2010-2014 Consolidated Plan - City of Champaign

Strategies:a) Provide additional education to housing developers, architects, builders, Citygovernments, and the general public about the importance and practicality of adoptinguniversal design standards to meet the growing need for more affordable, accessible homebuilding. Universal design features no-step entries, single-story floor plans, wider entry andhallways, reachable cabinetry and appliances, user-friendly doorknobs and handles, andaccommodations for grab bars and accessible bathrooms. The concept is to allow persons to livecomfortably throughout all stages of life and age in place without moving to a more accessible unit.Activities:1) Universal Design Guide: Create an inventory of accessible home designs using universal designprinciples and make the designs available to developers, architects and builders. Designs shouldvary to accommodate smaller lot sizes and character of existing neighborhoods, as well as thenewer subdivisions being constructed on the edges of the City.b) Expand affordable rental housing options for the physically disabled. Advocates for thedisabled population estimate that less than 5% of the housing stock is accessible. This supply isinsufficient for the existing disabled population and will prove to become increasingly inadequate as thepopulation continues to age.Activities:1) Inventory of Accessible Rental Units: Create an inventory of accessible rental housing options forthe disabled population and create a system for linking accessible units to persons that need them.2) Subsidized Accessible Housing: Identify additional Section 8 vouchers or public housing options forextremely low and low income disabled population.3) Developer Incentives: Provide tax incentives or fee waivers for developers to construct accessibleunits in multi-family housing developments, beyond what is required by the Americans withDisabilities Act.4) Home Accessibility Retrofit Program: 8-10 per year (40-50 for the 5-year period). Provide rehabassistance for property owners to make existing affordable units accessible for persons withdisabilities. This program is currently offered by the City and is available to both owner-occupantsand renters. (FY 10/11 Budget: $60,000 CDBG)c) Preserve and expand homeownership opportunities for persons with disabilities. Personswith disabilities face two major difficulties in pursuing homeownership. The first is affordability, sincemany disabled persons live on fixed incomes that are well below the area median. Second, if they areable to afford to purchase, locating a unit that suits their individual needs is often impossible.Activities:1) Inventory of Accessible Owner Units: As noted in the strategy above, the creation of an inventoryof accessible home purchase options for the disabled population would be very beneficial to thosewishing to purchase a home. This task could be accomplished by the Association of Realtorsworking in conjunction with an advocacy group such as PACE.2) Home Accessibility Retrofit Program: Provide financial and technical assistance to retrofit owneroccupiedunits for homebuyer with a disability and expand marketing efforts so that moreindividuals are aware of existing programs. (FY 10/11 Budget: $60,000 CDBG)Strategic Plan: Affordable Housing 81