To receive this funding, county residents must earn up to 200% of the poverty level and have experienced displacement from their primary residence due to impacts from Chantal. Qualifying income in dollars would be $31,300 for a single person or $64,300 for a family of four.
On July 11, the county, in partnership with the Town of Chapel Hill, began paying for hotel rooms for displaced residents as they searched for new housing. The Town of Chapel Hill has provided $100,000 of emergency housing funds to support these residents to avoid homelessness. Under the terms of an agreement with the Town of Chapel Hill, DSS has provided case management and housing coordination with assistance from the Orange County Housing Department. Residents staying in hotels had been informed that the last day of funded hotel stays would be August 29.
On July 14, Orange County launched the Tropical Storm Chantal Giving Fund in partnership with Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Hillsborough. To date, the fund has raised more than $83,000 to aid local recovery. An intergovernmental long-term recovery group is being assembled to lead sustained recovery efforts and support individuals and families rebuilding their lives. Temporary housing and other supports to reestablish housing may be an appropriate use of these funds.
Shelter and Immediate Response
Just before midnight on July 6, Orange County opened an emergency triage center at the Seymour Center in Chapel Hill. Staffed by DSS, the Health Department, and Asset Management Services, the center provided immediate evacuation assistance. By the following day, a full emergency shelter was established and operated with the support of staff from DSS, the Health Department, Animal Services, Emergency Services, the American Red Cross, and other partners until July 10, when the shelter transitioned to Red Cross management.
As residents moved from the shelter to hotels beginning July 11, DSS provided hygiene supplies, snack bags, and $50 gift cards per person. DSS also helped with public benefits applications, Red Cross aid, and disaster-related supports.
Current Housing Situation
As of August 26, DSS is supporting 23 households in hotels, down from a peak of 26. These include 19 hotels paid via town and county funds and four paid with Alliance Health funding. The average nightly cost is approximately $2,000, with total hotel expenditures for the town and county reaching $88,000.
