AGENDA #A12
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Human Services Advisory Board
SUBJECT: Budget Work Session Fiscal Year 2005-2006
DATE: March 1, 2006
The Human Services Advisory Board appreciates the Town Council’s past support for human service agencies serving Chapel Hill residents. The nonprofit agencies assisted by the Town are providing valuable services that benefit our community. By providing support to these agencies, the Town is helping to ensure that access to services is available to all residents, especially those less likely to be served due to economic conditions or other factors.
The Human Services Advisory Board is beginning the funding process for fiscal year 2006-2007. On February 14, an informational meeting was held for agencies interested in applying for funds from the Town of Chapel Hill, Town of Carrboro and/or Orange County. More than 50 people attended the meeting. Since applications are not due to the Town until March 15, the Board cannot yet report on the level of requests and needs for this year. We expect to provide the Council with specific information in April when we submit a recommendation for the total funding level. However, the Board anticipates that agencies’ requests for funding may increase this year. Agencies are describing a trend toward an overall decrease in donations and fund-raising results this year. Although the information is anecdotal, agencies are generally reporting a decrease of around 20 per cent both in number and amount of donations.
The Triangle United Way was unable to achieve its campaign goal; falling $375,000 short of an $11 million goal. The Triangle United Way expects funding levels to remain flat this year for agencies in Orange County. As has been reported widely, much charitable giving has been diverted to hurricane relief. Reforms in the area of mental health have created increased service demands on nonprofits. In addition, agencies report increased fuel costs.
In this current fiscal year, the Council allocated a total of $225,000 to assist 42 agencies. While this appropriation is shared many ways, the number reflects an average of approximately $5350 per agency. For many agencies, this makes a critical difference in their ability to provide services to low income residents. The following are examples of services these funds have helped to support from July to December of 2005:
· Substance abuse services were provided to 375 individuals at Freedom House Recovery Center
· Literacy services were provided to 255 individuals living and working in Chapel Hill.
· Forty-five people and their families in Chapel Hill received hospice services.
· Fifty-four families received adult day care services at Charles House, allowing elderly adults to receive care while their families were able to continue to work.
· Over 500 students were enrolled in after school programs at Smith, Culbreth and Philllips Middle Schools.
· The Project for Psychiatric Outreach to the Homeless had contact with 133 homeless individuals for mental health assessments.
The Human Services Advisory Board appreciates the opportunity to provide input to the Town Council about the budget process. The Board recognizes that there are many important services the Town must provide to the community, but we urge the Council to continue to support these valuable programs and ask that the current level of $225,000, if possible, be increased for 2006-2007.
Human Services Advisory Board
William Powers; Chair
Virginia Brown; Vice-Chair
Larry Daquioag
Norm Fieleke
Glenn Gerding
Ernie Roberts