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HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD-2023-040-Approval of Budget Amendment #3-A to Fund the Bridge Housing Opportunity at 2032 Homestead Road in Chapel Hill in Collaboration with Alliance Health and Caramore I ORD -202M40 4 \\ 1 gs4o y ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT j Meeting Date : November 14 , 2023 Action Agenda Item No . 6 - b C SUBJECT : Approval of Budget Amendment # 3 -A to Fund the Bridge Housing Opportunity E at 2032 Homestead Road in Chapel Hill in Collaboration with Alliance Health and Caramore , Inc . r DEPARTMENTS : Housing , Criminal Justice Resource ATTACHMENT ( S ) : INFORMATION CONTACT . Partnership to End Homelessness Gaps Rachel Waltz , 919 -245 -2496 Analysis Caitlin Fenhagen , 919 -245 -2303 Cost Estimates Alliance PowerPoint Presentation a I WON PURPOSE : To approve Budget Amendment # 3 -A to provide start- up and short-term operational funding for a Bridge Housing program at 2032 Homestead Road in Chapel Hill in collaboration with Alliance Health and Caramore , Inc . BACKGROUND : Bridge Housing and therapeutic support is an evidence - based , best practice for ensuring stabilization for individuals exiting homelessness , incarceration and institutions . This short-term , low barrier housing coupled with supportive services is designed to enhance opportunities for an individual ' s successful transition into permanent housing . The model provides safe and temporary housing for 60 to 120 days with a focus on recovery supports , developing independent living skills , connections to housing navigation , case management and peer support . Bridge Housing has been identified as a critical need in the Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness System Gaps Analysis for several years . Currently , there is no accessible , non - voucher Bridge Housing serving residents in Orange County seeking to exit homelessness or seeking short-term stabilization following reentry from incarceration or institutionalization . In July 2023 , Ann Oshel , the Alliance Health Vice President for Community Health and Well - Being , approached Orange County regarding a residential property at 2032 Homestead Road in Chapel Hill that was vacant and owned by Caramore , Inc . Ms . Oshel suggested that the property could be reimagined to fill an Orange County housing need . The residence had been previously operated since 2015 as a licensed , long -term group home for persons with mental illness . The property was owned by Gary Gaddy and Sandra Herring with the intended purpose of providing long -term supportive housing for individuals with mental health needs . The group home closed prior to COVID and was abandoned by the provider . The owners then gifted the property to Caramore Inc . , in 2019 with the expressed purpose of serving individuals with behavioral needs facing housing crisis . The five - bedroom , brick ranch home on . 75 acres of land is centrally located on Homestead Road in Chapel Hill , next to a city bus stop , and neighboring the Church of the Advocate , whose property contains several Pee Wee Homes . In addition , the property at 2032 Homestead Road is in close proximity to Inter-faith Council ( IFC ) properties , as well as Orange County ' s Southern Human Services Center and Seymour Center . Since assuming ownership , Caramore has provided enhancements to the home and ensured its upkeep . Over the last several months , Alliance Health , Caramore and Orange County human services leaders have been discussing whether this property could be utilized to fill critical housing , behavioral health and reentry needs . It was determined by these stakeholders that the property could best serve the community as a new collaborative Bridge Housing program for individuals with behavioral health diagnoses . With escalating numbers of residents in Orange County experiencing homelessness with behavioral health needs seeking stabilization and support on their way to permanent housing , this program will provide critical housing and interventions for their support . The Bridge Housing program at 2032 Homestead Road will serve six individuals in four bedrooms for up to five months . Four (4 ) of the beds will serve individuals identified by Orange County , and two (2 ) beds will serve individuals identified by Alliance Health . The program will be staffed seven ( 7 ) days a week with two (2 ) positions providing case management and peer support through individual and group programming . Orange County housing , behavioral health , reentry and social service providers will have full access to the home to provide necessary additional supports . Referrals to fill the four (4 ) Orange County-funded beds will be placed via Coordinated Entry to ensure alignment with Orange County priorities , reduce duplication of efforts , and facilitate faster connection to permanent housing . The program would be managed by Caramore under a contract with Alliance Health . As Alliance Health already has an existing relationship with Caramore , this additional program collaboration would be far more cost- effective than retaining a new provider . Since 1974 , Caramore has been in Chapel Hill providing vocational and residential support services to adults living with mental illness . The Caramore model of services is client- centered and effective , with its services being advocacy- oriented and community- based . Over the years , thousands of Caramore clients have successfully transitioned to independent living and employment . The Homestead property and the collaboration between Alliance Health , Caramore and Orange County provides a truly unique opportunity to provide a centrally- located , short-term supportive housing model that fills a significant gap in the Homeless System Gaps Analysis . The Town of Chapel Hill has been notified of this proposal for the property at 2032 Homestead Road , and Housing Director Sarah Vinas has ensured Orange County that there are no issues from a zoning perspective and that implementation efforts can proceed without community engagement or additional notification being required . The financing of this Bridge Housing program will be a partnership between Orange County , Caramore and Alliance Health . This chart below details the costs associated with a necessary renovation , the costs to Caramore during the two - month renovation , the start- up costs and the annual operating expenses for the six- bed program . f, 1= i Bridge Housing Program at 2032 Homestead Road EXPENSES AMOUNT RESPONSIBLE PARTY Renovation of Basement to $ 50, 000 Alliance Health include New Bathroom Payment for Caramore Costs $ 36, 972 Alliance Health I during Two ( 2 ) Months of Renovation Start- Up Costs $ 20, 850 Orange County 4 I Annual Operations Costs for Six $ 221, 831 2/3 Orange County, 1/3 Alliance I ' ( 6 ) Beds Health i For Four (4) beds $ 147, 887 Orange County 1:= For Two (2) Beds $ 73 , 944 Alliance Health c` Six ( 6 ) Months Operational Costs for Four (4) $ 73 , 944 Orange County Beds County staff proposes that the Board consider utilizing $ 94 , 794 of funds from the Social Justice Reserve Fund to support the Orange County portion of this project (start- up costs and six ( 6 ) months of operational expenses for four (4 ) beds as highlighted above ) . The funding would be contingent upon Alliance Health ' s funding for the necessary renovations to the property , the payment by Alliance Health for two ( 2 ) months of rent to Caramore during the renovations and the assumption of the operational costs for two (2 ) beds annually . i Operational funding after the first six ( 6 ) months for the four (4 ) Orange County beds would be requested as part of the FY 2024/2025 Partnership to End Homelessness budget process . FINANCIAL IMPACT : Financial Impacts are included in the background information above . Approval would authorize the transfer of $ 94 , 794 from the Social Justice Reserve funds . The approved budget for the Social Justice Reserve was $ 187 , 487 , and if the Board approves this c funding , a balance of $ 92 , 693 would remain . 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 use and domestic violence . This initiative seeks to promote and ensure a community network of basic human services and infrastructure that maintains , protects , and promotes the well - being of all County residents . ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT : There are no known Orange County Environmental Responsibility Goal impacts associated with this item at this time . RECOMMENDATION ( S ) : The Manager recommends that the Board approve Budget Amendment #3 -A to transfer $ 94 , 794 from the Social Justice Reserve Fund for the start- up costs and six (6 ) months of operational expenses for a new Bridge Housing program at 2032 Homestead Road in Chapel Hill in collaboration with Alliance Health and Caramore , Inc .