CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Approve the eight priority housing program recommendations of the Housing Advisory Commission and direct staff to incorporate them into department work plans as appropriate
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DEPARTMENT: City Clerk's Office
SUBMITTED BY: Ruth Broder, Community Grants Coordinator
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
In July 2020, the Housing Advisory Commission completed its review and identified recommended action steps for review by the City Council.
BACKGROUND:
The Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 requires all communities receiving Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to certify that they will affirmatively further fair housing. To meet this obligation, municipalities must periodically conduct an Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AI) study. Naperville's most recent AI was completed and submitted to the City Council in May 2017.
The AI report, prepared by a consultant with extensive background in fair housing, identified four major impediments to fair housing choice, including an inadequate supply of affordable housing. The report stated that,
"A lack of affordable housing, particularly housing that is accessible, is the biggest impediment to fair housing choice in the City."
The AI further stated that,
"High housing costs are not a direct form of housing discrimination, but a lack of affordable housing does constrain housing choice. Residents may be limited to a smaller selection of communities or neighborhoods because of a lack of affordable housing in other areas. When the cost of quality housing units is high, low-income and marginalized segments of the population are disproportionately more likely to become cost-burdened."
In response to these findings, the AI Fair Housing Action Plan includes Action Item 3A which states:
"Prepare an Affordable Housing Plan to determine the degree to which affordable housing demand...
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