Agenda - 02-03-2009 - 5a - Laserfiche WebLink

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5 special housing needs offer an array of services. Efforts are made to ensure maximum independence in the least restrictive setting, but onsite support of those with special needs is often required. Service providers for people with special needs face substantial challenges. In 2000, there were 7,164 elderly households in Orange County, of which, 61.2 % were low-income. Developmentally disabled and mentally ill in the County both need case management, support services, and outpatient treatment services for monitoring and treatment. Alcohol and substance abusers have access to outpatient services in Orange County, but are required to go out of the County for residential treatment. Orange County had 16 reported cases of HIV disease and eight cases of AIDS in 2004. This represents a marked increase in the number of AIDS and HIV cases. While prevention, medical and support services are available to people with HIV/AIDS, there is also a greater need for permanent supportive housing. Lead-Based Paint Hazards Lead poisoning is one of the worst environmental threats to children in the United States. While anyone exposed to high concentrations of lead can become poisoned, the effects are most pronounced among young children. There are as many as 12,058 occupied housing units in Orange County that contain lead-based paint. Of these units with lead-based paint, 6,001 are owner-occupied and 6,057 are occupied by renters. Up to 5,276 houses may have deteriorated lead-based paint. According to the 2000 Census, there are 16,540 households with annual incomes below $30,000. Applying the assumption that as much as 35% of these low-income households contain lead-based paint hazards results in an estimated 5,789 low-income households with lead-based paint hazards in Orange County. Barriers to Affordable Housing As with other types of development, Orange County's supply of affordable housing is dictated by a variety of factors, the most significant being project affordability, availability of land and infrastructure, developer preference for building high-end housing, and government regulation. To address the Educational Impact Fee, the Orange County Board of Commissioners adopted an impact fee reimbursement policy, which provides funds to nonprofit housing developers constructing rental and owner-occupied housing to enable them to pay the fee without passing the cost to the prospective renters or homebuyers. With this reimbursement, the Board works to alleviate barriers to affordable housing. Impediments to Fair Housing Based on the County's analysis of impediments affecting the furtherance of fair housing, appropriate strategies have been designed and implemented to eliminate or reduce the impact of those barriers. The following recommendations included in the "Fair Housing Plan" promote fair housing within Orange County: [ 5 ]