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EON <br />MEMORANDUM <br />TO: . Board of County Commissioners <br />FROM: William K. DeBraal, Deputy County Attorney <br />DATE: September 17, 2020 <br />SUBJECT: Approval of Resolution Establishing Fair Market Rental Rates <br />for Housing Choice Voucher Program <br />Indian River County Code provides for the Deputy County Attorney to be the Fair Housing <br />Coordinator for the County. Among the County's housing programs is the Housing Choice <br />Voucher Program, formerly known as Section 8 Housing. Federal regulations require the <br />Board to approve by resolution a report of Fair Market Rental Rates on an annual basis. <br />The Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCV) is a federally funded program administered <br />by the County's Rental Assistance Program. While federal regulations govern the program, <br />local demographics can influence the program's administration. Indian River County's <br />elderly/retiree population averages 41 % compared with a nationwide average of 27% of a <br />community's population. Because our County has a. larger than average elderly, low income <br />population, federal guidelines allow the Rental Assistance Program to cater to the <br />community need of supplying housing assistance to low income elderly residents. It should <br />be pointed out that the Voucher Program also assists veterans and other low income <br />qualifiers. <br />The Housing Choice Voucher Program is designed to benefit all participants. Private <br />providers that own multi or single family homes apply to County Rental Assistance for <br />participation. The units are inspected and approved for the Voucher program. Upon <br />approval, private owners qualify for tax incentives that make participation in the program <br />profitable. It should be pointed out that the County owns no Voucher program housing. <br />102 <br />