviction prevention sex offender registry
PeeWee Homes with application fees and mediation
• Units near transit, • Landlords willing to
stores,etc. accept rental
• Housing with Livable assistance
Design to support • Landlords willing to
aging population rent to people
and/or people with currently experiencing
disabilities homelessness
• Policies to give tenants
more power
Characteristics of housing associated with instability and an increased risk of homelessness (if
the Consortium will include such conditions in its definition of"other populations")
Older housing units and manufactured housing are at great risk of redevelopment in Orange County.
Residents in this housing and other naturally occurring affordable housing are at an increased risk of
homelessness due to displacement.
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Priority needs for qualifying populations
Feedback from the online survey and community meetings revealed a preference among respondents to
prioritize development of affordable housing.
Prioritization ❑f eligible uses of HOME-ARP funds
■ 1st ■2nd ■3rd ■4th
Development of Affordable Rousing
Rental Assistance
Acquisition/Development of Non-Congregate
Shelter Units
Services
0 5 "0 15 20 25
How the level of need and gaps in shelter and housing inventory and service delivery systems
based on the data presented in the plan were determined
The Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness has created a homeless gaps analysis annually
starting in 2017 (https://www.ocpehnc.com/gaps-analysis). Staff used this data in addition to the 2021
Point-in-Time and Housing Inventory County, as well as the current shelter referral list (people waiting
to get into emergency shelter) and coordinated entry lists (people experiencing homelessness who are
connected with service providers and in housing search)to determine data presented in this plan.
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HOME-ARP Activities
Description of the method for soliciting applications for funding and/or selecting developers,
service providers, subrecipients and/or contractors and whether the Consortium will
administer eligible activities directly
The Consortium will accept applications for HOME-ARP funding from developers and other housing and
service providers beginning in December 2022.The Local Government Affordable Housing Collaborative,
made up of one elected official from each of the four jurisdictions that make up the Consortium (Orange
County,the Towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough), is the group locally tasked with allocating
the Consortium's HOME funds. Similar to the annual award process for the Consortium's regular HOME
funds,the Collaborative will develop a scorecard with which to review HOME-ARP applications and then
make funding recommendations to be approved by the governing boards of each jurisdiction.
Use of HOME-ARP Funding
The Orange County, NC HOME Consortium must indicate the amount of HOME-ARP funding that is planned for
each eligible HOME-ARP activity type and demonstrate that any planned funding for nonprofit organization
operating assistance, nonprofit capacity building, and administrative costs is within HOME-ARP limits.
Funding Amount Percent of Grant Statutory Limit
Supportive Services TBD
Acquisition and Development TBD
of Non-Congregate Shelters
Tenant-Based Rental TBD
Assistance
Development of Affordable $1,165,691
Rental Housing
Nonprofit Operating TBD 5%
Nonprofit Capacity Building TBD 5%
Administration and Planning $205,710 15% 15%
[Total HOME-ARP Allocation $1,371,401
How shelter and housing inventory characteristics, service delivery system, and the needs
identified in the gaps analysis provided a rationale for the plan to fund eligible activities
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Funding of eligible activities will be determined via the application process, currently scheduled for
spring 2023.
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HOME-ARP Production Housing Goals
Estimate of the number of affordable rental housing units for qualifying populations that the
Consortium will produce or support with its HOME-ARP allocation
We estimate five or six affordable housing units can be built with allocated HOME-ARP funds. This
number is based on current market prices and other recent local affordable housing projects.
Specific affordable housing rental production goal that the Consortium hopes to achieve and
how it will address the Consortium's priority needs
Funding of eligible activities will be determined via the application process, currently scheduled for
spring 2023.
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Preferences
Identify whether the Consortium intends to give preference to one or more qualifying
populations or a subpopulation within one or more qualifying populations for any eligible
activity or project
• Preferences cannot violate any applicable fair housing, civil rights, and
nondiscrimination requirements, including but not limited to those requirements listed
in 24 CFR 5.105(a)
• The Consortium is not required to describe specific projects to which the preferences
will apply
Orange County plans to implement a qualifying population preference for those experiencing
Homelessness. The Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness (OCPEH) collaborates with
public and private agencies in Orange County to help people find a safe place to stay using
Coordinated Entry (CE) —a single point of entry, homelessness diversion, and program referral
system. Coordinated Entry helps service providers determine quickly, consistently, and
effectively which resources will best help people in housing crisis. Coordinated Entry
streamlines the processes for diversion, shelter referral, and housing program referrals. This
process formalizes prioritization, prioritizing households with higher service needs over
households with lower service needs. Coordinated Entry is guided, maintained, and updated by
two Committees, the HOME Committee and CE Planning Committee, and one workgroup, the
Data & Grants Workgroup, comprised of Coordinated Entry stakeholders and coordinated by
the Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness (OCPEH).
