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and since 1990, the textile industry has suffered even greater loss. In August of 2003, the <br />Pillowtex Corporation closed its doors eliminating the final 5,000 jobs in Cabarrus and <br />Rowan counties. The increase in the service market indicates a switch in the economy as <br />well as transportation habits. Much of the growth that Cabarrus County has incurred in <br />the last twenty years is residential. This growth in housing has created changes in the <br />transportation flows. (2007 Economic Census, See Appendix A) <br />Cabarrus County is considered to be a bedroom community of Charlotte, however in the <br />late 1990's and early 2000's, commercial and industrial growth changed that role. <br />Transportation patterns have changed drastically as well. Between 1980 and 1990 the <br />number of commuters going from Cabarrus to Mecklenburg County doubled ( Cabarrus <br />County, An Overview 1993 See Appendix B). However, in the 2005 -2009 American <br />Community Survey, 52% of Cabarrus County residents were employed within Cabarrus <br />County. <br />A Housing Profile <br />Condition of the Housing Units. Of the 61,504 housing units identified by the 2005- <br />2009 American Community Survey, 5,912 were substandard (9 %). In the 2005 -2009 <br />American Community Survey, 9% of the housing units were built prior to 1939. The <br />2000 U.S. Census indicates that 93 or .01% of the occupied housing units lacked <br />complete plumbing for occupants. Cabarrus County has a large amount of "mill" homes <br />that were constructed by Cannon Mills for their employees. Most of these homes are in <br />good shape structurally, but may need rehabilitation, weatherization, accessibility <br />improvements or other updating to be considered meeting current building codes. <br />There are many newer homes in Cabarrus County, however, most are in higher price <br />ranges and have been for several years. The market is dictating this type of growth. <br />Cabarrus County and the Cities of Concord and Kannapolis, Habitat for Humanity and <br />Prosperity Unlimited have tried to combat this trend by producing new affordable <br />housing as well as rehabilitating older structures to provide more affordable housing. <br />This activity also serves to maintain the current housing stock. <br />The City of Concord Housing Department contains 174 public housing units and serves <br />an additional 519 families through Section 8 certificate programs. There are currently <br />approximately 800 families /persons on the waiting list for access to the Section 8 <br />program. (City of Concord Housing Department, as of February 14, 2011) <br />Cabarrus County also serves persons with disabilities. Some disabled persons may <br />require assisted or supportive housing and financial assistance while others do not. <br />Affordable, accessible housing units have been identified by nonprofits that assist persons <br />with disabilities as a need. North Carolina Building Code attempts to address part of this <br />issue with accessibility requirements for multifamily units. Any project containing more <br />than eleven dwelling units must meet special standards that require 2% of the units to be <br />constructed to meet accessibility requirements, however, this if for newly constructed <br />units only which are often not as affordable as older units. Cabarrus County also has <br />91Page <br />Analysis of Impediments March 2011 <br />Attachment number 1 <br />F -1 Page 59 <br />