INC NEWS - 1 cent for housing sign-on letter; Monday public hearing; Tax relief for elderly or disabled homeowners

[Lorisa Seibel]

Neighborhood leaders:
Please reply if you or your neighborhood want to sign the letter of support 
for 1 Cent for Housing (below).  The letter will go to the City Council at 
the budget hearing on Monday, June 4, 7:00pm, City Hall.  (The hearing is 
open for any resident to attend or speak.)  The letter will also come back 
to the June INC meeting for a vote.

Finally, if you know elderly (65 years) or disabled homeowners who are low 
income (under around $20,000), they may qualify for 50% reduction in 
property taxes next year.  The applications are available in January 2008 
from the Tax Office, 560-0300.

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Mayor Bill Bell & Members of the Durham City Council:

We, the undersigned individuals and/or organizations, are proud to support
the Durham Affordable Housing Coalition's proposed "One Cent for Housing"
proposal which would raise much needed funds to address housing needs in
City target revitalization neighborhoods, particularly those surrounding the
downtown area. By adding 1 cent to the City's property tax rate, the City
would raise approximately $1.5 Million annually and help at least 95
low-income households in the first year.

We agree that the City needs to invest more local dollars to help revitalize
our central city neighborhoods;

We agree that helping low- and moderate-income families secure quality,
affordable rental and homeownership housing will stabilize and improve
neighborhoods;

We agree that helping low-income elderly and disabled homeowners to maintain
their homes should be a priority; and

We agree that homeless persons and others with a disabling condition deserve
safe, decent and affordable rental housing.

For these reasons and others, we support the Coalition's proposal and ask
the Durham City Council to adopt it.
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PROPOSAL:
$200,000 to assist at least 40 Elderly/Disabled Homeowners with minor home 
repairs.
$300,000 to assist 15 First Time Home Buyers with second mortgages.
$500,000 to purchase 20 vacant properties in target areas for affordable 
Rental or Homeownership.
$500,000 to help develop 20 Supportive Housing apartments for persons who 
were homeless.
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Lorisa Seibel, Community Organizer
Durham Affordable Housing Coalition
331 W. Main St., #408, Durham, NC 27701
(919) 683-1185 ext. 25, (fax) 688-0082
Lorisa at dahc.org
www.dahc.org