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DYW Reingold., County Attomey William K_ DeBraal, Deputy County Attorney Kate Pingolt Cotner, Assistant County Attorney 13E7 Office of Attomey's Matters 02/10/2015 INDIAN RIVER COUNTY MEMORANDUM TO: Board of County Commissioners THROUGH: Robin Miller, Housing Program Manager(h•-, FROM: William K. DeBraal, Deputy County Attorney tf— i DATE: February 4, 2015 ATTORNEY" SUBJECT: Approval of Resolutions Establishing Fair Market Rental Rates and Utility Rates for Housing Choice Voucher Program Indian River County Code provides for the Deputy County Attorney to be the Fair Housing Coordinator for the County. Among the County's housing programs is the Housing Choice Voucher Program, formerly known as Section 8 Housing. Federal regulations require the Board to approve by resolution the Fair Market Rental Rates and Utility rates on an annual basis. Previous interpretations of the regulations require a report be approved by the Board every five years but recent changes now suggest an annual rental and utility rate must be approved by the Board. The Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCV) is a federally funded program administered by the County Housing and Rental Assistance Department. While federal regulations govem the program, local demographics can influence the program's administration and its guidelines. The County's Comprehensive Plan, Chapter 7, sets forth the County Housing Element and includes demographics on the county's elderly population. According to the Plan, nationwide, retirees make up 27% of a community's population, while Indian River County's retiree population averages 41 %. While some of our County's retirees are affluent and need no assistance, a larger number of retirees meet the definition of low and very low income residents and thus qualify for some form of housing assistance. Because our County has a larger than average elderly, low income population, federal guidelines allow the County Housing Department to cater to the community need of supplying housing assistance to low income elderly residents. Thus, the County's Housing Choice Voucher Program provides federal housing assistance to our low income elderly residents. it should be pointed out that the Voucher Program also assists veterans, those in the witness protection program and other low income qualifiers. j j� Indwi Rim Ca Ac d Date V '_ I Admin. C.� 5_—rte Legal 2_ �-- M` IN� - AGENDA :7 Budget 2 /5 Dept. - COUNTY ATTORNEY, Risk Mgr. 281