Minutes 02-05-2013 - Laserfiche WebLink

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noted that once the people move into Habitat homes, mortgage cost is often less than prior rental costs and utility cost is lower, which leaves more income to be spent in the local economy and to meet basic needs. Susan Levy said that low and very low income households were also served through a new exterior repair program called Brush of Kindness, and she stressed the pressing need for these types of repair projects and the goal of increasing this service. She said Habitat had nearly 2000 volunteers, who logged more than 1700 volunteer hours. She noted that Habitat home owners paid a total of$304,455 in property taxes. She said that HOME funds have been a critical factor in building efforts. She said that 225 homes have been built. Four homes are currently under construction and the demand for homes by qualified families has consistently exceeded demand. She noted that there are only seven lots left in Phoenix Place and Habitat will soon be moving on to a 28 home subdivision in Efland Cheeks Township. She recognized several home owners present who will be moving into Habitat Homes in the near future. She concluded by saying that Habitat will be requesting 2013 home funds for second mortgages for 15 new homes. Deborah Burton said she is building her home here in Hillsborough in partnership with Habitat for Humanity and Orange County Schools. She thanked the Board for making this possible and asked them to continue funding this year to make this possible for other families. Robert Dowling, Executive Director of Community Home Trust (CHT), said CHT implements inclusionary housing in Orange County and currently has 200 homes in its inventory. He said the expectation is to sell an additional 25 homes in the next 6 months; many of these homes will require public subsidies totaling more than $300,000, which is available from HOME funds and other sources. He said there is a lot of turnover with townhomes and condominiums, not single family homes. When these properties turn over, subsidies are lost. He noted that median income has become flat but the costs of the homes increase, which increases the need for subsidies. He said they will be coming to the Board of County Commissioners to ask for HOME funds in the amount of$60,000. He noted that $40,000 will be used to keep homes affordable and $20,000 will be for operating support. He said they could never have done this with the support of local governments. He said that this is the most difficult housing market he has seen. Commissioner Dorosin said he is appreciative of all the work that has been done and he echoed the comments from the retreat. He said this plan should likely be re-visited sooner than 2015 in light of changes mentioned. He said this is an opportune time to be thinking more creatively. He said he has been haunted by the recent purchase of Abbey Court, which has 252 units and sold for $7 million. He said these were the most affordable units in Orange County and now it looks as if the rent is going to be raised along with assessments. He said there is a need to talk about different ways of doing things, including manufactured housing and he would value advice from the professionals and the Affordable Housing Advisory Board. Chair Jacobs noted that 1.3, page 32 talks about people not having indoor plumbing. He questioned how much this count has been reduced and Tara Fikes said she would get him that information. Chair Jacobs said the Board heard on Friday that the Community Home Trust was recruiting people from Durham County to move into unoccupied Orange County housing. Robert Dowling said he is not aware of this. He said he wrote a memo to the Board of County Commissioners asking for relief from some of the requirements if a home has not sold after a certain number of days. He said there are so many properties on the market and it is difficult to sell them, which puts a burden on CHT and makes the homeowners unhappy and frustrated. He said the memo requests relief from hurdles to allow interested buyers, who don't live or work here, to purchase the homes.