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Approve an Affordable Housing Funding Request from the Compass Center.
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Staff: |
Department: |
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Loryn B. Clark, Executive Director |
Housing and Community |
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Sarah Osmer Viñas, Assistant Director |
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Nate Broman-Fulks, Affordable Housing Manager |
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Overview: Tonight, we ask the Council to consider approving a $50,000 request from the Compass Center <https://www.compassctr.org/> to support its new Safe Homes Emergency Housing project <https://www.compassctr.org/safehomesproject>. The goal of the Safe Homes project is to provide emergency housing for victims of domestic violence and their children fleeing abuse.
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Recommendation(s): |
That the Council adopt the resolution awarding $50,000 to the Compass Center for its Safe Homes Emergency Housing project from the Council’s Opportunity Fund within the Affordable Housing Fund.
Overview of the Compass Center Request:
• The Compass Center requests $50,000 from the Town to support its Safe Homes Emergency Housing project. The project was launched in July 2020 with a Capital Campaign.
• The goal is to rent 3 - 6 apartments in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro area to provide emergency housing and support services for victims of domestic violence.
• The Compass Center anticipates that this program will serve 15 clients over the next year, the majority of whom earn less than 30% of the Area Median Income.
• The Compass Center would use Town funds to rent two apartments in Chapel Hill where survivors and their families will be able to stay a few days to several months.
• The Compass Center will provide client assistance and cover most housing expenses including: rent, security deposits, utilities, phone, security, maintenance, cleaning, rental insurance, internet, transportation, and interpretation/translation.
• Town funds will also be used to partially support a full time Emergency Housing staff position who will provide case management and help clients find housing that meets their needs.
Recommendation
• Staff recommends that the Council approve this request.
• Based on the information provided in the application, this request is consistent with the Council’s affordable housing goal: constantly strive for more equitable outcomes and opportunities for historically underserved populations. It is also consistent with the objective of increasing the availability of affordable housing for all incomes.
• In addition to supporting the Council’s goals, the Compass Center notes in its application that there currently is not emergency housing available for domestic violence survivors in Orange County.
• If the Council allocates funds to the Compass Center for this project, we will enter into a performance agreement to establish performance measures and expectations for the project.
Fiscal Impact/Resources: We ask that the Council consider using the Opportunity Fund in the Affordable Housing Fund to support this request. The Council established the Opportunity Fund to support unanticipated affordable housing projects that meet the Council’s goals. The current balance of the Opportunity Fund is $379,000. Since the Opportunity Fund was established, the Council awarded $221,000 to CASA to support its development on Merritt Mill Road. If the Council agrees to provide funds for this project, there would still be funds available from the Opportunity Fund, and other Town resources to support affordable housing projects.
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Attachments: |
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• Resolution |
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• Excerpt of Funding Application |
A RESOLUTION AWARDING $50,000 FROM THE COUNCIL’S OPPORTUNITY FUND WITHIN THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUND (2020-10-07/R-2)
WHEREAS, the Compass Center requests $50,000 from the Town to support its Safe Homes Emergency Housing project; and
WHEREAS, providing funds for the Safe Homes Emergency Housing project would be consistent with Council’s Strategic Affordable Housing Goals and Objectives; and
WHEREAS, the Safe Homes Emergency Housing Program is consistent with the guidelines of the Affordable Housing Fund.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council award a $50,000 grant from the Opportunity Fund in the Affordable Housing Fund.
This the 7th day of October, 2020.
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The Agenda will reflect the text below and/or the motion text will be used during the meeting. |
presenter
By adopting the resolution, the Council would award the Compass Center $50,000 from the Opportunity Fund of the Affordable Housing fund to support its Safe Homes Emergency Housing program.