Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the County Investments topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County outlines $18M CIP placeholder, ARPA day‑services and other investments to address unsheltered homelessness
Summary
Durham County staff described existing and planned investments including an $18 million capital placeholder for unsheltered housing infrastructure, $2 million in ARPA funds for expanded unsheltered day services starting in 2025, and ongoing eviction‑diversion and rental assistance programs.
Durham County detailed how it funds direct services, prevention and supportive programs that intersect with homelessness response.
Samantha Smith (special projects coordinator, county manager’s office) said the county owns the building used by Urban Ministries and provides it on a $1/year lease while paying utilities and maintenance; the county also included an $18 million placeholder in its capital improvement plan to support unsheltered housing infrastructure. Smith said the county used ARPA to allocate $2 million to expand unsheltered day services and outreach for 2025–26 and that the county provides material supports—energy assistance, tax relief, childcare subsidies and pharmacy programs—to reduce housing instability.
Smith highlighted county investments in permanent supportive housing and public‑private partnerships (noting more than $21 million in partnerships for two East Main Street sites with about 305 units when complete). County staff also reported eviction diversion and 'Opening Doors' funds are being drawn down and estimated current eviction diversion balances would be exhausted in spring without new funding. "As of this morning, we have 451,847 left," a county staffer reported about the eviction diversion balance.
