Item A: Adoption of 2007 Legislative Policies

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? A majority of very-low-income families are headed by single women. Eighty percent of these families pay more than 40 percent of their income for housing expenses. (2000 census) ? The Lane County Housing Authority closed their Section 8 waiting list earlier this year when it reached over 7,000 names and a longer than three year wait. The adopted HUD Consolidated Plan, which guides local federal low-income housing funding, lists three top priority activities: a) increasing the rental supply of permanent affordable housing; b) enhancing shelter support services for homeless households; and c) increasing the supply of transitional and permanent housing for specialized populations. The cities of Eugene and Springfield and Lane County examine 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 , without compromising the existing low-income assistance requirements. 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 SUPPORT PROGRAMS , TheHousing Trust Fund created by statute in 1991, is one of Oregon's more successful programs to increase the supply of affordable housing. The trust fund supports programs ranging from the development of affordable housing to home ownership assistance and an Emergency Housing Account. Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS), supported by 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 immediate affordable housing development through the Housing Trust Fund (HTF). Particular sub-goals include: a) Support a funding goal of at least $100 million this biennium 2. REMOVAL OF REGULATORY BARRIERS TO LOW-INCOME HOUSING City of Eugene Legislative Policies, 2007 Session With IGR Mtg 10/17 and 10/26 Amendments C:\Documents and Settings\ceexelf\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK10B\LegPol2007Sesxx1.doc Updated on: 11/6/2006 By: Last saved by ceexmfw 40