Travis County Commissioners Court
August 11, 2009,
Item 23
23.
consider and take appropriate action on the sub-recipient agreement with Austin habitat for humanity, inc.
to provide $445,518 of community development block grant funds for the acquisition of land for affordable housing development in the unincorporated areas of the county.
>> sherri flemming, executive manager for Travis County health and human services and veterans service.
this is a project that we have been working on for several years, actually.
the Commissioners court in the initial plan year of our cdbg funding authorized the -- the -- authorized us to work with habitat for humanity to acquire land for the construction of affordable housing.
and so -- so over these past several years we have been learning how to do this project and drafting the appropriate legal documents to support the h.u.d.
regulations for projects of this nature and scope.
and so -- so we are very pleased today that -- that this document is presented to you for your approval because it does initiate a process that will result in 41 --
>> yeah.
>> 41 affordable homes in -- in -- in the unincorporated area of Travis County.
this however is the first phase of that to provide funding for habitat to secure land.
there is a second phase of this project, which would provide for the infrastructure that would make the homes even more affordable because the -- the -- the infrastructure costs of building the homes can also affect that final sales price.
so that is -- that is the reader's digest version of this action.
>> could you tell me -- that's great.
the first -- the first thing is great and the -- I'm -- some very happy folks to -- to dealing with habitat
>> [indiscernible] we're -- they're really happy to see us doing that on the first go around.
however, I would like to, if you possibly can, 41 single family -- these are single family homes, can you tell me what a person must do to qualify to be a part of -- of this great program.
-- to become owners of one of those homes after land acquisition of course and construction of the home by habitat for humanities, what's necessarily required for those folks?
maybe just lay out what those qualifications are?
>> I cannot lay out the specifics of those qualifications.
i can tell you that habitat has an extensive eligibility process.
i know that it does involve some sweat equity on the$ part of those persons who ultimately qualify for the homes.
not only in doing some work on their homes but even working on the homes of others.
i know that -- that habitat targets those folks in our community who would be considered low to moderate income and that -- that many of those families will be, you know, this will be a first home for them.
in our community.
so -- so I would also add that the -- that the families that are assisted by this program without this program, without the investment of the Commissioners court, in acquiring the land and in doing the infrastructure, might not be able to afford a home such as this.
>> well, if you -- since the public may be interested in this program, is there maybe a telephone number maybe through you to get to those habitat for humanities folks to see exactly what those requirements are?
i'm trying to get a connectivity --
>> what we can do is on our --
>> do that.
>> on our cdbg website, we can connect to habitat.
we can put a link to habitat which will take you to their website and their contact information so that -- because they have -- they have a tremendous program and I would want people to be able to talk with them directly about the specifics of what's required to qualify.
>> there's also --
>> I guess the folks that -- my concern about the -- about the computer age is that there are a lot of folks that do not have -- have computers.
not computer literate but yet qualify for services.
i don't want to leave anybody out because they don't have technology to access information.
so I'm trying to get down to something that's manually accessible along with of course the technical phase that you -- which is appropriate --
>>
>> [multiple voices]
>> there's a number, a telephone number.
>> I need a telephone number.
>> yeah.
>> 472-8788.
>> would you repeat that?
>> where is the number.
>> I pulled it up on the computer
>> [laughter]
>> well, see how the computer works, giving you a telephone number.
>> 472-8788 is the telephone number for Austin habitat for humanity.
a wonderful organization.
>> there's also a marketing plan that habitat will need to provide to us and that will have -- that we'll have to review.
in terms of looking at that marketing plan, we will make sure that there are all forms of accessibility of information.
and we will also be providing them different places for outreach based on our knowledge of the unincorporated areas.
of course you don't have to live in the unincorporated areas to purchase one of these homes, but certainly I feel like over the last three years we have developed knowledge about where people are who might want to be moving into a move affordable housing system.
and we'll make sure that the job action gets taken care of.
>> okay.
>> Commissioners, we -- we would be teach respond to any of our -- to respond to any of our constituents, call hss, 854-4100, indicate that they would like information on how to contact habitat for humanities, we can provide that information as well.
this particular project is still several years out, even though it's taken us several years to get to this place, but we hope by 2011, I believe, is when we will actually see the first home completed.
so -- so now would be the time actually to get into the queue in terms of the eligibility process.
>> that's great.
thank for you that telephone number.
>> sure.
it's just -- it's a wonderful organization and those who are not in need of -- of housing assistance have -- have construction materials and whatnot that they want to donate to habitat for humanities, also it's a wonderful conduit the restore in -- in providing construction materials to folks who are in need of materials to refurbish their homes.
>> mr.
reeferseed.
>> yes, I would like to express my love and appreciation to former president jimmy carter, the greatest living former president, in my humble opinion.
but -- I'm really proud of this organizational effort and everything.
what I was surprised about, the reason I'm asking is -- is I was -- I was unaware that the -- that the county -- the money provided by citizens who donate to habitat for humanity doesn't that -- doesn't that cover what you are asking the county to cover.
isn't that part of the whole deal or -- or -- and -- is that normal that -- that they -- that they rely on the counties or the -- or the areas to give them the money to do their work.
we're not actually paying for the construction of the homes.
we're paying just for the land for the infrastructure.
>> right.
>> which tend to be some of the more expensive parts of actually building the home.
the habitat will continue to do fundraising, donations, receive costs of the actual construction of the homes, but it is very normal for entitlement communities, which is a cdbg is an entitlement from the -- from the government, it is very normal and a frequent activity of -- of entitlements across the nation.
to provide support to habitat in this way or different affordable non-developers.
not always -- it.
>> it doesn't always happen that way.
>> curious.
>> important to know, too, this is not county money.
this is federal money funneled through the county.
h.u.d.
asked specific guidelines, we have problems and categories of assistance.
this falls within one of them.
>> oh, great.
>> another thing that might be worth noting is -- is if habitat were to make a profit on the sale of these homes, that the county would share in that profit and be able to reprogram that money either in -- either in a program of this nature or another program of -- of its choosing.
>> good.
>> approval of the agreement.
>> discussion?
all in favor?
that passes by unanimous vote.
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Last Modified:
Friday, August 7, 2009 3:07 PM
