10-year plan has a coordinator

Tara Fikes, Chapel Hill’s housing and community development director, said a coordinator for the Orange County 10-year plan has been chosen.

The coordinator’s name will be announced sometime next week, after the coordinator starts work Monday.

Does anyone have a guess to who it is?

Church tones down homeless aid

Chapel Hill Bible Church has helped the homeless for years but has recently toned down its aid because of difficulties determining if people really need the help.

The church has given help in the form of food vouchers and bill payments to those who needed it in the last two years, Pastor Randy Russell said.

But some people began coming to the church and asking for help, and members of the church had no way to ensure whether they were homeless or whether they were staying in the shelter, where residents receive three meals per day, Russell said.

The church now works with the InterFaith Council to help the homeless of Chapel Hill with basic necessities.

“We all give money to (InterFaith Council), and they’re the agency that deals with that,” Russell said.

He said Chapel Hill Bible Church has been actively involved in helping the homeless and will continue to do so through the council.

Profile: Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness

The Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness was founded in 2004 to encourage public participation in regard to homelessness.

The partnership consists of local businesses, elected officials, nonprofits and UNC-Chapel Hill.

Triangle United Way, the Orange County Continuum of Care, the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service and Orange Congregations in Mission are some of the more notable groups involved.

Sally Greene and Jacqueline Gist are the elected body liaisons. Greene represents Chapel Hill, and Gist represents Carrboro.

The partnership also includes a steering committee of more than 50 people.

More to come on members and groups in the partnership.

Costs of Orange County’s plan

Orange County began a 10-year plan to end chronic homelessness in September 2007.

The plan is estimated to cost about $1.5 million in the first year. The costs will cover expenses as the plan tries to begin accomplishing its five goals.

In its entirety, the plan will cost about $16.7 million over 10 years.

It’s important to stress that the $16.7 million is an estimate. All costs will be ongoing, meaning that once a program starts it will continue. Also, parts of the plan may change throughout its implementation.