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i314 Community Services Block Grant Program Fiscal Year 2015.16 Application for Funding OEO Form 210 Agency Strategy for Eliminating Poverty Planning Period: July 01, 20115-June 30, 2016 Section I: Identification of the Problem (use additional sheets if necessary) Johnston - Lee -Hamett Community Action, Inc. 1. Give the Poverty Cause name(s), rank the poverty cause(s) and identify which one(s) the agency will address. The poverty causes were ranked based on the results of the Needs Assessment questionnaire and as such will be addressed and are as follows: Affordable Housing: 97, Transportation: 93 and Employment: 89. 2. Describe the poverty cause(s) in detail in the community with appropriate statistical data (include data sources). Explain why the problem exists. Identify the segment of the population and give the number of people experiencing the problem. Explain how the persons are adversely affected. • Approximately 26,744 people of the 177308 (NC Census Johnston Co. Quick Facts) in Johnston County lives below the poverty guidelines. These figures are reflective of the total households. • Approximately 10,486 people of the 60,266 people in Lee County live below the poverty guidelines. These figures are reflective of the total households. • Approximately 20,885 people of the 127,348 people (US Census - Harnett County) in Harnett County live below the poverty guidelines. These figures are reflective of the total households • The current percentages of people living below the poverty level are listed as follows: Lee - 17.4 %, Harnett- 16.4% and Johnston -15.1 %. * According to the N.0 State Data Center, the average number of people in a household per county is: Johnston County- 2, Lee County- 3 and Harnett County- 2.76 The figures in the chart below reflect the number of TANF, Medicaid and Food Stamps recipients. The working poor continue to make up a large percentage of families living below the poverty level. They also receive little if any benefits on their jobs. As of November 2014, the ures below reflect the number of ho useholds receivin assistance from Social Services: Service: Johnston Lee Harnett Food Stamps (households): 14,122 5728 10,000 Work FirsffANF 264 134 176 1 Medicaid: 33200 12320 figures not available a) Explain why the problem exists. 1) Affordable Housing: Based on the responses garnered from the 2014 Community Needs Assessment Questionnaire, Affordable housing was listed as the top priority. Based on the eligibility guidelines for income -based housing in Johnston, Lee and Harnett Counties, affordable housing is very unaffordable for low - income people. Criminal background and credit checks are the main reasons that many low- income people cannot find affordable housing. If their records check reveals a judgment or a negative action by a former landlord or utilities company, they may be considered ineligible. Some potential renters must pay a non - refundable deposit to complete an application and credit report. In the not so distant past the average rental cost for a 3- bedroom apartment was about $300. It has now grown to about $650.00 to $1000.00 depending on the location and the landlord. Some private landlords can charge an Fiscal Year 2015 -16 Community Services Block Grant Application Page 17 of 49