§ 67.302. Use of Local Housing Assistance Trust Fund.

The Orlando Local Housing Assistance Program shall use the funds held in trust to:

(a)

Provide the local matching funds in order to obtain federal housing grants for federal programs such as the HOME program;

(b)

To supplement Florida Housing Finance Agency programs within the City;

(c)

To provide emergency repairs by qualified service providers under weatherization programs;

(d)

Provide a locally designed strategy that creates or preserves affordable housing. Specifically, the strategy shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following:

(1)

The City shall work with and support developers who propose affordable housing projects which are consistent with the City's Growth Management Plan.

(2)

The City shall design programs and solicit the participation of private developers and financial institutions in the provision of affordable housing and leveraging of resources to maximum benefit.

(3)

The City shall continue to participate in affordable housing demonstration projects where the City will negotiate development standards and code requirements with developers interested in constructing a variety of affordable housing units.

(4)

The City shall encourage socio-economic diversity throughout Orlando by providing incentives for the construction of affordable housing, especially low and very-low income housing, in those areas that are deficient in affordable housing.

(5)

The City shall work with and support providers of day-care, health care, transportation and other services which are needed by the beneficiaries of affordable housing programs.

(6)

The City shall work with and support the affordable housing and special needs housing related activities of community based and not for profit organizations. Such support may include, but not necessarily be limited to, financial and/or technical assistance. SHIP funds, however, shall only be used for housing production purposes.

(7)

Reserved.

(8)

The City shall continue to work with the Orange County Housing Authority in the use of tax exempt financing to provide mortgages at below market interest rates to first time homebuyers.

(9)

The City shall seek to secure the availability of professional services to provide training to prepare persons for the responsibility of home ownership and to provide tenant counseling.

(10)

The City shall continue its rental rehabilitation program to provide low cost funding for property owners who provide housing for lower and very low income households. Units identified as being in need of emergency rehabilitation prior to continued occupancy shall receive the highest priority.

(11)

No residential demolition permit shall be issued sooner than thirty (30) days after application in order to allow the City to determine if the unit can be saved for affordable housing. The City shall continue to provide assistance through the Relocate-Rehabilitate-Resell Program whereby structures which otherwise would be demolished are relocated, rehabilitated, and resold as affordable housing.

(12)

The City shall continue its housing rehabilitation program to provide low cost funding for low and very low income homeowners with programs such as the Housing Rehab Leveraging program. The program allows homeowners to rehabilitate their properties using a second mortgage loan from a private lending institution and an interest subsidy from the City which will produce a very low effective interest rate for the borrower.

(13)

The City shall encourage homeownership in target neighborhoods through programs such as the Downpayment Assistance Program which provides downpayment assistance (closing costs) for first time low income home buyers.

(14)

The City shall continue to provide intensity bonuses in return for developer contributions of monies to the City's Affordable Housing Trust Fund. The City shall also provide such bonuses in exchange for the developer providing affordable housing on-site.

(15)

Reserved.

(16)

The City shall establish design incentives that provide flexible design options without compromising the quality of the resulting development.

(17)

The City will continue to support and participate in the Parramore Heritage Renovation Project (PHR) to rebuild Orlando's Callahan/Lake Dot/Holden/Parramore community through the empowerment of residents and business people. This initiative will work to build a partnership between the public and private sectors in order to revitalize the area. Affordable housing issues in the PHR area shall be addressed to reflect:

(i)

The intent of the City to make this a mixed income, economically diverse neighborhood with housing and employment opportunities for all.

(ii)

The desire to reach an overall mixture of housing types which is at least 50% single family and 50% multi-family within 20 years. This goal shall be accomplished in part through the gradual reduction in the percentage of multi-family dwelling units.

(iii)

New construction of single family homes for moderate and upper income households shall be encouraged.

(iv)

The desire to reach an overall mixture of housing tenure by actively encouraging owner-occupancy within the neighborhood.

(v)

Design standards and image improvement opportunities shall be integral parts of the Design Plan.

(vi)

Social service providers shall be encouraged to utilize satellite service locations outside the Parramore Heritage Renovation Area.

and,

(e)

The Orlando Local Housing Assistance Program shall include all other lawful objectives not previously listed if said objectives are adopted, from time to time, in the Orlando Local Housing Assistance Plan in the manner provided by state statute.

(Ord. of 2-22-1993, Doc. #26393; Ord. of 6-21-1993, Doc. #26697; Ord. of 6-20-1994, Doc. #27637)