Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAHAB Meeting Minutes 4.8.2025 April 8, 2025 AHAB Roster AHAB Members Present in Person (4):, Andrew Semmes, Lynn Nilsson, Todd Orr, Thomas Grasty AHAB Members Present Online (6): Holly Meschko, Andrew Robinson, Matthew Ferguson, Monica Palmeira, Kyle Myers, Mary Towell AHAB Members Absent (4): Alicia Reid, Sarah Adams, MZ K Johnson, Mariela Hernandez Staff Present (2): Willie Hilliard, Aaron Cohen ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) Approve Minutes from last meeting: Lynn motion, Todd second. All approve. (2) Updates: o Staff Visit to Pee Wee Homes ■ Cozy homes in Northside, Chapel Hill. Getting folks in at the end of May. Targeting folks experiencing homelessness. ■ Was part of CIP funding. 3 units total, 2 have been constructed. 0 2025 Orange County Draft Consolidated Plan ■ Sent to Board members via email. Encouraged to read. ■ Current status of affordability in the County. Levels of affordability across the board is a challenge. ■ Difference between 2020 and 2025 Plans is that the proposed plan is more focused on repair/rehab and tenant based rental assistance, as opposed to spread across several strategies/programs. Based on inputs from the Towns. o Federal Weatherization Grant (HUD) ■ Applied, waiting to hear back. o Funds from Master Aging Plan ■ For rehabbing/repair homes for older adults. o HUD "Transformation" ■ Staff being cut significantly, especially from research programs, fair housing. ■ So far, have not cut actual fundings for municipalities. Will keep us posted. ■ Question re: HUD weatherization funding - uncertainty? o Long Time Homeowners Tax Assistance Program ■ Looking to get funding from Towns. ■ Some folks concerned about amount households received, was less than expected or did not receive money. • Was a big increase in applicants. • Minimum and maximum allocation, everyone who is eligible will receive at least minimum. • At the same time, property reassessments have been gone out. Property tax burden likely going up, increase pressure on the program. • Consider putting out information about prior year to help with expectations. Also helpful to reduce the bills (Homestead exemptions) as folks wait for support. • NC is a lower property tax state, with Orange County being one of the highest if not the highest tax county in the state. • For a specific subset of the community (long time residents, low income), want to make sure we think about these impacts. • Lots of concern/frustration expressed about property tax increases at Board of Commissioners meeting. Many plan to appeal. • Driving folks to ask about applying for next year's tax assistance program. • Fall/Winter 2025 - Expect HOME ARP ($1.2 million) targeting unsheltered homeless folks • Money was allocated from federal government to Orange County o New Scorecard (from last meeting: Additional questions and feedback? ■ 10% for home repair? ■ Community support (3) HOME Funding • Will include an annual action plan in addition to the total 2025-2029 overall plan. ■ Will take top 2 priorities (tenant based rental assistance and repair/rehab) to confirm who will lead implementation. • Repair/rehab has a waitlist that 20+ orgs contribute to. • Comes with some stipulations based on repair needs. Structured as forgivable loan. • Tenant based rental assistance helps direct funds to those at 30% AMI or below. Expressed priority of this Board. ■ Amount of funds is about 60% of what was received in 2010, working with big cuts. ■ Average amount in tenant based rental assistance is around $1,000 per month. • Hearings will be held in May, AHAB members are able to speak up in support. ■ Could be good to hear interest in the programming and what staff is doing. ■ Next Step: Consider having a representative from AHAB attend Commissioner hearing on the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan to express support for the prioritization of tenant based rental assistance and rehab/repair work. Will coordinate via email. Could also consider a written statement from the AHAB. • May 20th is probably the hearing. Willie to confirm. (4) Planning Upcoming Community Meeting o Consider using opportunity to educate on changes being made, opportunities for public to participate, how things work, etc. o Making ourselves visible in the community is important, help folks understand our role. It's been at least 2 years since the last one. o September 2025 set for meeting. o Past meeting - Mostly staff led, AHAB members there to listen and learn. Helped community members learn about programs and who to contact. o Consider how staff can help moderate more instead of leading. Facilitate conversation between community members and AHAB members. o Location - Will be very different in different parts of the County. Substance and style will be influenced by the location. ■ If we were to do 2, one in Efland (can pull from Hillsborough and Cedar Grove) and one in Chapel Hill. ■ Report back to Board of Commissioners o Are there specific takeaways we want community to receive? Resources that would be useful? ■ To consider in planning the agenda. ■ What programs are available, what the County is doing, and getting feedback we can take to Commissioners as well. ■ Setting expectations. ■ Can also ask Commissioners if they have outcomes they are interested in. o Lynn moves to propose 2 meetings, one in Efland and one in Chapel Hill. Todd second, all approve. o Next Step: Monica volunteers to lead a small committee to help put together a draft agenda for community meetings for review of the AHAB. Monica will solicit volunteers for committee in June, plan to bring draft agenda in August, and will consult staff on draft as well. ■ Need to also consider dates at June meeting. (5) Next Meeting: Developer Meeting o Next Step: Need to confirm invitation list from Kyle for invitations. Aaron will review and confirm. Kyle will reach out via email and phone. o Willie will create a draft agenda for this meeting in the next week for feedback from Lynn and Matt, and then to the rest of the group.