HomeMy WebLinkAboutOTHER-2021-012 Recipient’s Plan to Further Fair Housing Other 2021 - 012 ; 4/6/21 ; 8 -h Attachment 1
Recipient ' s Plan to Further Fair Housing
Grantee : Orange County
Recipient ' s Address : PO Box 8181
Hillsborough, NC 27278
Contact Person : Erika Brandt Contact Phone # : 919 -2454331
Contact Email . ebrandt(a� oran eg countync . ov TDD # :
I . Indicate if the Recipient will be affirmatively furthering fair housing for the
first time or has implemented specific activities in the past.
First Time X Past Activities
II . Identify and analyze obstacles to affirmatively furthering fair housing
in recipient ' s community. (Use additional pages as necessary)
In 2020 , Orange County worked with the Center for Urban and Regional Studies at the
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill to conduct an Analysis of Impediments to Fair
Housing Choice (AI) . The Al includes an analysis of Orange County laws , regulations ,
and administrative policies , procedures , and practices that affect the location, availability,
and accessibility of housing . The AI also includes an assessment of conditions , both
public and private , that affect fair housing choice .
The Al identified the following impediments to fair housing :
• A lack of affordable housing has resulted in severe rent burdens among
many renters , especially those with low and moderate incomes . A majority of
renters in the county are rent burdened—spending over 30 % of household income
toward rent and utilities ; this figure exceeds 85 % for households earning below
$ 35 , 000 and is still over half for households earning $ 35 , 000—$ 49 , 999 .
Meanwhile , over 80 % of households earning under $ 20 , 000 are severely rent
burdened (meaning they pay over half their income toward rent and utilities) , as
are nearly 40 % of households earning $ 20 , 000434 , 999 .
• African Americans and Hispanics face difficulties receiving conventional
mortgage loans . The denial rate for first- lien, conventional mortgages for African
Americans is consistently over four times that of Whites , and the denial rate for
Hispanics is between two and four times that of Whites as well . The most
common reasons for denial , as noted in the HMDA data, are credit history for
African Americans (3 3 % of all denial reasons) and debt-to - income ratio for
Hispanics (49 % of all denial reasons) .
III. Will the above activities apply to the total municipality or county ?
Yes X No If no , provide an explanation .
(Use additional pages as necessary)
IV. Briefly describe the quarterly activities that the recipient will undertake over
the active period of the grant to affirmatively further fair housing in their
community. A time schedule and estimated cost for implementation of these
activities must be included . Activities must be scheduled for implementation at
least on a quarterly basis . (Use attached table)
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Identify ways to protect residents of mobile home Jan-Mar 2021 $ 12500
parks who may be under threat of displacement.
Orange County Housing and Community Apr- Jun 2021 $ 125 , 000
Development Department is working with the Towns
of Chapel Hill , Carrboro , and Hillsborough to align Jul - Sep 2021 $ 125 , 000
mobile home park displacement prevention and
relocation strategies . Oct-Dec 2021 $ 1253000
The County currently has funds for mobile home park Jan-Mar 2022 $ 12500
infrastructure upgrades (about $ 1 million) and a small
amount of funds for mobile home replacement and Apr- Jun 2022 $ 125 , 000
relocation when a resident faces displacement . The
County and the Towns plan to create a joint plan to Jul- Sep 2022 $ 125 , 000
ensure how a rapid response when opportunities to
prevent displacement of mobile home park residents Oct-Dec 2022 $ 12500
and/or assist with relocation arise, and propose
broadening the allowable uses of existing funds to Jan-Mar 2023 $ 125 , 000
provide the flexibility needed to respond to mobile
home needs as they arise .
Once the joint plan is developed, we estimate an Apr- Jun 2023 $ 125 , 000
annual budget of at least $ 500 , 000 will help fund
expenses related to park upgrades , relocation, etc .
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or possible sources of evidence to ascertain the factual basis of the allegations
contained in the Complaint . Further, the Commission staff may examine , record,
and copy such materials and take and record the testimony or statements of such
persons as reasonably necessary for the furtherance of the investigation .
i) In conducting an investigation, the Commission staff may, in accordance with the
North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure :
1 ) issue subpoenas compelling access to or production of documents ,
materials , or other evidence ,
2) issue subpoenas compelling witnesses , including any party, to appear and !'
give testimony before the Commission staff;
3 ) issue subpoenas compelling witnesses , including any party, to appear and
give testimony at a deposition ;
4) take depositions of witnesses , including any party, and
5 ) issue interrogatories to a Respondent .
j ) Upon written application to the Commission staff, a Respondent shall be entitled
to the issuance of interrogatories directed to the Complainant, to the issuance of a
reasonable number of subpoenas for the taking of depositions , and to the issuance
of a reasonable number of subpoenas for the production of evidence .
k) In the case of refusal to obey a subpoena, answer an interrogatory, answer a
question propounded in a deposition, or answer a question propounded during an
interview conducted by the Commission staff pursuant to this section, the
Commission staff or the Respondent may make a motion in the Superior Court to
compel a person to obey the subpoena, answer the interrogatory, or answer the
question . The North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure shall apply to the making
of such motions . If a person fails to obey an order issued pursuant to this
subsection, the court may apply any or all of the sanctions available in Rule 37 of
the North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure ,
1) Whenever the Commission staff concludes on the basis of a preliminary
investigation of a Complaint that prompt judicial action is necessary to carry out
the purposes of this Ordinance , the Commission may commence a civil action in
the Superior Court for injunctive relief pending final disposition of the Complaint .
Any injunctive relief shall be ordered in accordance with Rule 65 of the North
Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure . The commencement of a civil action to obtain
injunctive relief shall not affect the continuation of the Commission staff s
investigation or the initiation of a separate civil action provided for in this
Ordinance .
m) Complaints may be resolved at any time by informal conference, conciliation, or
persuasion . Nothing said or done in the course of such informal procedure may be
made public by the Commission or used as evidence in any subsequent proceeding
without the written consent of the person concerned . However, all resolutions of
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