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Comprehensive Plan Housing Element to the boom, housing problems primarily affected the low and very low segments of the population. In the pre -2004 period, workforce housing was generally affordable to the workforce. In the 2004 to 2006 period, however, housing cost and household income diverged significantly. Consequently, there were more housing affordability problems in the moderate income category, and there was an emphasis on addressing workforce housing issues. With the recent decrease in housing prices, however, it appears that the housing cost increases in the 2004 to 2006 period were unsustainable and that housing has returned to levels more in line with the historic relationship between housing cost and household income. With the recent housing cost decreases, the housing issue focus has shifted back to very low and low income households, with less emphasis on moderate income households and workforce housing. This will allow resources to be concentrated on a smaller segment of the population, with the result being that a higher percentage of the smaller segment can be assisted. In terms of housing assistance strategies, there are generally two types. One type is monetary assistance, where a household can be provided grants or loans for purchasing housing or rehabilitating a substandard housing unit or where a household is provided an ongoing rental subsidy. Another type of housing strategy is where actions are taken to reduce the cost of housing. These actions can involve increasing densities, providing affordable housing density bonuses, or implementing inclusionary zoning requirements. Some of those strategies are discussed in the next section. Of the strategies being used in Indian River County, the most successful is the Habitat for Humanity model. This model combines housing cost reduction with monetary housing assistance. In addition, Habitat for Humanity provides homebuyer education and on-going mentoring. With Habitat for Humanity projects, housing unit costs are reduced by building small, no -frill houses on small lots. Costs are further reduced by the use of volunteer workers, sweat equity from Habitat clients, and donated materials. Even with those cost reducing initiatives, Habitat clients receive county SHIP loans for almost half of the cost of their housing unit. More importantly, Habitat for Humanity focuses its efforts on the population segments which are most housing disadvantaged. These are primarily very low and low income households. In the future, Indian River County should continue to support Habitat for Humanity and other non-profit housing organizations, continue to provide assistance to Habitat clients, and encourage other non-profit housing organizations to provide housing assistance in the manner that Habitat for Humanity does. 31 Community Development Department Indian River County