§ 102-32. Purpose and intent.

(a)

The purpose and intent of this article is to make affordable residential units available to persons of very low income, low income or moderate income and persons who have special housing needs, including but not limited to homeless people, migrant farm workers and persons with developmental disabilities.

(b)

This article is intended to:

(1)

Increase the availability of affordable housing units by combining local resources and cost saving measures into a local housing partnership and using private and public funds to reduce the cost of housing.

(2)

Involve, to the greatest extent possible, the county government, lending institutions, housing developers, community-based housing and service organizations, consumers and providers of professional services relating to affordable housing.

(3)

Enlist the support of local lending institutions for innovative financing techniques designed to meet the special needs of eligible persons or eligible sponsors.

(4)

Encourage developers to construct, rehabilitate and repair low-cost housing.

(5)

Promote innovative design of eligible housing that provides cost savings; flexible design options for housing and development such as the combination of architectural styles, building forms and development requirements; and positive design features such as orientation towards the street and pedestrian access, without compromising the quality of the eligible housing.

(6)

Encourage local organizations to construct or assist in the construction, rehabilitation or repair of affordable housing using creative and innovative techniques designed to provide affordable homes to eligible persons.

(7)

Explore other support services such as day care, health care and transportation to determine the need to include them in the county housing assistance plan.

(8)

Provide for the necessary staff positions responsible for coordinating, planning and providing technical assistance to lending institutions, developers and for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, managing the housing trust fund, and securing professional services to provide training to prepare persons for the responsibility of home ownership, and to counsel tenants.

(9)

Promote more compact urban development and assist in achieving the growth management goals contained in the county comprehensive plan, by allowing more efficient use of land so as to provide housing units that are affordable to persons who have special housing needs, very low income, low income or moderate income.

(10)

Promote mixed-income housing in urban, suburban and rural areas so as to provide increased housing and economic opportunities for persons who have special housing needs, very low income, low income or moderate income.

(11)

Build the organizational and technical capacity of community-based organizations so as to optimize the role of community-based organizations in the production of affordable housing.

(12)

Provide compatibility with the county comprehensive plan.

(Ord. No. 93-3, § III, 1-7-93)