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HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD-2025-024-Bridge funding for residents displaced by tropical storm Chantal 1 ODD-2025 -024 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date : August 26 , 2025 Action Agenda Item No . 4 - b ( PROPOSED ) SUBJECT : Bridge Funding for Residents Displaced by Tropical Storm Chantal and Approval of Fiscal Year 2025 -26 Budget Amendment # 1 DEPARTMENT : County Manager ATTACHMENT ( S ) : INFORMATION CONTACT . Update from Department of Social Travis Myren , 919 . 245 . 2308 Services PURPOSE : To approve BudgetAmendment # 1 , transferring up to $20 , 000 from the Social Justice Reserve to the Department of Social Services to support residents displaced by Tropical Storm Chantal to extend temporary housing or to establish new housing . BACKGROUND : The Department of Social Services ( DSS ) and the Housing Department have been providing case management for County residents who have been displaced from housing due to damage caused by Tropical Storm Chantal , On July 11 , 2025 , the County, in partnership with the Town of Chapel Hill , began paying for hotel rooms for displaced residents as they searched for new housing . The Town of Chapel Hill has provided $ 100 , 000 of emergency housing funds to support these residents to avoid homelessness . Under the terms of an agreement with the Town of Chapel Hill , DSS determines the use of funds , provides case management services , and helps residents secure alternate housing arrangements . DSS is currently paying for 20 rooms using a combination of County Emergency Assistance funds and the funding from the Town of Chapel Hill , although this number does fluctuate from day to day. The cost of the rooms is approximately $2 , 000 per night . As of August 22 , 2025 , a total of approximately $ 83 , 000 has been expended . Funding identified for this purpose will be exhausted shortly, and residents staying at the hotel have been informed that the last day of funded hotel stays is August 29 . Of the residents currently at the hotel , 13 have Housing Choice Vouchers . Eight of those residents have identified housing and are only waiting for the landlord to make the units available . Five are actively searching for housing . Of the seven residents without a Housing Choice Voucher, one owns their unit at Camelot Village and intends to return while the remaining six are actively searching for housing . Some are waiting for approval of other benefits . 2 The County has received $ 83 , 462 in Community Giving Fund donations for Chantal recovery. These funds will be jointly administered by the County and the three municipalities , with the County acting as fiscal agent . Temporary housing and other supports to reestablish housing may be an appropriate use of these funds . As this intergovernmental group forms , this abstract transfers up to $ 20 , 000 from the Social Justice Reserve to the Department of Social Services to support residents displaced by Tropical Storm Chantal to extend temporary housing or to establish new housing . This would include apartment application fees , security deposits , and essential household items and furniture . Eligibility for this funding will follow the current guidelines . Recipients must be County residents earning up to 200 % of the poverty level who have experienced displacement from their primary residence due to impacts from Tropical Storm Chantal . Qualifying income in dollars would be $ 31 , 300 for a single person or $ 64 , 300 for a family of four. FINANCIAL IMPACT . Budget Amendment # 1 transfers up to $ 20 , 000 from the Social Justice Fund to the Department of Social Services . If the entire $ 20 , 000 is used , the remaining balance in the Social Justice Fund would be $ 130 , 000 . ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLAN : This item supports : • GOAL 3 : HOUSING FOR ALL OBJECTIVE 10 . Support unhoused residents in obtaining temporary and permanent housing . • GOAL 2 : HEALTHY COMMUNITY OBJECTIVE 4 . Support the basic needs and financial security of low- income families through a robust safety net of economic supports that help build long -term financial security . RECOMMENDATION ( S ) : The Manager recommends that the Board approve Budget Amendment # 1 to transfer of up to $ 20 , 000 from the Social Justice Reserve to the Department of Social Services to support residents displaced by Tropical Storm Chantal to extend temporary housing or to establish new housing .