AGENDA #6
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Human Services Advisory Board
SUBJECT: 2001 Needs Report
DATE: January 22, 2001
INTRODUCTION
Each year the Human Services Advisory Board presents a Needs Report to the Town Council to identify the most important human service needs in Chapel Hill. In response to these needs, local human service agencies apply for funding from the Town to provide services to meet these needs. The Board assesses the applications in the context of the Needs Report and recommends to the Council which services to purchase from local nonprofit human service agencies.
BACKGROUND
The Chapel Hill Human Services Advisory Board was created in 1981. The Board is charged with the responsibility of keeping the Town Council informed about human service needs and issues that affect Chapel Hill residents.
To accomplish this mandate, the Board facilitates a request for proposal process and invites local human service agencies to present program plans for Chapel Hill residents. The Board prepares recommendations to the Town Council on funding levels for local human service agencies that offer effective programs to address identified needs. Other duties of the Board include work with agencies to coordinate delivery of services and advocacy for residents with human service needs.
The Human Services Advisory Board works cooperatively with the Orange County government and the Town of Carrboro to utilize a combined application process for human service agencies. Joint hearings with the Town of Carrboro permit service providers to present proposals to both towns simultaneously.
This Needs Report is based on information gathered through the Orange County Human Services Advisory Commission Forum, participation on the Orange County Master Aging Plan workgroup, the Triangle United Way/Glaxo Forum on Senior Issues, the 1999 Orange County Community Assessment, information from the North Carolina Budget and Tax Center staff, agency visitations by the Board members, meeting with Chapel Hill/Carrboro School Superintendent, and other sources.
Last year, the Council approved Town allocations totaling $178,200 to meet identified human service needs. The Town requested a freeze on allocations; therefore, this amount was the same as for 1999-2000. These allocations provided funding to 28 agencies. The Board appreciates the support the Town Council provides to these programs and believes the services benefit Chapel Hill residents.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 2001-2002
The Human Services Advisory Board believes that several areas of need identified last year remain important in our community:
· Parent and family support
· Substance abuse treatment and prevention
· Youth services
· Services for senior citizens
The Human Services Advisory Board would also like to emphasize issues that may affect our community this year and are expected to increase in importance in the near future.
· With potential economic slowdowns, increase in the population of senior citizen and Latino residents, and the rising costs of housing and childcare, the Board recognizes that all human service needs for our community will continue to be critical. By the year 2020, the number of people aged 65 and older in Orange County will increase by 131.6 % and reach 21,533 persons. The over 85 age group is growing four times faster that any other age group. North Carolina has the second highest number of Latinos immigrating in the nation, second only to Arkansas.
· The cost of housing and childcare has increased faster than wage growth for most North Carolina residents. The Triangle area had the fifth highest increase in fair market rents in the nation over the last two years. While the issue of affordable housing is beyond the scope of the Board's role, the members encourage the Town's continued work on this problem.
· Support services, such as jobs, computer skills, transportation, etc. for people transitioning from welfare to work will continue to be necessary and will likely increase in importance.
· Based on the recent State Auditor's report on the state's mental health system and facilities, it is expected that community based mental health services will need to expand in scope and capacity as the move toward de-institutionalizing patients begins. Research indicates that as many as one-third of the homeless population may possibly be mentally ill.
Board members continue to express concerns about the number and variety of youth programs available in our community. The Board recognizes that many successful academic tutoring programs have been developed, however, youth could benefit from an increase in activities that are cultural, artistic or recreational. Other concerns include the number of single working males that have no housing and must utilize the community shelter for food and lodging.
In summary, the Board also wishes to acknowledge that providing funds to a number of our local human service agencies assists them in developing initiatives for our community that may not otherwise be possible.
2001 Human Services Advisory Board members
Terri Tyson; Chair
Lew Borman; Vice-Chair
Mildred Council
Harriet Crisp
Sarah Kogut
Bryan Lange
William Powers