Res 2014-096/Approving an Affordable/Workforce Housing Policy

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c. Assist low income families to create developable lots on property with clouded titles Develop and /or sponsor programs that assist families in clearing title to real property — which will facilitate the rehabilitation of dilapidated structures and the redevelopment of vacant lots. 4. HOUSING COSTS (OTHER THAN MORTGAGE PAYMENTS) CAN CREATE A BURDEN FOR LOW AND MODERATE INCOME PERSONS a. Reduce transportation costs through development of housing in Location Efficient Areas (LEA). i. Define parameters for establishing Location Efficient Areas & review development codes to ensure they encourage affordable / workforce development therein. ii. Identify areas appropriate for designation as a Local Efficient Area. iii. Target incentives for development of affordable / workforce housing in LEAs. b. Improve energy efficiency to reduce housing costs. i. Continue energy audit and indoor water survey programs, maintain funding for energy efficiency rebate programs, and continue public education about programs ii. Utilize energy audits to identify low- income households with a history of very high utility bills whose energy use could be lowered through energy efficiency upgrades. Refer residents to available programs that assist with weatherization or other energy efficiency upgrades. iii. Seek grants supporting this goal and evaluate feasibility of implementing them. The feasibility review shall include staffing requirements and associated costs compared to benefits from the grant. iv. Periodically evaluate and analyze the impact energy efficiency development / improvements has on utility usage and costs. 5. LAND ACQUISITION COSTS ARE PASSED ON TO HOMEBUYERS a. Increase supply of sites available for owner - occupied housing. i. Enter into cooperative agreements with other taxing entities to create a program that will identify tax- forfeiture properties appropriate for residential development or redevelopment and made them available for affordable housing development. ii. Evaluate existing city -owned property for suitability for residential development and donate appropriate sites to non - profit organizations to build affordable housing. iii. Consider allocating funding to purchase land to be donated to community -based non - profit organizations (such as Habitat for Humanity) for affordable housing development. iv. Utilize the City's Unsafe Structures Program to create clean, developable lots dedicated to affordable housing development. A & WF Housing Policy 4 July 2014