HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 01-18-2000 - 9hORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: January 18, 2000
Action Agenda
Item No. 1- 6-
SUBJECT: Orange County Fair Housing Plan
DEPARTMENT: Housing/Comm. Development PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
Human Rights and Relations
ATTACHMENT(S):
Fair Housing Plan
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Tara L. Fikes, ext 2490;
Annette Moore, ext. 2250
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 9684501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 336-227-2031
approve
BACKGROUND: Provisions to affirmatively further fair housing are principal and long-standing
components of housing and community development programs sponsored by the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Specifically, HUD is committed to eliminating racial and
ethnic segregation and other discriminatory practices in housing. Further, Orange County, through its
Civil Rights Ordinance, is also committed to the elimination of discriminatory practices in housing.
All recipients of HUD funding are required to meet the following broad objectives:
1. Analyze and eliminate housing discrimination in the jurisdiction;
2. Promote fair housing choice;
3. Provide opportunities for racially and ethnically inclusive patterns of housing occupancy;
4. Promote housing that is physically accessible to, and usable by, all persons, particularly
persons with disabilities; and
5. Foster compliance with the nondiscrimination provisions of the Fair Housing Act.
This is accomplished by the development of a Fair Housing Plan which identifies impediments to fair
housing choice within the jurisdiction, and, outlines appropriate actions to overcome the effects of any
impediments identified through the analysis.
This Plan is required of all recipients of HUD funding under the Community Development Block Grant
Program, the HOME Investment Partnership Program, the Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments
Program. Thus, the County, as a recipient of these funds, is required to have this document. In past
years, we have written this plan at the staff level without soliciting BOCC approval. Recently,
however, we have been advised by both State and Federal officials, that we should formally adopt the
Fair Housing Plan. This is especially critical as we apply for new funding during the new budget year.
Specifically, the State Division of Community Assistance is requiring that this plan be approved by the
BOCC in order to be eligible for grant funding. The County has received numerous correspondences in
recent months from this state agency regarding the need for submission of the Plan immediately.
The plan was initially submitted to the BOCC on October 19th at which time a public comment period
of October 20 - November 9, 1999 was established. The plan was made available at all public libraries
and the local housing departments for the review of the general public. In addition, a newspaper
announcement was published in the Chapel Hill Herald soliciting comments. No public comments were
received.
The Fair Housing Plan is a separate document from the Consolidated Plan for Housing and Community
Development Programs in Orange County, NC.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends approval of the Fair Housing Plan for Orange
County.