Agenda - 09-08-2016 - 1 - Discussion of the Proposed Orange County FY 2016 - 2020 Affordable Housing Strategic Plan

Browse Search

31 Orange CounEy AFFORDABLE HOUSING STRATEGIC PLAN 2016 -2020 BOCC Work E n September 8, 2016 Rental and Lease to Own Models: From Homelessness to Homeownership in Nine Months. It's Possible Following are examples of innovative and established programs utilizing manufactured housing as a key source of affordable housing. The two model described below is from a national organization, CFED who supports an Innovations in Manufactured Homes (I'M HOME) and annual conference. Family Promise, New Jersey • Family Promise is a 30-year old national network of affiliates based in New Jersey that aim to help homeless and low- income families through a comprehensive approach of direct services, education, and other tools. • Through its network of 200 affiliates, the organization serves 50,000 people each year. • This model is considered an emerging example of how to think about core work in affordable housing in a different way, one that recognizes the value of manufactured homes while addressing the comprehensive range of needs facing low-income families. • Family Promise approaches homelessness in a number of ways: • Local affiliates use congregations to provide immediate shelter and other services. • Local groups also provide financial education and participate in public policy work, focusing on key issues such as funding the National Housing Trust Fund and expanding the definition of homelessness. Partners in Housing initiative, Grand Rapids Michigan • Partners in Housing initiative is another innovative program launched by Family Promise of Grand Rapids, Michigan, about six years ago. • The program identifies vacant manufactured homes in land-lease communities in the region. • Staffs in Grand Rapids do their due diligence to determine if the home can be repaired or improved in a cost-effective way and if the manufactured home community is suitable for client families. • Declining parks or those with high incidence of crime are excluded. • Family Promise negotiates a price with the community owner (or the homeowner) and then, post-purchase, organizes local volunteers to paint, make minor repairs, landscape and otherwise make the home move-in ready for a new family. • The total cost per unit is less than $8,000, all of which is raised locally. The cost to the family, from the beginning, is marginal. They pay only the lot rent (about $450 per month) and utilities. They pay no rent or other expenses for the actual home. For comparison, the Fair Market Rent for a three-bedroom home in the region is $1,091, which requires an hourly 29