Agenda - 04-01-1992 - Laserfiche WebLink

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For existing homeowners, in a county where one -third of all units are over thirty years old, housing rehabilitation assistance will be an important part of an overall housing strategy, allowing homeowners to maintain their property while keeping it in the affordable stock. No funds are currently available for housing rehabilitation assistance for homeowners. Public Improvements. In Orange County, utility extension into undeveloped areas may relieve some of the upward pressure on developed lot prices, and make land available for affordable housing development. In rural parts of Orange County, funds for public improvements will be used both for public utilities and for upgrading from outdoor toilets commonly found throughout the county. Public Housing Resident Involvement. Public housing residents have had input to the Housing and Community Development Department through the Housing Advisory Board and through residents' councils at each site. No resident management initiatives have been instituted to date, nor have specific homeownership opportunities been offered within the public housing projects. However, public housing residents are notified of the homeownership education classes offered by Orange Community Housing Corporation, and in 1992, a specific homeownership education program will be conducted at a public housing site, if at least ten residents are interested in participating in the program. With very few affordable rental units in the private market, public housing has a low turnover rate and has some residents paying rents that could be applied toward homeownership in an assisted homeownership project such as those envisioned by OCHC. The education program may be a beginning for more resident initiatives toward homeownership. Homeless and _Special Populations. For the next five years, assistance to homeless persons will be continued and evaluated regularly to determine the need for creation of an additional facility. In 1989, the former Chapel Hill Town Hall building was renovated into a homeless shelter through assistance from local governments, HUD, N.C. Housing Finance Agency, and private fundraising, and the Town of Chapel Hill continues to fund some utilities and lease the facility to IFC at no cost. That shelter now operates at capacity, and provides emergency short- term shelter for many populations, including battered women., persons recovering from substance abuse, and persons with mental illness. Another important priority regarding the homeless and special populations will be providing transitional housing opportunities to bridge the gap between the homeless shelter and the private or assisted housing markets. In southern Orange County particularly, no affordable 24