Agenda - 03-04-1998 - 7a - Laserfiche WebLink

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COMMUNITY PROFILE In 1990 the population of Orange County was 92,572. Of that number, 81 percent were white, 16 percent were African American, and 4 percent were other minority groups. Although the Asian-American and Pacific Islander population constituted less than one percent of the total population, approximately 71 percent of the county's new Asian-American population resided in Chapel Hill. According to the 1990 census, -9,932 of all households in Orange County were considered very row income, with incomes between 0-50 percent of median family income (MFn. With the exception of whites, a disproportionate percentage among all other racial groups was very low income, ranging from 37 percent of the Native-American population to 44 percent of the Afiican-American population. HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT NEEDS Conditions The high cost of homeownership has forced many families to purchase housing in other counties and commute into Orange County for work. The inflation of the rental market by University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (iJNC-CH) studerns has caused hardships for families with incomes below 50 percent of MFI. Larger rental units are particularly scarce. Market Conditions Although the median value of a new home was $147,577 in 1990, among the highest in the State, the median income for a family of four was $46,800. Because of this imbalance, the majority of residents cannot afford to buy a home within the county limits. The availability of basic rental units was also a major concern, especially in the Chapel Hill/Carrlwro area. Many UNC-CH studeirts have the financial means to compete with very low- and low-income residents for the least expensive housing. The scarcity of throe- bedroom or more units has made it difficult for large families to find adequate housinS: Affordable Hbasntg:Needs According to the 1990 census, Orange County had the highest percentage of very low- income households with housing problems in North Carolina; 77 percent of residents in this category cite cost burden and overcrowding as major issues. The county had 12,0121ow- income households, of which 5,189 were located in Chapel Hill. According to a 1989 report from the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center, 1,052 units is Orange County lacked indoor plumbing. The lack of affordable housing has forced renters to live in substandard units. Housing problems were reported in 86 percent of very low-income households, and 97 percent of large families were forced to live