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Public Hearing on the Town of Carrboro’s Use of CDBG-CV funds for Emergency Housing Assistance
PURPOSE: The purpose of this item is to hold a public hearing to receive comment on the Town’s use of Community Development Block Grant - Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) for Emergency Housing Assistance.
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Department
DEPARTMENT: Housing and Community Services
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Contact
CONTACT INFORMATION: [Anne-Marie Vanaman, Interim Housing and Community Services Director, 919-918-7321, amvanaman@carrboronc.gov <mailto:amvanaman@carrboronc.gov>]
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Council Direction
COUNCIL DIRECTION:
___ Race/Equity ____ Climate __X__ Comprehensive Plan ____Other
Council Direction Statement
Goal 5: Support efforts with Orange County to ensure that all homeless individuals and families have access to safe housing, appropriate services, and a path to permanent housing. Strategy 5A. Prevent homelessness.
Race and Equity pocket questions can be found in Attachment A.
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Information
INFORMATION: In 2020, the Town of Carrboro applied for and was awarded $900,000 in CDBG-CV funds to be used with the existing Orange County Emergency Housing Assistance (EHA) program <https://orangecountync.gov/EHA>, which provides financial assistance to help Orange County residents with low incomes secure and maintain stable housing.
The majority of the CDBG-CV funding (90 percent) was expended on direct financial assistance to Carrboro beneficiaries; 10 percent of the funding must be used for program administration, including the closeout of the grant.
CDBG-CV funding provided assistance to 175 unique households in Carrboro that earned no more than 60% of the area median income and had an urgent need for housing assistance. Many households applied multiple times throughout the life of the grant.
A requirement of the grant closeout is for the Town of Carrboro to hold one public hearing to obtain public comments. The public comment period is open from October 6th, 2023 - November 6, 2023. Comments may be submitted in writing by mail or email, or by telephone to Anne-Marie Vanaman, Interim Housing and Community Services Director.
Background: On August 25, 2020, Governor Cooper announced funding for three initiatives to help North Carolinians with rental and utility payments in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. One of these initiatives provided the availability of $27.5 million from a federal Community Development Block Grant - Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) to be administered by incorporated municipalities with under 50,000 residents and counties under 200,000 residents through the North Carolina Department of Commerce. Local governments were encouraged to prioritize the support of rental and utility payments and eviction prevention.
Carrboro residents have continued to receive rent, utility, and mortgage assistance after the CDBG-CV funding ended through the Orange County Emergency Housing Assistance Program.
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Fiscal and Staff Impact
FISCAL IMPACT: Costs related to the grant closing, such as public hearing notices and administrative support, will be drawn from the remaining $8,999.99 in grant funds.
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Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Town Council open the public hearing, accept comments on the Town of Carrboro’s use of CDBG-CV grant funds for Emergency Housing Assistance, and close the public hearing. Members of the public may also submit any additional comments to the Town by November 6, 2023.
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