AN ACT CONCERNING THE LONG-RANGE STATE HOUSING PLAN.

This bill modifies the state's long-range housing plan, which by law the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) must prepare with the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) every five years and submit to the General Assembly. It does so by eliminating certain reporting criteria and instead requiring the plan to include the provisions of the federal housing agency plan (i. e. , the “Consolidated Plan for Housing and Community Development”). This federal plan, which DECD must submit to the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) at least once every five years, contains the same reporting requirements as those the bill eliminates from the state plan.

1. set specific measurable goals for meeting identified housing needs;

2. outline strategies for meeting those goals; and

3. identify state, federal, and private sector resources for affordable housing programs.

The bill eliminates these requirements and instead requires DECD to include provisions of the report it prepares for HUD, (i. e. , the Consolidated Plan for Housing and Community Development).

1. assess the housing needs of households with incomes less than 100% of the average area median income (AMI), adjusted for family size, analyzed separately for households with incomes (a) less than 25% of AMI; (b) more than 25%, but not more than 50% of AMI; (c) more than 50%, but not more than 80% of AMI; and (d) more than 80%, but not more than 100% of AMI;

2. analyze the households served by the housing construction, substantial rehabilitation, purchase and rental assistance programs, including the number of households served by each program, the total amount of financial assistance provided to such households, and the race of households served under such programs; and

3. provide information on affirmative fair housing marketing activities and programs and an analysis of occupancy results of affirmative fair housing marketing plans, including data on the racial composition of the occupants and people on the waiting list of each housing project assisted under any housing program established by state law or supervised by the CHFA commissioner.

Yea

Nay

(03/10/2009)