HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 10-05-1999 - 9eORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: October 5, 1999
Action Agenda
Item No. q-e
SUBJECT: North Carolina TANF Housing Program
DEPARTMENT: Housing/Comm. Development PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
Department of Social Services
ATTACHMENT(S):
Proposal Summary
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Tara L. Fikes, ext. 2490;
Marti Pryor-Cook, ext. 2800
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 336-227-2031
o approve a su mission o a mg proposa o e o azo ma
Housing Program and authorizes the Chair to sign a letter of support on behalf of the Boazd.
BACKGROUND:
The Governor has dedicated $3 million dollazs in TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families)
funding to demonstrate the value of housing assistance in helping TANF-eligible families achieve
greater self-sufficiency. The TANF Program replaced the AFDC or Aid to Families with Dependent
Children Program in August 1996 when the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunities Act was
signed into law. This legislation outlines the current welfaze reform activities being undertaken to assist
many low income families become economically self-sufficient.
The primary focus of the program is to assist as many TANF-eligible families as possible secure
affordable housing through rental assistance and/or other housing related support services. The
maximum amount available per county is $500,000. All counties in North Carolina are eligible to
submit proposals. The primary applicant can be the county government, however, the local Department
of Social Services must act as the fiscal agent since TANF funds have eligibility restrictions.
A local working group has been formed to discuss proposal ideas and develop a winning proposal to
submission. Organizations represented in this group include: Orange County Departments of Social
Services and Housing and Community Development; JOCCA; Orange Community Housing
Corporation; EmPOWERment, Inc., the Town of Chapel Hill; ABODE; and other local non-profit
organizations. A summary of the proposal outlining planned activities under this program is included
with this abstract.
Proposals are due on October 14, 1999 and must be accompanied by a letter of support from the local
Boazd of County Commissioners.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The program requires a 50% cash match or $250,000 for an application
requesting $500,000 in TANF funding. The $250,000 matching fund will be expended from federal and
state TANF funds currently in the Department of Social Services FY 1999-2000 Budget. Thus, the total
potential program amount could be $750,000. All program costs will be covered by the grant funding
and the required cash match contribution. No County funding will be necessary.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends approving the submission of a funding
proposal to the North Carolina TANF Housing Program without the need for County funding and
authorizes the Chair to sign a letter of support on behalf of the Board.
ORANGE COUNTY TANF HOUSING PROGRAM
PROPOSAL SUMMARY
3
Back r n
The Governor has dedicated $3 million dollars in TANF funding to help people on and
recently off TANF to secure safe, decent, affordable housing as they move from welfare
to work and ultimately to self-sufficiency. All counties are eligible to apply for a
maximum of $500,000 and participating counties will be selected from the pool of
applicants through a competitive process. The program must be completed within
eighteen (18) months with a starting date of January 1, 2000 through June 30, 2001.
Primary Applicant Orange County
Fiscal Agent: Orange County Department of Social Services
Target Population
• TANF families or TANF eligible families
• Families earning up to 200% of poverty level
• Must work at least 20 hrs/week; or participate in job training or other work
skill development activities for at least 20 hrs/week
Target number: 25 families, of which, five (5) families would be assisted with first-
time homeownership.
Program Activities
I. Education
a. Life Skills/Communication Skills
b. Credit Counseling
c. Money Management/Budgeting
d. Housekeeping/Maintenance
e. Tenant Education (Housing Search)
f. Homebuyer Education
g. Career Counseling
h. Community Involvement
i. Health Education/Child Immunizations
(This activity will be incorporated as appropriate with both the Rental
Assistance and Homeownership Programs.)
II. Rental Assistance
a. Acquire a number of units -possibly 20 units and lease to program
participants with rent subsidy. Intensive case management with
contractual agreements will be required to assist families in achieving their
housing related goals. The Case Management component will be
modeled after the Chapel Hill Department of Housing "Achieve" Program -
a family self-sufficiency program.
b. Security Deposit/Utility Deposit Cash Assistance Program
I11. Homeownership 4
a. Develop a partnership with Habitat for Humanity to assist two (2) families
become homeowners.
b. Institute a Individual Development Account (IDA) Program for up to three
(3) families interesting in saving for a downpayment and/or closing costs
for a new home.
Participating Agencies
ABODE
Consumer Credit Counseling
EmPOWERment, Inc.
Habitat for Humanity of Orange County, Inc.
InterFaith Council for Social Services
Joint Orange Chatham Community Action Agency (JOCCA)
Orange Community Housing Corporation (OCHC)
Orange Congregations in Mission (OCIM)
Orange County Department of Social Services
Orange County Department of Housing and Community Development
Orange County Cooperative Extension Service
Orange County Literacy Council
Town of Chapel Hill
Total Program Budget: $750,000