Agenda - 02-03-1986 - Laserfiche WebLink

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i 146 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Action Agenda ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Item No. Ell— Meeting Date: FEBRUARY 3, 1986 SUBJECT: STATUS OF MINIMUM HOUSING CODE ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM DEPARTMENT: I MANAGER PUBLIC HEARING: Yes _X No ATTACHMENT(S) : INFORMATION CONTACT: MANAGER'S OFFICE, X501 NO TELEPHONE NUMBER: Hillsborough - 732-8181 Chapel Hill - 968-4501 Mebane - 227-2031 Durham - 688-7331 PURPOSE: To review status of minimum housing code enforcement program. NEED: On December 2, 1985 the Board reviewed the housing complaints received since the July 1, 1984 effective date of the minimum houIsing code. During the discussion which questioned the number of complaints (12) received, the Board requested staff to research/analyze the limited sum of housing complaint referrals from other agencies. To ascertain whether the number of referrals contributed to the low's, number of housing complaints► staff contacted human service agencies that supported adoption of the code. Comments received from these agencies reveal the lack of a data base on how many rental units are substandard and the fact that few tenants have been referred from the agencies and individuals which previously advocated for the code's adoption. Another problem appears to be the lack of citizen education about the code. The general public and agencies are insufficiently educated about specific provisions of the code and the enforcement procedure which requires the lodging of complaints to trigger enforcement action. IMPACT: Thep, establishment and implementation of an outreach program should increase the filing of housing complaints. RECAMMENDATION(S) : Authorize staff to investigate and report on the feasibility of using Section 8 surplus funds to mount an outreach program to increase citizen awareness of the remedies available to overcome substandard conditions.