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Adopt a Resolution Allocating Funding for the Orange County Street Outreach, Harm Reduction and Deflection Program.
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Staff: |
Department: |
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Maurice Jones, Town Manager |
Manager’s Office |
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Loryn Clark, Deputy Town Manager |
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Christopher Blue, Police Chief and Executive Director for Community Safety |
Police Department |
Overview: The Reimagining Community Safety Task Force identified expansion of the Orange County Street Outreach, Harm Reduction and Deflection (SOHRAD) program as a priority. The Orange County Street Outreach, Harm Reduction and Deflective Program <https://www.orangecountync.gov/2576/Street-Outreach-Harm-Reduction-and-Defle> (SOHRAD) connects people experiencing homelessness in Orange County with housing and services. The program provides peer support and clinical staff for unsheltered residents.
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Recommendation(s): |
That the Council adopt the resolution supporting expansion of the SOHRAD program and allocating up to $34,000 to support a fourth position for the SOHRAD program.
Background
• The SOHRAD program fills a gap in the County’s homeless service system.
• The three-member SOHRAD team has been in place since October 2020 and conducts its outreach throughout the County.
• The program was initially funded by federal Emergency Solutions CARES Act (ESG-CV) funds.
• In 2021, the Orange County Board of Commissioners allocated American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to support the team’s work from October 2021- through June, 2022.
• Some of the Team’ s accomplishments since October 2020 - October 2021 include:
o Over 220 people served
o 55 have been permanently housed (20 with Housing Choice Vouchers)
o 69 entered transitional housing or shelter
o 13 entered other temporary destinations (friends/family, motel, etc.)
o Over 170 received supplies, food, transportation, etc.
o Over 55 law enforcement deflections
o 91 received clinical support
Key Issues:
• The final report prepared by the Town’s Reimagining Community Safety Task Force <https://www.townofchapelhill.org/home/showpublisheddocument/49357/637600438568470000> identified 28 recommendations, including support to expand the SOHRAD program.
• The Fiscal Year 2022 budget adopted by the Council included $100,000 to support implementation of the Reimagining Community Safety Task Force’s recommendations.
• Orange County staff requests that the Council consider funding for a fourth team member to support the SOHRAD program to enhance its outreach and manage the case load.
• Orange County may fund the SOHRAD staff positions using ARPA funding for FY 23. The Orange County Board of County Commissions is anticipated to consider the proposed funding plan for ARPA funding in December of this year.
• If the Council chooses to provide funding for the SOHRAD program, we would negotiate a funding agreement with Orange County. We would also include the towns of Carrboro and Hillsborough in the discussions.
Fiscal Impact/Resources:
• Per Orange County staff the annual budget for the additional position is $67,721. Because of the timing of this request, funding will be needed for 6 months (approximately $34,000 for January - June 2022).
• Consistent with the funding agreement for the Partnership to End Homelessness budget, we recommend that the Council allocate up to 41%, approximately $13,900, of the funding for the additional position from the $100,000 allocation in the FY 22 budget. The Council could choose to allocate an alternate amount to support the program.
• We recommend that the Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness consider including future funding for this position in its FY 23 budget request to the Council for consideration.
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Attachments: |
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• Resolution |
A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING FUNDING A FOURTH POSITION FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY STREET OUTREACH, HARM REDUCTION AND DEFLECTION PROGRAM (2021-12-01/R-2)
WHEREAS, the Reimagining Community Safety Task Force identified expansion of the Street Outreach, Harm Reduction and Deflection program as a priority; and
WHEREAS, Orange County indicates a need to add a fourth position to the program to enhance its outreach and manage the case load; and
WHEREAS, the Council allocated $100,000 in the FY 2022 budget to implement the Reimagining Community Safety Task Force recommendations.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council supports funding a fourth position for the Orange County Street Outreach, Harm Reduction and Deflection Program.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council authorizes the Town Manager to negotiate a funding agreement with Orange County up to $34,000.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that continued funding for the fourth position would be discussed during the Council’s FY 23 budget discussions.
This the 1st day of December, 2021.
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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 support funding a fourth position for the Orange County Street Outreach, Harm Reduction and Deflection program.