HomeMy WebLinkAboutAHAB Meeting Minutes 3.11.2025 March 11, 2025
AHAB Roster
AHAB Members Present in Person (7): Holly Meschko, Andrew Semmes, Lynn Nilsson, Todd
Orr, Kyle Meyers, Monica Palmeira, Matthew Ferguson
AHAB Members Present Online (2): Mary Towell, Thomas Grasty
AHAB Members Absent (5): Alicia Reid, Sarah Adams, MZ K Johnson, Andrew Robinson,
Mariela Hernandez
Staff Present: Willie Hilliard, Blake Rosser
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(1) Approve Minutes from last meeting: Andrew motion, Todd second. All approve.
(2) Updates
• Results from Research Project - Orange County HOME Program Awards
Analysis (Matthew)
■ HOME Funds - Amount has gone down over the last 20 years. Following
federal cuts and trends. Around $500,000 per year for Orange County
■ Number of projects approved per year is decreasing. Giving larger
awards to fewer projects.
■ 166 total awards over approx 20 years. Approx $16 million.
■ Follow Up work: Analysis of bonds.
■ Some contracts appear to have a lot of lag from when money was
allocated to when construction begins. Seems to be better in recent
years.
■ Our intended outcome is to understand where money has been awarded -
what kind of projects, awardees, etc.
■ Consolidated Plan - Helping us understand where community wants
these HOME dollars to be focused. Staff would like us to focus on a few
strategies with these funds.
• Recommending focus on Repair/Rehab and Tenant Based Rental
Assistance
• Money is not enough to go far for construction. Maybe down
payment assistance.
• Staff Updates (Blake)
■ Consolidated Plan
• Received first draft from consultants, public hearing April 15th
■ HUD Funding
• It's been chaotic. HUD representatives don't know any more
either.
• Plans to cut staff in CPD (Community Planning and Development)
which would impact HOME, homelessness, housing first efforts.
• Planning to proceed as if money is coming, but everything is
highly uncertain.
• Staff is primarily funded from County general fund, though would
be some impacts.
o Proposed Changes to 2025 Work Plan (Lynn)
■ Outside Agencies - this is being reevaluated. Blake will report back.
■ Human Relations Commission - Consider inviting to April meeting, and if
that doesn't work we can use April meeting to plan a community meeting.
■ Developers Meeting - Inviting to May meeting.
• Kyle has been working on outreaching to contacts for meeting.
• Confirming we want to focus on larger-scale developers?
• Subject of meeting:
o Challenges of application process, opportunities for
improvement
o (Send a notice to ALL past applicants so everyone has a
chance to weigh in on changed process)
■ June - Keep reviewing housing analysis - HOME and bond funds.
■ August - 2026 Work Plan
■ September- Community Outreach Meeting
(3) Presentation -Affordable Housing Bond/CIP Scoring Matrix Recommendations (Blake)
o Bond/CIP cycle is 3 year cycle. Last one was 2023.
o Proposal: AHAB will not score projects. Interdepartmental staff group will score
and present to AHAB for input before Board of Commissioners.
o Create opportunities for Repair/Rehab, with 10% proposed funds to go there. In
discussion with Board of Commissioners.
o Concerns related to incentives for proximity to Goods and Services as well as
Transportation and how that might penalize unincorporated areas, but also there
is a need to align with NC Housing Finance Agency requirements.
o Request: Take a closer look and be ready to submit feedback via email and to
discuss at next month's meeting.
(4) Possible site visit
o Hardy Street in Durham in March or early April. Follow up with Kyle.
(5) Close - Lynn motion, Holly Second. All approve.