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HOMELESS INITIATIVE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING DISCUSSION — Karen Kennedy and <br /> Kerry Bashaw <br /> Karen Kennedy, Community Development Manager with the City/County Planning and Community <br /> Development Department and Kerry Bashaw Executive Director of Brick Capital Community <br /> Development provided a presentation regarding homelessness and affordable housing. S3 <br /> Connect (Shelter, Service, Stability) was started in 2017 as a result of concerns for people living in <br /> an uninhabitable building. The Sanford-Lee County Community has a great coalition of <br /> organizations that help with this type work. Sanford Councilman Byron Buckels' goal was to have <br /> an extreme weather shelter which was opened. Jefferey Rawlins with Johnston Lee Harnett <br /> Community Action educated S3 Connect regarding the homeless. 211 and coodinated entry helps <br /> with diversion and prevention of homelessness. The extreme weather shelter is managed by the <br /> Bread of Life. Outreach Mission owns the mens and womens shelter on Chatham and Third <br /> Street. They are not low barrier. The City of Sanford and the Housing Authority are struggling with <br /> a project on Linden Avenue which involves an old building that has 5 units that will be dedicated to <br /> the homeless. The renovations are taking a while. Haven is a shelter for domestic violence victims <br /> and Family Promise is a shelter for families. H3 (Health, Healing, and Hope) is shelter based <br /> healthcare services provided by Dr. Hall. Mrs. Kennedy spoke about factors that contribute to <br /> homelessness. The Point in Time Count is a national event that happens on the last Wednesday <br /> of every January to gauge the local homeless population. It happened this past Wednesday but <br /> due to COVID there was about a week time frame to gather information from groups. S3 Housing <br /> Connect helps gather and compose the data. HUD's definition of homelessness is different than <br /> the US Department of Education's definition of homelessness. There has been increased capacity <br /> to educate non-profits on builing referrals to prevent homelessness. A day center is being created <br /> with a partnership through the Salvation Army to reduce people on the street to offer showers, <br /> washing clothes, and provide referral services. When the shelters are full there are some funds set <br /> aside to cover motel stays. ., <br /> Mr. Bashaw provided information regarding affordable housing. Affordable housing is not the <br /> same as low income housing. Affordable housing means that the cost of your house and utilities <br /> should not exceed 30% of your monthly income, which is how HUD defines it. Affordable housing <br /> depends on household income level. The median income in Lee County is $62,100. Workforce <br /> housing is typically 80-100% of AMI. A housing study performed by Triangle J Council of <br /> Governments found that 1 in 3 residents in Lee County pay more than 30%. The report says there <br /> is a gap of 1,044 rental units of needed housing. Brick Capital has 24 rental units offered as <br /> affordable housing. They have also built houses for low to moderate income families. In addition, <br /> they have provided housing counseling for over 150 individuals and families. They are hoping to <br /> build 6 new single family homes at an average purchase price of$150-$160,000. Right now, it is <br /> challenging to find a good quality home for less than $200,000. Brick Capital is partnering with the <br /> County to receive CDBG funds for infrastructure costs. There are 16 acres on Washington Avenue <br /> which Brick Capital has developed a site plan for with 41 lots for single-family homes and a 16-unit <br /> apartment complex. Support from the County could be in the form of investment in affordable <br /> housing through publicly owned parcels, innovate using practices from other municipalities such <br /> as housing trust funds, down payment assistance, nonprofit partnerships for housing development <br /> and housing counseling services. Mrs. Kennedy stated that support from the Commissioners could <br /> be a Commissioner representative on S3 Housing and there has been some issues with the <br /> funding of the local shelters which is why they would like to have a commissioenr at some small <br /> group meetings and to help with advocating for coordinated entry system and for state and federal <br /> funding. Continuum of Care Region 7 through NC Coalition to End Homelessness has expanded <br /> to 9 regions and Lee County is one of the few areas that are servicing well, which sometimes <br /> means that Lee County doesn't always receive the funding it needs. In the past the funds have <br /> been spend on consultants that are part of S3 Connect to help the consultants and training of <br /> 6 <br />