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There are many newer homes in Cabarrus County, however, most are in the higher price ranges. The market is dictating this type of growth. Cabarrus County and the Cities of Concord and Kannapolis have tried to combat this trend by producing new affordable housing as well as rehabilitating older structures to provide more affordable housing. This activity also serves to maintain the housing stock. The City of Concord Housing Department contains 174 public housing units and serves another 446 families through Section 8 certificate programs. There are currently 190 families waiting for access to the Section 8 program. Elderly persons are served through these programs as well. (City of Concord Housing Department, as of August 13, 2003) Cabarrus County also serves two types of persons with disabilities. The two groups are those that require assisted housing and financial assistance and those who require no financial assistance. North Carolina building code attempts to address part of this issue with multifamily units. Any project containing more than eleven units must meet special standards. The standards require that 2% of the units must be constructed to accommodate handicapped individuals. Barriers to the use of resources by members of protected groups include the cost of land and housing. Additionally, the lack of knowledge about housing programs by protected groups is a barrier. These barriers can be addressed through several activities. Cabarms County is participating in housing rehabilitation programs for low-income persons, thereby, expanding their housing choices. Cabarrus County performs handicap accessibility improvements to keep the elderly and disabled persons in their homes. This action also increases the stability and value of the housing stock available to handicap persons. Cabarrus County is also dispersing and distributing information on fair housing programs. Multi-lingual Fair Housing pamphlets have been made available at government offices, libraries, and financial institutions. Fair Housing Advertisements have been run on the local cable access channel, the Cabarrus County Website, and will soon be run on a local radio station. A TDD number is used for handicap accessibility to public services. Cabarrus County provides a van service for transportation to elderly and disabled residents. Employment and Transportation. In 1990, the US Census reported that most of the jobs in Cabarms County were goods producing, manufacturing, textiles or service producing. Major employers in the County included Pillowtex and Northeast Medical. In 1980, over 20,000 people worked for the textile industry, but by 1990, that number was cut in half and since 1990 the textile industry has suffered even greater losses. In August of 2003, the Pillowtex Corporation closed its doors eliminating 5,000 jobs in Cabarrus and Rowan counties. The increase in the service market indicates a switch in the economy as well as transportation habits. Much of the growth that Cabarrus County has incurred in the last twenty years was residential. Cabarrus County has become a bedroom community of Charlotte, however, recent commercial and industrial growth is changing that role. Transportation patterns have changed drastically as well. Between Cabarrus Coa~lO- Aaa!v~is of Impediments to Fair Hot~sit~g August 13, 2003 Page 6 of 22