08/13/1984 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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median income--in excess of the amount needed. Ms. Wooten asked Mr. Smith to provide her with data on the Bethel Triangle area. Councilor Ball stated that - part of the problem was that data was only available to the planning district level. Ms. Wooten stated that she wanted the data available on census tract informati on. Mr. Smith said one feature of the program was to define an area compatible with the goals of the program, one goal being to maintain affordable housing over time. He said it was staff's intent to study the change in rents, income, and housing stock over time to determine if the area was compatible with the program goals. Councilor Ball stated that the Bethel Triangle might possibly be in the Central Planning District. Mr. Smith clarified that the Bethel Triangle was included in the district. The public hearing was opened. Bill Uhlhorn, 2625 Hilyard, Director of Eugene Emergency Housing, stated that leveraging funds could be used to provide housing and services to handi- capped adul ts. He said the City had similar goals through its Housing Assis- tance Plan, the Joint Social Services Fund, and the Vagrancy Task Force to assist handicapped citizens. Outlining a program for leveraging funds, he stated that CDBG funds, donations, or cash payments could be used as down payments for low-income property, resulting in reduced principal and interest on the loans. He stated that the State Housing Division provided loans with 10 to 12 percent interest which were available to non-profit individuals to develop housing. He said similar long-term financing was available through land sales. Tying in the Rental Rehabilitation Program, he said program e financing could be used to perform remodeling necessary for handicapped individuals. Mr. Uhlhorn explained that individuals could obtain low-cost housing through Section 8 rent subsidies. He explained that private non-profit developers could take any surplus from the rent to provide additional services to handicapped individuals in the housing. He said that the advantages of the program would be long-term housing, a commitment by the individuals involved to provide needed services, possible cash return to the City, and the possible flow of joint funds for other service deliveries. Mr. Uhlhorn felt that staff was open to these suggestions; he hoped that the City Council will pursue these alternatives. There being no futher testimony, the public hearing was closed. Councilor Schue asked if the regulations presented could include the program outlined by Mr. Uhlhorn. Mr. Smith stated that the regulations required a minimum of 70 percent of the housing offered to be available as family units with two or more bedrooms. He said he was not sure of the possibility of any arrangement to work with congregate housing. He said there was no limitation on working with non-profit groups. He said he was unsure if Rental Rehabilita- tion Program funds could be used for congregate housing; however, he said it would be an option to provide funding to a non-profit developer who wished to rent to a group with a particular problem. Ms. Wooten moved, seconded by Ms. Schue, to approve the Rental Rehabilitation Program and the submission of the program applica- ti on. Roll call vote; the motion carried unanimously, 8:0. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council August 13, 1984 Page 3