Item 2D - 2005 Leg.Policies Doc - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

The cities of Eugene and Springfield and Lane County address low-income housing needs through an intergovernmental Housing Policy Board whose primary focus is to develop additional housing for very-low-income families. The City also supports broadening the eligibility requirements for housing assistance so that families between 40 and 80 percent of the area's median income will be able to qualify for some assistance. In Lane County, the median income for a family of three is $48,900; 80 percent of the median income is $39,100 (low-income); and 50 percent of median is $24,450 (very-low-income). 1. HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND SUPORT PROGRAMS The Housing Trust Fund, created by statute in 1991, was one of Oregon's more successful programs to increase the supply of affordable housing. The trust fund supported programs ranging from the development of affordable housing to home ownership assistance and an Emergency Housing Account. Oregon Housing & Community Services (OHCS), along with affordable housing advocates, needs additional funding for affordable housing development through the trust fund, and for emergency housing and rental assistance. This would allow the Department to both increase the level of its current services, as well as make additional investments in social service programs to support those who cannot afford unsubsidized housing. The City supports the continued funding of the Housing Trust Fund (HTF). Particular sub-goals include: a) Support a funding goal of $50 million per biennium b) Expansion of the Elderly Rental Assistance (ERA) program to include more low-income households c) Renew the Oregon Affordable Housing Tax Credit for lenders 2. REMOVAL OF REGULATORY BARRIERS TO LOW-INCOME HOUSING The City of Eugene supports local efforts to make the siting, financing or development of low-income and affordable housing easier by streamlining systems, rules, codes and laws that present regulatory barriers to that housing. The City will support State legislation that encourages the development of low-income and affordable housing while considering the interests of cities and their citizens. The City will support repeal of ORS 197.309 which prohibits local jurisdictions from requiring affordable housing as a condition of development approval ¢~inclusionary zoning"). The city also supports efforts to prohibit insurance companies from either denying insurance coverage to housing because it has public financing or increasing its premiums for such coverage. 3. HOUSING IMPACT STATEMENT The City of Eugene will oppose legislation to impose a requirement that local governments prepare a housing impact statement for municipal land use ordinances. The land use laws require that all statewide goals be addressed when developing rules and ordinances. Requiring impact statements creates unnecessary bureaucratic delay and gives priority to housing over other land use goals. City of Eugene Legislative Policies, 2005 Session 27