HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 10-19-1999 - 10bORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COIV~SSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: ,October 19, 1999
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Action Agenda '
Item No. I o~b
SUBJECT: Orange County Fair Housing Plan
DEPARTMENT: Housing/Comm.. Development PTTBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
Human Rights and Relations
ATTACINT(S): Under Separate Cover INFORMATION CONTACT:
Fair Housing Plan (Draft) Tara L. Fikes, ext 2490;
Appendix (Commissioner Jacobs) Annette Moore, ext. 2250
TELEPHONE NCJMBERS:
Hillsborough.. 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 336-227-2031
P RP E: o present e Fair Housing P an or range ounty an esta is an o cial
public comment period of October 20 to November 2, 1999.
,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, H[TD is committed to eliminating racial and
ethnic segregation and other discriminnatory 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 I~[UD funding under the Community Development Block Grarlt
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.
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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 Plana, immediately. Thus,
the plan must be submitted to the BOCC on October 19th to establish the public comment period. The
BOCC will then be asked to consider approval of the Plan on November 2, 1999. The plan. must be -
submitted according to this schedule to avoid any future management findings.
The Fair Housing Plan is a separate document from the Consolidated Plan for Housing and Community
Development Programs in Orange County, NC.
A draft Fair Housing Plan hasbeen developed for review.by local elected officials. After presentation to
the BOCC,. the plan will be made .available at all public libraries and the local offices of housing
organizations ,for the review and comments of the general public. The official comment period will ~:
begin October 20 and end November 2, 1999.
FIIVAl~TCIAL Y1VIl'ACT: None
1~C®lV~!'IDE1~AB'IQl'~T(S)s The Manager recommends receiving the draft Fair Housing Plan as
information and. establishing an official public comment period of October 20 to November 2, 1999.
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