AGENDA ITEM EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
ITEM TITLE*
title
Approve the 2025-2026 HOME Investment Partnerships Program Annual Plan.
presenter
RESPONSIBLE STAFF, TITLE, DEPARTMENT*
Sarah Osmer Viñas, Director, Affordable Housing and Community Connections (AHCC) Department
Emily Holt, Affordable Housing Manager, AHCC Department
Melissa Peters, Funding Programs Coordinator, AHCC Department
STAFF RECOMMENDATION*
Staff recommends that the Council adopt R-X approving the 2025-2026 spending plan recommended by the Collaborative for the use of $375,939.67 in 2025-2026 Orange County HOME Program funds.
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ACTION/DECISION POINTS*
1. Approve a spending plan recommended by the Collaborative for use of $389,245.67, including $375,939.67 of 2025-2026 Orange County HOME Program funds and $13,306 in program income.
2. Authorize this plan to be incorporated into the Annual Update to the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan for Orange County.
LEGISLATIVE CONTEXT*
The Town, as one of the four members of the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) Consortium, must approve the HOME Annual Action Plan before the document is submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) by July 11, 2025.
BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT*
The Town is part of the Orange County HOME Consortium alongside Orange County and the Towns of Carrboro and Hillsborough. Orange County administers the HOME funding on behalf of the Local Government Affordable Housing Collaborative (LGAHC), which is made up of elected officials and affordable housing staff from the HOME Consortium. As part of that role, the County oversees the HOME funding allocation process. The LGAHC serves as the application review team, charged with developing an annual HOME Program plan.
The Orange County HOME Consortium receives an annual allocation of federal HOME funds from HUD to address County-wide affordable housing needs. For the 2025-26 Program Year, the HOME Consortium received $389,245.67. The recommended funding plan includes $375,939.67 of 2025-2026 HOME Program funds as well as $13,306 in Program Income for eligible affordable housing projects.
Development of the HOME Annual Action Plan included the following process:
• November 19, 2024: The Orange County Board of County Commissioners held a public hearing to receive comment on the 2023-2024 HOME Program Consolidated Annual Performance Report and assess community needs for development of the 2025-2026 HOME Annual Action Plan.
• December 10, 2024: The Orange County Board of County Commissioners held a public hearing to receive comment on the 2025-2029 HOME Consolidated Planning process and identify community needs for the 2025-2026 HOME Annual Action Plan
• December 2024 - February 2025: Orange County staff, in coordination with the Central Pines Regional Council, interviewed past HOME partners and community members to identify the highest priority needs, as well as partners who could address these needs. These included the following community meetings:
o Fairview Community Center - February 2, 2025
o RENA Community Center - February 6, 2025
o Efland Cheeks Community Center - February 7, 2025
o RENA Community Center - February 24, 2025
o Cedar Grove Community Center - February 26, 2025
• April 3, 2025: Orange County staff shared the draft Orange County Consolidated Plan with HOME Consortium Partners.
• April 21, 2025: Orange County Staff posted the recommended HOME Investment Partnerships Annual Program Plan for public review and comment on the County’s website.
• May 5, 2025: LGAHC met to approve recommendations and draft 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan as well as 2025-2026 Annual Action Plan.
• May 20, 2025: Hillsborough and Carrboro Town Council consideration of the HOME Program Plan.
• May 20, 2025: The Orange County Board of County Commissioners held a public hearing to receive comments on the recommended 2025-2026 HOME Program Plan and 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan.
The next steps are:
• If all jurisdictions of the Collaborative approve the plan, Orange County will submit the Plan to HUD, as the annual update to the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan.
• County posts the approved annual HOME plans on the HOME Program website <https://url.us.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/s_AgCpYl3Oi9Zv2RSPfmhGrNgy?domain=orangecountync.gov>.
• County enters into Performance Agreements with agencies, according to the approved program plan.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Participation in the HOME Program requires a local match, which is based on a population-based formula. The Town’s portion for the 2025-26 Program Year is $34,681, or 41% of the federal matching requirement. As in previous years, we propose to use an allocation from the Affordable Housing Funding Program for this purpose.
Community Impact
HOME funding is intended to address County-wide affordable housing needs for low- and moderate-income households. HOME funded projects must benefit households earning at or less than the 80% Area Median Income HUD Income Limit ($92,500 for a four-person household).
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
The Town coordinated with Orange County, NC on the design and implementation of a community engagement effort intended to inform the development of the 5-Year Consolidated Plan for the County HOME Consortium, which determines the funding priorities for the HOME annual plans. The engagement process included:
• A needs assessment survey (133 respondents)
• 5 In-person community meetings (55 participants)
34.6% of participants in these engagement efforts were Chapel Hill community members.
The County also held three public forums to gather input on the HOME Annual Action Plan on November 19, 2024, December 10, 2024, and May 20, 2025, as well as a 30-day public comment period between April 21 and May 21, 2025. The County received multiple public comments during the May 20 2025 public hearing and these comments will be appended to the final HOME Annual Action Plan.
ATTACHMENTS
• Resolution Approving the 2025-2026 HOME Program Plan
• 2025-2026 HOME Program Annual Plan Summary of Activities
A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE 2025-2026 HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM ANNUAL PLAN (2025-06-18/R-3)
WHEREAS, Orange County held three public forums to receive resident comments and proposals regarding the use of 2025-2026 HOME Program funds; and
WHEREAS, the HOME program team interviewed past HOME partners and community members to identify the highest priority needs, as well as partners with projects that could address these needs; and
WHEREAS, HUD requires grantees to provide local match funds which the four local jurisdictions contribute proportionally based on population, and the Town of Chapel Hill’s 2025-2026 match allocation is $34,681.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council approves the following 2025-2026 HOME Investment Partnership Program Annual Plan to be carried out by the members of the Orange County HOME Consortium:
|
Orange County Community Development - Repair and Rehabilitation |
$147,628 |
|
Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness (OCPEH) - Tenant Based Rental Assistance |
$147,628 |
|
EmPOWERment Inc. - Acquisition of Affordable Housing |
$56,395.70 |
|
Administration |
$37,593.97 |
|
Total HOME Funds for Project Activities |
$389,245.67 |
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council approves the use of $34,681 for the Town of Chapel Hill’s portion of the overall HOME local match.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council authorizes this plan to be incorporated into the Annual Update to the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan, for submission to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
This the 18th day of June, 2025.
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