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Receive an Update on the Racial Equity Assessment of the Human Services Program.
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Staff:
Department:
Sarah Osmer Vi?as, Director
Affordable Housing and Community Connections
Rebecca Buzzard, Community Connections Manager
Jackie Thompson, Human Services Coordinator
Overview: Consistent with the One Orange Countywide Racial Equity Framework, the Towns committed to again re-assessing the Human Services Program to center racial equity. Chapel Hill Affordable Housing and Community Connections staff, in conjunction with colleagues from the Town of Carrboro, completed a racial equity assessment. Short- and long-term implementation steps have been identified to continue centering racial equity in the funding process.
Recommendation(s):
That the Council receive this update on the Racial Equity Assessment of the Human Services Program.
Background on the Human Services Program
Since the 1970's, the Town of Chapel Hill has supported nonprofit organizations that deliver vital community programs and services through a coordinated Human Services Program with the Town of Carrboro and Orange County. Each jurisdiction allocates funding for the program in their annual budgets and receives proposals through an application process. The program's overarching goal is to achieve economic and social wellbeing for all residents, particularly those who are low-income or otherwise disenfranchised.
In December of 2017, there was an ongoing interest from the Town Council and staff to refine the Human Services funding process to be streamlined and results oriented. Following robust community engagement and data analysis in 2018, the funding process was refined to become more results driven, with clearly defined funding priority areas and goals. Council adopted a new Results Framework focused on three main areas: Education, Livelihood Security, and Health. During the Outside Agency Application process nonprofit agencies are asked to align with at least one of the Strategic O...
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