Margaret W. Brown, Chair
Alice M. Gordon, Vice Chair

Moses Carey, Jr.

Stephen H. Halkiotis
Barry Jacobs

Orange County Board of Commissioners

Post Office Box 8181

200 South Cameron Street

Hillsborough, North Carolina 27278

January 10, 2003

Senator John Edwards

225 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Washington, D.C.  20510-3201

Dear Senator Edwards:

                This correspondence is written regarding the December 2002 Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announcement of Homeless Assistance grant awards.  Orange County was awarded $731,296, however, renewal funds for a crucial transitional housing program, Project Homestart (PHS) were not approved for funding.  Project Homestart is a transitional housing program designed to assist up to 15 homeless families move toward independent, permanent housing.  This is a unique program in the County and a vital component of our Homeless Program continuum.  Therefore, denial of renewal funding presents a housing crisis for our community. 

                Orange County Government has been an active partner in this housing venture from its inception.  The County provided the land for Project Homestart adjacent to the County’s Southern Human Services Center in Chapel Hill.   Therefore, as a partner, we are asking for your assistance to restore funding to this vital and worthwhile project.  

                Specifically, we are asking your support for a request to reallocate the HUD approved 2002 Homeless Assistance award to the following configuration.

· $366,156 for Project Homestart Transitional Housing

· $262,140 for a Leasing Program

· $103,000 for Shelter Plus Care

This reallocation would support both permanent and transitional housing for homeless individuals and families in Orange County and would help us continue to meet the growing needs of this segment of our population. 

                Should you need more specific program information about Project Homestart, please contact Chris Moran, Executive Director of the Inter-Faith Council, the project sponsor, at the address below.  Or feel free to contact me directly for more specific information. 

                                Chris Moran, Executive Director

                                Inter-Faith Council for Social Service

                                110 West Main Street

                                Carrboro, NC   27510

                                919-967-0643

                Thank you for your careful consideration of this request.   Please know that Orange County has a strong commitment to affordable housing for all of its citizens and trust that you will be able to assist us in maintaining this critical transitional housing program for our community.  We look forward to hearing from you soon regarding this matter. 

                                                                                                Sincerely,

                                                                                                Margaret W. Brown

                                                                                                Chair