December Update
Efland Cheeks Community Center Luncheon - pictured are Aimee Tattersall with Leo, Mary, and Janice Allison
Focusing on Gratitude
The holiday season evokes strong emotions for many of us. For some, it’s a season of celebration and togetherness. For others, it’s a quieter time of reflection. And for some, it carries grief, because of losses that don’t pause just because the calendar says it’s the holidays. No matter how you are experiencing the holidays, please know that I wish you calm, peace, and good cheer.
One way I find calm, peace, and good cheer for myself is by focusing on gratitude. I’m particularly grateful for the many people across Orange County who continue to show up for one another — neighbors, volunteers, nonprofit partners, and county staff. As members of the Orange County community, there is much to be grateful for.
I am also grateful I was invited to and joined the Efland Cheeks Community Center for their Christmas luncheon. Seeing the care they put into feeding neighbors is moving. I am also grateful to the Orange County Department of Social Services where I worked with the Toy Chest alongside parents who need a little extra help this season.
On the first Sunday night in December, I had a lot of fun riding in the Hillsborough Christmas Parade. I had the honor of being driven by a local car owner who proudly built the car himself — a gift he’s donating to his niece in the Midwest. His generosity is just another example of selfless giving that makes me grateful to be part of this community.
Examining the Housing Crisis
Not just Orange County but all of North Carolina continues to grow at a fast pace. People are choosing this state for opportunity, education, and quality of life. But housing production has not kept pace with that growth; and especially not at price points that meet the needs of working families. Long-standing federal underinvestment in housing has left much of the country — including and especially our state and our county — trying to close widening gaps with limited tools. I do not believe that growth itself is the problem; rather, it’s the lack of attainable, affordable housing options coupled with many community members saying their wages have not risen fast enough to keep pace with housing costs.
Members of the Board Of County Commissioners (BOCC) recently received a letter directly from the Orange County Board of Health. This letter named the lack of affordable housing for people making under $60,000 as a public health crisis. The letter outlined how unaffordable and unstable housing contributes to higher emergency-room use, unmanaged chronic disease, worsening mental-health outcomes, overdose risk, and shorter life expectancy. In short, when housing is unstable, health is unstable. These things are interconnected. I have spent every day since I read that letter reflecting on what that means for our residents.
With our population now exceeding 153,000 residents, demand to live in Orange County remains strong. At the same time, median home prices in our county are in the mid-$500K range, and median rents are near $2K a month. Data from the Bowen Group shows that we face a housing shortage of more than 9,550 units for households earning under $60,000 a year. These are families who work here, send their children to school here, and want to remain part of this community. We have a desperate affordable housing shortage.
Moreover, that gap also shows up clearly in our homelessness system. Recent federal changes are expected to reduce funding for homelessness response by as much as 70%, limiting resources for permanent housing, case management, and prevention. This cut in funding, combined with rising local housing costs, iterates the urgent need for stronger prevention and more housing options that people can truly afford in the long-term. Some of these longer-term solutions are discussed below. And, we need to brace ourselves for emergency responses in the short-term.
One emergency response is Cold-Weather Shelter. After listening to community members while serving on the Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness, I advocated for cold weather cots to be offered in Hillsborough. To date, the site has seen little to no usage. As a result, since Monday, December 15, the Orange County Emergency Cold Weather Shelter in Hillsborough has been suspended.
Those in Northern Orange who need shelter can receive transportation to the Chapel Hill shelter by contacting the Street Outreach Team by 6 p.m. at (919) 886-3351; shelter is subject to availability. Free bus routes are also available for transportation to Chapel Hill. I hope that the recent redirection of these resources will remain nimble so that the County can respond to the needs of the community.
Community Conversation: Northern Orange Speaker’s Series
On the first Saturday of each month, the Northern Orange Democrats host a Speaker’s Series. This month, my colleague, Commissioner Marilyn Carter, and I were asked to be the speakers. We were also grateful that Commissioner Earl McKee joined us to provide support and to help answer questions from the audience. We were clear that we were speaking as individual commissioners, not on behalf of the full Board, and appreciated the opportunity for an open and honest conversation.
Our charge was to explain how federal and state housing policies are affecting people on the ground and share what Orange County is doing to address housing affordability and stability. Community members asked thoughtful and direct questions: What measurable affordable-housing goals does the County have, and how will progress be reported? How are we ensuring developers follow through on the affordable units they commit to? How are we guaranteeing equitable access to housing for low-wealth households, immigrant families, and people who work here but can’t afford to live here? And will rental assistance and eviction-prevention resources be expanded?
The conversation surfaced issues that don’t always get enough attention. Community members raised concerns about septic system failures, which create repair and replacement costs in the tens of thousands of dollars. These unexpected expenses can financially devastate middle-income households — households that earn too much to qualify for assistance but nowhere near enough to absorb that kind of cost. These questions reinforced what many residents already know: housing affordability is complex, deeply interconnected, and requires solutions that reflect real lived experiences.
What are Commissioners Doing to Help?
Orange County is using the tools available to us to address housing affordability and stability while being honest about the limits of what counties can do alone. One of the most important efforts underway is the update to our Comprehensive Land Use Plan, which will guide what is built, where it is built, how dense development can be, and how quickly projects move through the approval process. These decisions directly affect housing costs and availability and continue to be shaped by community input.
At the same time, the County is focused on keeping people housed. We have increased funding for rental assistance and adjusted our eviction-prevention process so households can receive help earlier and not face a formal eviction filing.
We’ve also expanded support for longtime homeowners facing rising property taxes. Through the work of the Tax Assessment Workgroup, we continue to examine how our tax assessment system can be more accurate, transparent, and equitable. These steps are important because affordability is not just about building new housing; it is also about preventing displacement.
Hillsborough Economic Development News
Housing affordability and economic development are closely linked. That’s why I’m excited that the BOCC approved a performance-based economic development incentive to support the relocation of CITEL America to Hillsborough. CITEL is a French manufacturer of industrial surge protection equipment, and the company will move into the former Mid-Atlantic STIHL facility in Hillsborough’s Meadowlands Business Park. The project will establish CITEL’s U.S. headquarters, office, and manufacturing operations in Orange County.
The relocation is expected to create 38 new jobs with an average annual wage of more than $83,000. The County’s incentive package to CITEL is performance-based, meaning payments are made only after the company meets its investment and job-creation commitments. This type of economic development helps align job growth with the cost of living and strengthens the County’s ability to invest in services residents rely on.
Fare-Free Public Transportation Pilot
Starting January 2, 2026, Orange County will begin a one-year fare-free pilot for fixed-route bus service. This is a new and experimental initiative. Our goal is to make it easier for people to get where they need to go — whether it’s work, school, doctors’ appointments, or everyday errands. We want people to utilize our public transit system without worrying about the cost of the ride. In other communities, fare-free transit has increased use of the service, sometimes by as much as 30%. For some folks, even a small fare can be a barrier. We know that having reliable transportation can make a real difference in staying connected to jobs, services, and community.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with questions, concerns, or suggestions. My duty is to you, and I do not take that lightly. As we move through this season and toward a new year, I hope you’ll also take a moment to take care of yourself. Rest when you need to, ask for help when the mood is heavy, and know that you are not alone. Practicing self-care is vital, especially this time of year. And please take care of each other. Remember, community starts with care for one another.
In faith and with gratitude,
Portie-Ascott Family Christmas Tree: Amari, Ryan, and me with our family
Dropping off Angel Tree gifts with Psi Gamma Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. On the left is Ms. Edwards and Ms. Roney is on the right. Ms. Roney was Amari’s kindergarten teacher.
