Affordable housing is fast becoming the leading issue for our entire state. The longer it takes to bring true solutions, the more these problems continue to spiral. This issue goes beyond the homeless, but extends to providing workforce housing – both rental and ownership – for everyone from police, nurses, teachers, and worker in our visitor industry. Recognizing that the City must play a role, along with State and Federal government agencies and private industry, my goal is to identify and help implement the role that the City must play in this issue.
In the late 1990's, the City eliminated its housing department and moved away from developing housing. While many agree that private entities specializing in affordable housing, and not the government, should be developing housing, the City must encourage affordable housing development through incentives and, where necessary, requirements on future developments.
Earlier this year, to demonstrate the City's on-going commitment to affordable housing initiatives, I introduced Resolution 05-154. Resolution 05-154, CD 1, adopted on June 6, 2005, seeks to have DPP amend the City's affordable Housing and Unilateral Agreement rules to include an "in-lieu" fee alternative for developments. This amendment will enable to developers to meet the City's housing mandate through financial contributions towards eligible housing projects. Specifically, housing developments operated by non-profit organizations. This option will allow non-profit housing developments to receive the financing necessary to get these projects completed and make housing available to our residents sooner.
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