(If a preference was identified) How the use of a preference or method of prioritization will
address the unmet need or gap in benefits and services received by individuals and families in
the qualifying population or category of qualifying population, consistent with the
Consortium's needs assessment and gaps analysis
The use of this preference will allow more people experiencing homelessness to access affordable
housing units. The Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness has created a homeless gaps
analysis annually starting in 2017 (https://www.ocpehnc.com/gaps-analysis) and update this report
annually with input from people experiencing homelessness, service providers, state and national level
experts, and community feedback. Staff used this data in addition to the 2022 Point-in-Time and
Housing Inventory Count, as well as the current shelter referral list (people waiting to get into
emergency shelter) and coordinated entry lists (people experiencing homelessness who are connected
with service providers and in housing search) to determine what unmet homeless service needs exist in
Orange County. The community's current prioritization reflects an emphasis on serving people with the
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highest service need, as determined by the VI-SPDAT, then households fleeing DV, and then households
with the longest time experiencing homelessness.There are currently about 170 households each
month who are experiencing homelessness who are connected to a community service provider that is
providing support to obtain housing.This preference will enable households with the highest barriers to
obtaining housing with access to additional permanent housing options.
(if a preference was identified)How the Consortium will use HOME-ARP funds to address the
unmet needs or gaps in benefits and services of the other qualifying populations that are not
included in the preference
The Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness considers all qualifying populations in its process
of coordinated entry.
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HOME-ARP Refinancing Guidelines
If the Orange County, NC HOME Consortium intends to use HOME-ARP funds to refinance existing debt secured by
multifamily rental housing that is being refinanced with HOME-ARP funds, the Consortium must state its HOME-
ARP refinancing guidelines in accordance with 24 CFR 92.206(b). The guidelines must describe the conditions under
which the Consortium will refinance existing debt for a HOME-ARP rental project.
Minimum level of rehabilitation per unit or required ratio between rehabilitation to
refinancing to demonstrate that rehabilitation of HOME-ARP rental housing is the primary
eligible activity
The Consortium does not intend to use HOME-ARP funds to refinance existing debt.
Required review of management practices to demonstrate that disinvestment in the property
has not occurred; that the long-term needs of the project can be met; and that the feasibility
of serving qualified population for the minimum compliance period can be demonstrated
The Consortium does not intend to use HOME-ARP funds to refinance existing debt.
State whether the new investment is being made to maintain current affordable units, create
additional affordable units, or both
The Consortium does not intend to use HOME-ARP funds to refinance existing debt.
Required compliance period(whether it is the minimum 15 years or longer)
The Consortium does not intend to use HOME-ARP funds to refinance existing debt.
State that HOME-ARP funds cannot be used to refinance multifamily loans made or insured by
any federal programs, including CDBG
The Consortium does not intend to use HOME-ARP funds to refinance existing debt. HOME-ARP funds
cannot be used to refinance multifamily loans made or insured by any federal programs, including
CDBG.
Other requirements in the guidelines, if applicable
N/A
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RES-2023-011 Attachment 2
RESOLUTION
AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION of the
HOME-ARP ALLOCATION PLAN
for ORANGE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
BE IT RESOLVED, by the Orange County Board of Commissioners, as a member of the
Orange County HOME Consortium, that the Commissioners approve the following activities for
the HOME-ARP Program:
Development of Affordable Rental Housing- $1,165,691
Program Administration - $205,710
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County Manager is hereby designated as the
authorized representative of the County to act in connection with the submission of these plans,
to act in connection with the HOME Program, and to provide such additional information as may
be required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
This is the day of , 2023
Seal
Jamezetta Bedford, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners
NOW THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED by the Orange County Board of Commissioners that this
resolution is effective upon approval. Upon motion of Commissioner ,
seconded by Commissioner , the foregoing resolution was adopted this the
day of , 2023.
I, Laura Jensen, County Clerk for Orange County, North Carolina, DO THEREBY CERTIFY
that the foregoing is a true copy of so much of the proceedings of said Board at a meeting held
on 12023.
WITNESS my hand and seal of said County, the day of _, 2023.
Laura Jensen, County Clerk