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- .Orange County, North Carolina - AIFCH - 2007 <br />"One (1) or more persons who are related by blood or marriage, and including any foster <br />children or a group of not more. than five (5) persons living together as a house keeping unit by <br />joint agreement on anon-profit cost sharing basis, or a combination of persons related by blood <br />or marriage along with no more than two (2) unrelated adults to a maximum number of (5) <br />persons living together and occupying a single housekeeping unit with a single kitchen facility. <br />In addition, up to eight persons, including six or fewer persons with disability or handicap and <br />not to exceed two staff residents residing in a dwelling shall be considered to be a family.s23 <br />The numbers used in this definition can be changed to reflect state regulations or local codes. <br />The definition does not have to be as extensive or even as complicated as the one sited but <br />consideration needs to be given to changing its current definition to avoid possible problems in <br />the future. <br />Another concern that we have regarding the zoning ordinance is the restrictive definition of <br />"group home", which expressly excludes "...persons addicted to or recuperating from the effects <br />of an addiction to drugs or alcohol." <br />Alcohol addiction can be considered a disability under the Fair Housing Amendments Act of <br />1988 (FHAA). Ex-drug users in treatment (which may include or require a group home setting) <br />are also covered under the FHAA. We could find no other definitions that would relate to these <br />persons being able to reside in a group home setting. <br />The second issue with Group Care Facility is that they have to be approved by the Board of <br />Adjustments before they can be placed. <br />Our concern is that putting too many restrictions on group homes can run afoul of Fair Housing <br />regulations, particularly if a group home operator feels that the restrictions are unduly restrictive. <br />While we understand and support the necessity of regulating group homes so that one <br />neighborhood is not over-saturated, we also understand that the need for these facilities is <br />important and becoming more important as funding for institutions, nursing homes and hospitals <br />is declining. <br />10.0 INSURANCE REDLINI6VG <br />Thirty-three years ago, the National Advisory Panel on Insurance in Riot Affected Areas made a <br />critical observation that: <br />Insurance is essential to revitalize our cities. It is a cornerstone of credit. Without insurance, <br />banks and other financial institutions will not -and cannot -make loans. New housing cannot be <br />repaired. New businesses cannot expand, or even survive. <br />Without insurance, buildings are left to deteriorate; services, goods and jobs diminish. Efforts to <br />rebuild our nation's inner cities cannot move forward. Communities without insurance are' <br />communities without hope. <br />34 <br />