Huntsville's Promise
Our Children Our Future
|
|
|
|
Click here to return to Home Official says options exist for would-be home buyers By Tori Brock/Staff writer April has been proclaimed Fair Housing Month in Huntsville, in celebration of the 36th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act. Fair housing opportunities are needed in Huntsville, and Mark Leonard, grant writer for the city, said this is only one of the ways the city is working to promote housing opportunities for its citizens. With the upcoming City Council election, Leonard said he hopes the candidates who get elected will continue the city's past commitment to providing fair housing opportunities. "I hope they will support the development of a housing needs survey," he said. "And once we have an updated survey of housing needs, I hope that they will work with the citizens and city staff to develop programs in response to the needs that the survey reveals. "I hope the candidates will work to gain affordable housing for all citizens, regardless of their incomes," Leonard said. Currently, the city has several programs in place, and Leonard said there are many more in the works. "The city is encouraging expansion of housing opportunities," he said. "In February, the city worked with the developer of a proposed new subdivision of 51 homes - 26 of which will be affordable for moderate-income homebuyers. "The city is also supporting the development of a 100-unit family apartment complex called The Villages," Leonard said. "Plus, the city has been a partner with Impact Huntsville, a program sponsored by the Faith in Action Committee of Huntsville's Promise that works with donated material to repair homes. It has gotten church youth groups and sponsors to make home repairs with materials available at the TIP (Trash into Plowshares) warehouse at the Transfer Station." The TIP warehouse provides building materials to nonprofit organizations for home repairs. Leonard said another way the city has helped with affordable housing initiatives is by working with the Sustainable Builders Guild. "The city has partnered with the Sustainable Builders Guild for seven new homes to be built on Avenue H between 9th and 10th streets," he said. Sam Houston State University is working to complete a new building for freshman housing, and Leonard said the city has worked with the school to ensure the project is a success as well. "Another thing the city has done with regard to fair housing is enabled there to be a certified housing counselor for the first time," said Leonard, who is the counselor here. "They've also approved hiring a second housing staff person who will be bilingual." Over the next two months, the city will be co-hosting housing fairs with the Southeast Texas Housing Finance Corporation. "This will be an all-day Saturday event where we invite people to come and speak to builders and lenders and housing counselors about new housing opportunities and affordable loans for homebuyers in Walker County," he said. "We also have a program in place called Homebuyers Down Payment Assistance, where buyers of newly constructed homes may qualify for up to $10,000 down payment assistance. This is possible because of a grant the city applied for and received from the state." On March 23, the City Council also approved a cash and in-kind match-in application with the state for repair/replacement housing for elderly and disabled citizens. At the same time, the city is working in partnership with the county for a similar application. Leonard said that will be a great help to the elderly and disabled residents of Huntsville and Walker County. Equal housing opportunities for people of all incomes has been made possible by the Fair Housing Act, first passed in 1968. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has made many amendments to the act over the years, but basically, it works to ensure that people can obtain affordable housing while still being treated fairly. Tori Brock can be reached at (936) 295-5407, ext. 3026, or by e-mail at trowe@itemonline.com |
|
Send mail to
Webmaster@huntsvillespromise.com with
questions or comments about this web site.
|