03/23/1970 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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87 e 3/23/70 and said the leased housing program operated by the Lane County Housing Authority is limited to corporate boundaries of the City. 10% to 15% of applications cannot be filled because they ask for residences outside the city of Eugene. He also said that a number of people are moving into the City specifically to apply for leased housing. The Housing Committee is concerned with people migrating to the urban area simply to find housing. I 11 !I I' ,I I Commissioner Omlid asked if the Joint Housing Committee intended that the Housing Expediter implement and carryon a program outside the City, or whether it intended that Lane County Housing Authority enter into? separate program. eouncilman Williams explained that Lane County Housing Authority is the operational vehicle - the role of Housing Expediter is tO,refer candidates to the leased housing program. I II 1 ! I Mr. Hal McCall, chairman of Lane County Housing Board, said expansion outside the City had been discussed by the Joint Housing Commit~ee and Lane County Housing Authori ty for some time. It was discussed several years ago with the County, but it was a different program at that time. Since entering into the leasing program, it would appear the Housing Authority must involve itself in a coun~y-wide housing program. The problems accompanying this step would be' primarily administrative. The Board has been talking about it for a year and a half, and the time has come to develop an approach. e Commissioner Hill asked if consideration had rather than encompassing 'the entire county. opinion on this question? been given to creating a district, Had the Authority received a legal I Mr. McDall agreed that this would be a likely approach, and would facilitate administration. In answer to the City Manager, Mr. McCall said funds might be available for added staff if this step were taken. Commissioner Hill was concerned that if the program was not county-wid~, there would be problems decidi~g where boundaries should be. Mrs. Betty Niven said it was not clear whether legislative change would be required to initiate a county-wide program, but in light of the supreme court decision on welfare and HUD interpretation of this, programs must move .outside the corporate city limits. There was further discussion of possibility for a county-wide program, and problems establishing such a program. In answer to Commissioner Hill's fears concernipg non-urban areas of the County, Mrs. Niven pointed out that the Federal government has recognized differences between concentrated areas and non-concentrated ones. Farmers Home Administration operates in areas where concentration is 5,000 or less. In answer to Mayor Anderson's question, the Commissioners agreed they were favorably inclined to a housing program outside the city of Eugene. Commissioner Hill said their legal counsel could givei~ an opinion whether the Housing Authority could do this, and the Commissioners will meet again with the Council. I b. Appeal for Funds - Councilman Williams explained that the office of the Housing Expediterrcurrently spends 50% of its time on housing requests from .outside the Eugene area. In view of this fact, the City is requesting financial assistance to expand this office. Mayor Anderson explained that ,this office was created to look at the broad range of housing problems in the community, and that it is important to broaden these activities. . # Commissioner Hill suggested that a written request be forwarded to the Commissioners to make this a budget item, and said it would be considered at budget level. c. Lane County Housing Authority as Visualized by County - Joint Housing Committee is unsure what the County feels is the role of the Housing Authority as it exists today, and what its proper role will be ten years from now. What is the proper role of "government" in total on a local level now and ten years from now. Cammissianer Hill gave a brief history of the inception of the Hausing Authority, and how it has grown to, its pre~ent level. He explained that their primary concern had been for the low income elderly~ but the advent of the leased housing program had somewhat changed this coneeption. With the new programs available, they are in a position to broaden their goals. I Mr. McCall said the Housing Authority merely serves as a vehicle for utilizing federal programs, and has no authority to initiate programs. . Mrs. Niven quoted state law regarding housing. Mr. McCall pointed aut that the Authority is funded federally, and unless there is a commitment for an area, there are no funds set aside. II ~ i! Dr. Purdy pointed out that it was no duplicatio~ of effort. of the housing expedit~r. was important that planning be done so that there This was the reason for establishing the office e 3/23/70 - 3 I , I