Re: Chantal Giving Fund

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Jamezetta Bedford

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Aug 23, 2025, 3:32:40 PMAug 23

to volunteers madr, cou...@carrboronc.gov, jand...@townofchapelhill.org, ar...@townofchapelhill.org, cbe...@townofchapelhill.org, mmccu...@townofchapelhill.org, pmiller...@townofchapelhill.org, tnol...@townofchapelhill.org, asea...@townofchapelhill.org, bmfo...@carrboronc.gov, kdra...@townofchapelhill.org, mark...@hillsboroughnc.gov, ttvoo...@townofchapelhill.org, Wil Glenn, Caitlin Fenhagen, ALL_BOCC_MANAGER_CLERK

Volunteers with Triangle Mutual Aid,

First, on behalf of the BOCC, thank you all so very very much for the hard work, back busting labor, transportation, and so much more that you have contributed to assisting the many residents, a school, and others harmed by TS Chantal!!

I am asking Deputy Manager, Cait Fenhagen to respond to you soon because I don't know all of the answers. The BOCC meets Tuesday at Whitted in Hillsborough at 7 and will have an agenda item added (that's why it is not online yet) to appropriate some county social justice funds (up to $20,000) to DSS to spend for needs of displaced residents due to the storm. Recipients would be county residents earning up to 200% of the poverty level who have experienced displacement from their primary residence due to Chantal. This should bridge the town of Chapel Hill's emergency housing funding, to give time to answer how the community donated funds will be spent (and hopefully for the state IA to start being distributed to residents.) The agenda abstract is still in draft form. It has some of the numbers of those in hotels currently, those with vouchers and those without, but are seeking housing.

As of yesterday, $83,462 has been donated to the Community Giving Fund for Chantal recovery. This is an increase from the over $72,000 from two weeks ago. I do not know the amounts in the various categories such as unrestricted, arts, housing etc. Deputy Manager Fenhagen can ask for that breakout from the finance department.

I am not sure I understand question #2. Let me give it a try though. The idea was, at least this is my understanding, that individuals would first use SBA loans, insurance and then state Individual Assistance (IA) funds and when those were used up, be potentially eligible for the Community Giving Fund. As you note, many individuals do not qualify for the low interest loans. And, due to the delay in accessing IA, as reported by several residents, imo this timing needs to be reconsidered by the intergovernmental committee (three towns' and county staff) that will be making these determinations. And, imo the committee needs to meet soon, as your email diplomatically hints at. (Thank you for asking questions first.) They could decide to issue tranches of funding, for example, adjusting as state IA flows and as folks do obtain housing. I also am fairly certain that some of the answers are TBD and the committee will need to make those decisions/set the criteria.

I can tell you that DSS is also working with these residents to do more than housing. Social workers are enrolling folks in other benefits that they are now eligible for like federal food programs, to obtain medical care, providing rides, Providing wheelchairs, helping to replace the lost IDs, giving out GO Triangle passes, gift cards and more, partnering with many nonprofits like Meals on Wheels and yourselves. Animal Services is helping with pets. Thanks to the hotels for making pet exceptions too.

Sincerely,

Jamezetta Bedford, BOCC Chair

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Dear County Commissioners, City Managers, and Council Members, and EM directors-

Greetings from Triangle Mutual Aid! We are grateful to have been cooperatively working alongside all of you who are supporting Chantal Flood relief efforts these recent weeks. Friendly working relationships between TMA and city governments developed during this response, and we couldn't be more hopeful that the comradely spirit forged here will continue to grow.

Recently we learned about the Tropical Storm Chantal Giving Fund, part of a wider ongoing community fundraising effort by Orange County. The website page for the Chantal Giving Fund says it is:

“... dedicated to supporting local recovery efforts across Orange County, Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough” and that “donated funds are prioritized for critical needs and equitably distributed across the county", ensuring donors that their “contributions will provide essential resources and services.”

Mayor Anderson was quoted on an “OC newsflash” early in July saying “We've heard from so many community members who are eager to donate to their neighbors in need. This local fund makes that possible in a way we can trust and will go such a long way in supporting recovery in our community.”

The Orange County Emergency Operations Center Executive Summary #7 released August 20th states that "current donation numbers are over $73,000."

In the interest of informing the community we are working with and in coordinating our efforts, we would like to better understand how this fund is working. If that information could be shared, it would be useful not only to those in need, but to potential donors, and to TMA efforts as we are still actively engaged (materially and financially) with many of the directly impacted residents. A few questions we'd appreciate your clarity on:

Is there an accurate dollar amount raised to date for the Chantal Giving Fund as of today, 8/23?
Are these funds being used for the state response for Individual Assistance, or is it a separate container?
How much monetary support has been disbursed, if any?
Who is eligible for this support?
What is the process for accessing funds?
Is there a timeline for future disbursement?

It is our understanding that not all of the affected residents qualify for the SBA loans, and that IA assistance has been slow to come through. We know you care about all of the residents of Orange County and don't want anyone to be left behind. Can we count on you to share answers to these questions soon?

Thank you for your time and consideration. Forward, together!

Warmly,

Triangle Mutual Aid

Caitlin Fenhagen

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Aug 25, 2025, 5:52:17 PM (13 days ago) Aug 25

to Jamezetta Bedford, volunteers madr, cou...@carrboronc.gov, jand...@townofchapelhill.org, ar...@townofchapelhill.org, cbe...@townofchapelhill.org, mmccu...@townofchapelhill.org, pmiller...@townofchapelhill.org, tnol...@townofchapelhill.org, asea...@townofchapelhill.org, Lindsey Shewmaker, bmfo...@carrboronc.gov, kdra...@townofchapelhill.org, mark...@hillsboroughnc.gov, ttvoo...@townofchapelhill.org, Wil Glenn, ALL_BOCC_MANAGER_CLERK

Dear Triangle Mutual Aid friends,

Please let me echo the appreciation shared by Chair Bedford for the critical work you are doing in our communities to support our residents in need.

I am happy to provide more information about the Community Giving Fund. As shared by Chair Bedford, the Fund currently has received $83,462.00 in donations. The donations were allocated to the following suggested categories:

$74,532.00 in General Recovery Funds

$1,875.00 in Economic Funds

$5,830.00 in Housing Funds

$1,175.00 in Health and Human Services Funds

$50.00 in Infrastructure Funds

For more information about the Community Giving Fund and the categories, please see the web page: https://www.orangecountync.gov/3730/Tropical-Storm-Chantal-Donations

As of today’s date, none of these Funds have been distributed. These Funds will not be part of the State IA funds, but will instead be distributed by the Long-Term Recovery Group (LTRG), which was formed by Emergency Services to ensure that these funds are distributed equitably and for critical needs that will not be provided from other funding sources. The LTRG is comprised of a Steering Committee that includes Emergency Management officials from the towns and county, in addition to the DSS Director, Housing Directors for the county and towns and officials from the County and Town Manager’s offices. It is intended to be a joint fund with the County serving as fiscal agent and the recommendation for use of the funds would come from the LTRG steering committee with a majority consensus. The formal structure of the sub-committees, which include community members and organizations, and the process for referrals and assessing damage, loss and income eligibility are still being finalized. We will be sharing more information next week regarding these important details.

However, if there are immediate, unmet needs that you are aware of for survivors, please encourage community members in need to call the Orange County Department of Social Services at 919-245-2800 to get connected to assistance. Please also visit www.Ready.Orange.org for a list of community resources.

Thank you,

Cait

Caitlin Fenhagen

Deputy Manager

Office: 919-245-2303

Mobile: 919-423-4272

Email: cfen...@orangecountync.gov

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