AGENDA #13a(1)

 

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:                  Town Council

 

FROM:            Mayor Kevin C. Foy and Council Member Sally Greene

 

SUBJECT:       Recommendations for a Process to Develop a 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness in Orange County

 

DATE:             January 24, 2005

 

 

This memorandum is a follow-up report and recommendation regarding a process for developing a ten-year plan to end homelessness in Orange County. 

 

BACKGROUND

 

In October 2003, Triangle-area elected officials were briefed on the 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness initiative sponsored by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness. Attendees were asked to begin similar planning in their localities.  Our counterparts in Wake County along with the Triangle United Way have developed a program that incorporates public forums and action-oriented workshops. 

 

At the Town Council Planning Session on January 17, 2004, the Council received a report from Council Member Greene regarding the 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness. Following that presentation, the Council agreed to add a public dialogue on homelessness to its list of goals for 2004.

 

This goal was implemented on November 18, 2004 when Chapel Hill, Orange County, and the United Way hosted a Roundtable Discussion on Homelessness in Orange County.  This event was attended by over 150 community members, including the majority of the Town Council, and elected officials from Orange County and Hillsborough.  Attached for your reference is a summary of the small group discussions from this event.  This summary will be mailed to the roundtable attendees. 

  

DISCUSSION

 

The Roundtable Planning Committee consists of representatives of the Town of Chapel Hill, Orange County, Triangle United Way, IFC Community House, and the Community Initiative to End Homelessness (formerly the Continuum of Care).  The Committee has continued to meet to review the feedback from the November 18th event and discuss the next steps for creation of a 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness in Orange County.  At the last meeting, Ken Manness, a presenter at the November 18th event and a planner with the City of Raleigh, provided insight on Raleigh and Wake County’s partnership to develop a 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness.  Mr. Manness and the Triangle United Way have offered to assist Orange County’s municipalities in the development of a plan for Orange County.

 

The Planning Committee believes that Orange County’s success in this initiative will rest on the strength of the partnership of its municipalities. Therefore, the Committee recommends pursuing full cooperation from the elected bodies of Chapel Hill, Orange County, Carrboro and Hillsborough for this initiative.  In January and February, presentations will be made to all of the governing bodies and a request made that they by resolution officially join a “Partnership to End Homelessness in Orange County”. Membership in the partnership may involve a commitment to providing staff, funding, and other resources for this initiative.   

 

If a Partnership is created, the Planning Committee recommends the following steps:

 

·        Request that the Towns of Carrboro and Hillsborough officially appoint representatives.

 

·        Request that the Chambers of Commerce, the University of North Carolina, the University of North Carolina Hospital System, and Orange Congregations in Mission appoint representatives to the Planning Committee. 

 

·        Request that the Partnership charge the Planning Committee with developing a process for the creation of a 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness.

 

·        A second roundtable discussion to be held in the evening and before June 30, 2005.

 

·        Use feedback from both roundtable events to develop a process to end homelessness in Orange County.

 

RECOMMENDATION

 

We recommend the Council adopt a resolution to enter into a Partnership to End Homeless in Orange County with Orange County, Carrboro and Hillsborough. We also recommend that the Council consider allocating 2005-2006 funding for development and implementation of the 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness in Orange County.


A RESOLUTION TO ENTER INTO A PARTNERSHIP TO END HOMELESS IN ORANGE COUNTY WITH ORANGE COUNTY, CARRBORO AND HILLSBOROUGH (2005-01-24/R-15)

 

WHEREAS, in October 2003, Triangle-area elected officials were briefed on the 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness Initiative sponsored by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness; and

 

WHEREAS, on November 18, 2004, Orange County, the Town of Chapel Hill, and the United Way hosted a Roundtable Discussion on Homelessness in Orange County attended by more than 150 community members; and

 

WHEREAS, the Roundtable Planning Committee has continued to meet to review feedback from the November 18th event and recommends the establishment of the Partnership to End Homelessness in Orange County to continue to pursue this Initiative in the County; and

 

WHEREAS, the County’s success in this Initiative will rest on the strength of the partnership of its local governments and community leaders; and

 

WHEREAS, the Planning Committee requests the founding members of the Partnership to End Homelessness in Orange County to include the Towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill, Hillsborough and Orange County; and

 

WHEREAS, each founding member is asked to appoint a representative to the Planning Committee for the Partnership; and

 

WHEREAS, the Planning Committee will be charged with developing a process for the creation of a 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council supports the establishment of the “Partnership to End Homelessness in Orange County”. 

 

This the 24th day of January, 2005.