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September 7, 1994 <br /> <br />The Honorable James B. Hunt, Jr. <br />Office of the Governor <br />116 West Jones Street <br />Raleigh, North Carolina 27603-8001 <br /> <br />Dear Governor Hunt: <br /> <br /> The Board of County Commissioners of Cabarrus County requests that services through <br />the Community Service Block Grant and related programs be made available to our county <br />through an eligible Community Action Agency. Our County has not had services through the <br />Community Service Block Grant in the past. <br /> <br /> Cabarrus County is home to 7,893 persons below poverty level. A substantial number of <br />these individuals are homeless or face a serious risk of homelessness. A recent survey undertaken <br />by this Commission's Homeless Task Force identified 253 households with 500 people as being <br />without housing or in immediate danger of eviction. Of this 500, 176 were children and of these <br />children 85 percent were 10 or under; 49 percent were 5 or under. Several households with <br />children were identified as living in vehicles, abandoned buildings or simply "living in the streets." <br /> <br /> Our homeless and near homeless citizens have a great need for a variety of services <br />including emergency shelter, substance abuse services, employment or better paying employment <br />and affordable housing. Our Task Force has determined that the needs of our homeless citizens <br />would be well served by the funding of a position of a Homeless Coordinator. This individual <br />would provide counseling to homeless individuals and would work closely with existing groups to <br />assure that the homeless are offered a continuum of services as they move from homelessness to <br />residents of affordable housing. It is envisioned that the Coordinator would assist groups seeking <br />to supply low income housing with grant writing and other support. <br /> <br /> Our Task Force has studied the offered services, organization and reputation of the <br />Salisbury-Rowan Community Service Council, Inc. and request that this CSBG grantee be given <br />primary consideration by your office for administering funding available to our county. <br /> <br />On behalf of the Board, I remain <br /> <br />JLB/sb <br /> <br />Sincerely yours, <br /> <br />Jeffrey L. Barnhart <br />Chairman, Board of Commissioners <br /> <br /> <br />