AGENDA #16
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TO: |
Roger L. Stancil, Town Manager |
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FROM: |
Kay Johnson, Finance Director Karen Rose, Human Services Coordinator |
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SUBJECT: |
Information on Services to Senior Citizens |
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DATE: |
April 16, 2007 |
The purpose of this Budget Working Paper is to provide information on services provided through contracts benefiting senior citizens.
Orange County Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) began in 1973 as a program sponsored by the Town of Chapel Hill. The program was operated by the Human Services Department of the Town. Also in existence at the time were two other organizations with similar missions – the Chapel Hill Council on Aging and the Orange County Council on Aging. These two Councils merged to better coordinate services and to centralize funding sources. In 1981, Orange County adopted the RSVP program as part of the newly created Department on Aging. At that time the Town agreed to continue to support the program by providing a base level of funding to Orange County. RSVP provides community volunteer opportunities for people 55 and older, develops volunteer programs for local nonprofits and identifies community needs.
One of the most well-known programs operated by RSVP is the VITA program which provides free income tax assistance for low to middle income residents. Town support to RSVP fiscal year 2006-07 was $12,300. Town funds support an average of 575 active senior volunteers who provide an average of 65,000 hours of service to more than 100 nonprofit agencies.
The Chapel Hill Senior Center is operated by the Orange County Department on Aging with support from the Town that is directed through the Parks and Recreation Department. In the early 1990s the Senior Center leased their current facility on Elliot Road. During this transition period the Friends of the Chapel Hill Senior Center successfully petitioned the Town for ongoing support to assist with payments for utilities and custodial services.
Funding for the Friends of the Chapel Hill Senior Center in fiscal year 2006-07 totaled $30,000. The contract with the Friends of the Senior Center is for general operating support. The agreement states that they “may expend Town funds for the following purposes: janitorial service, electric service, water and sewer service, telephone service, design services, maintenance contracts, and other normal and usual operational expenses. Town funds shall not be used to pay for rent, salaries, programming expenses, or capital improvements.”
The Council also allocated $46,700 for the Orange County Senior Center in 2006-07. Funds for the Senior Center are distributed through a performance agreement with the Orange County Department on Aging. These funds are for general operating support.
The Town has supported Joint Orange-Chatham Community Action (JOCCA) for years. Through 1995 JOCCA applied for funding through the Human Services Advisory Board process. In 1995 the Council unanimously approved a motion to review funding requests from JOCCA directly. According to minutes of the June 5, 1995 Council meeting, it was suggested that JOCCA was distinct from other organizations funded through Human Services, particularly because it was an intergovernmental agency. The meeting minutes indicate that the Council decided to have the Council’s liaison to JOCCA review their budget requests outside of the standard process. Funding for JOCCA in 2006-07 totaled $18,900. The funds support the Congregate Nutritional Program which serves meals to seniors at Northside and Galleria senior centers. The program serves nutritional lunches to approximately 200 low income Chapel Hill residents five days per week at a cost of $5.66 per meal.