Laserfiche WebLink
6. Availability of all types of units. The CONNECT our Future study conducted <br />by the Centralina Council of Governments identifies continued growth in the <br />region as a strain on the availability of affordable units. The CONNECT our <br />Future study purports that the Charlotte Region will need an additional 665,000 <br />housing units by 2050. (CONNECT our Future, Increased Housing Choices, May <br />2015) <br />B. Actions to Address Impediments <br />1. Current Lending Products and Packages. Cabarrus County works with local <br />nonprofit housing organizations such as Prosperity Unlimited, a Community <br />Housing Development Organization (CHDO) and Habitat for Humanity to <br />increase home ownership opportunities for low to moderate income persons and <br />families. These agencies are supported by Cabarrus County through technical and <br />financial methods. Cabarrus County provides marketing for nonprofit agencies <br />conducting fair housing initiatives. Cabarrus County has held foreclosure <br />workshops in the past in conjunction with the local CHDO and with other local <br />jurisdictions to try to address clients with predatory and /or bad loans. County <br />housing rehabilitation clients are regularly referred to Prosperity Unlimited for <br />loan reviews, loan information, home buying education, and down payment <br />assistance. Increased reviews of loan documentation to meet new CDBG <br />regulations regarding title searches have created a need for clients to get financial <br />assistance /education in order to maintain their homes or access rehabilitation <br />services. Loan and credit problems are becoming more evident due to the new <br />housing rehabilitation procedures. <br />2. Fair Housing Awareness. To make citizens aware of their fair housing rights, <br />Cabarrus County uses multiple forms of communication. Methods used are Fair <br />Housing awareness education through newspapers ads, radio advertisements, <br />Cabarrus County Channel 22 cable television ads, and a website notification of <br />Fair Housing Law that remains on the website at all times. These ads contain <br />basic information regarding the law and who to contact if you feel you have <br />experienced discrimination. These ads currently include a TDD number and <br />contain Spanish contact information. County staff also posts Fair Housing posters <br />and pamphlets in libraries, government offices, the Department of Human <br />Services, and financial institutions. These posters and pamphlets are in English <br />and Spanish. Cabarrus County Community Development Staff makes and will <br />continue making presentations to civic groups, church groups, Department of <br />Human Services staff, and others regarding Fair Housing laws and ways to <br />address Fair Housing issues. <br />3. Education for Homebuyers. CHDO's, such as Prosperity Unlimited and Habitat <br />for Humanity, are starting to address this problem, however, there is much to do <br />in the education of the public regarding home buying. Cabarrus County provides <br />technical support to Prosperity Unlimited, which provides homebuyer education <br />programs that includes Fair Housing information. Clients from any income group <br />interested in the home buying process, from any income group, are referred to <br />these nonprofits for homebuyer education. Homebuyer education expands <br />41Page <br />Analysis of Impediments September 2015 <br />Attachment number 1 \n <br />F -6 Page 96 <br />