This Saturday at 10 a.m.

at the First African Baptist Church and Global Refuge on Memorial Drive and the New Life Church Center in South DeCab.

These donations will ensure that we reach areas that have the highest need based upon our demographics.

We're also exploring opportunities to support DeKay residents facing food insecurities by providing year-round access to nutritious food.

We want to be clear.

We understand for many individuals, food and security isn't a one-day event.

It is unfortunately a way of life.

So by supporting local food pantries alongside community organizations and leaders.

And we remain committed to supporting residents who are affected by federal shifts.

Before I close, I'd like to invite Alan Mitchell, our director of community development, to share an update on how we are tackling housing insecurity through home, ARP, which is our American Rescue Plan Program.

So Mr.

Mitchell, at this time.

Thank you, Madam CEO.

I'm glad to be here.

As the CEO mentioned, DeCamp County launched a $7.8 million home ARP program to address instabilities across the community.

This program is funded by HUD, our partner that provides a lot of funding to the county.

This initiative expands the access to safe, stable housing and supportive services to individuals and families who are homeless or at risk for homeless.

That's very important.

In addition, survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking human trafficking, and other vulnerable populations facing housing instability.

Through this program, eligible residents can receive tenant-based rental assistance.

To apply, I encourage individuals to recognize that they must live in the CAP County and complete a screening process by calling the CAB's coordinated entry hotline, which is 404-687-3500 between the hours of 9 and 5 o'clock.

We have roughly eight to 10 individuals ready to answer phones to engage with our population.

Together, we're building a stronger and more stable and more compassionate DeCAP County, where every resident has access to housing and the resources they need to thrive.

It was announced in December and through July, the county uh with through my department, community development, expended 13 million dollars using ICCI, which covered uh back rent, back utilities, homeless assistance, and helping with other instability issues with it.

We got the families of the 13 million, 10.2 million of that was appropriated to back rent and utilities.

So there are a number of programs that the county has in place.

We're very serious about ensuring our citizens are stable and we appropriate funds where need be to help them with their instabilities.

So with those comments, uh I thank you for allowing me to speak, and I'll turn it back over to Madam CEO.

And at this time, I will turn over uh the podium to our chief communications officer, Deana, uh, so that she can field all questions, and we'll be more than happy to answer them.

Thank you, madam CEO.

Thank you, Director Mitchell.

So at this time, we will open for questions.

Um, these questions specifically from the press.

I asked that before you ask your question if you can state your name and the outlet before again proceeding with your question.

Um also please keep all questions limited to the topics we discussed today.

Um, as we mentioned, we do have some of our partners here with us.

So if you have specific questions about housing or about how we are partnering with the schools, et cetera, uh, feel free to ask those questions as well.

So I'll pause now to see if we have any questions from the press.

Yes, Zoe.

Hi, sir.

I have a couple questions.

Uh, one for the county and then one for the schools.

Um the first one I don't know if it's for CEO and maybe Treasurer Jerry.

Um, can you guys expand a little bit more on the farm fresh program and just kind of like or the market and like what that is?

Yeah.

We will take this jointly, Zoe.

Uh, back in 2019, uh, when we began to really hone in on food deserts and food insecurities, back then we partnered with the cooperative extension, and we had a program called Fresh on Deck.

It is my understanding last year while I was transitioning, uh, Fresh on Deck was unable to meet the needs of the community.

So from here, I'll now turn the page and allow Commissioner Terry to tell you uh about our new mobile efforts.

Yes, thank you, Madam CEO, and um Madam CEO is exactly right.

We had um some logistical issues this year uh bringing back online the Fresh on Deck program, which was part of the public health department and the cooperative extension running that program, and thankfully, because of the CEO working to uh kind of revive that program towards the end of the year, we're able to bring in uh Rataza, and so they are covering mobile uh food markets, uh, three stops on Monday, three stops on Fridays uh across the county between now and the end of the year, and then tomorrow we'll be voting on agenda item to add in additional uh subsidies for uh minimum ten dollar credits for every customer.

So the first ten dollars basically is paid for, um, and then hopefully we'll get some more turkeys as well that we'll announce tomorrow uh to add into that um overall food distribution effort.

So is it like kind of like a oh sorry oh we have a mic?

Um I guess is that just kind of like a van or truck or something that comes that has like the fresh food available and people can just come and get what they need?

Absolutely.

And uh all of the food is sourced from local growers because of course uh we're very excited to support our local growers.

Uh and we focus on communities where there are food deserts and a lack of easy access to fresh fruits and vegetables.

Thanks.

Thanks, guys.

You're welcome.