A-CC affordable housing public comment period ends

Today marks the end of a public comment period on the Athens-Clarke County government’s affordable housing strategy, with feedback being offered on the Athens-Clarke County government website. Athens-Clarke County Commissioners were scheduled to vote on the plan at their next meeting next Tuesday night. A final decision has instead been pushed to October.

From the Athens-Clarke Co government website…

UPDATE: The Mayor and Commission have moved discussion of this strategy from the August / September meeting cycle to the September / October meeting cycle.

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The Athens-Clarke County Unified Government, in collaboration with HR&A Advisors, is seeking public comment through August 30, 2023 on the recommended strategies to help address Athens residents’ increasing housing affordability challenges.

The Affordable Housing Investment Strategy provides a roadmap for strategic investments and policy changes to improve the availability of quality affordable rental housing and homeownership opportunities across Athens-Clarke County.

The final draft of the plan, a virtual presentation, and an online survey are available at www.accgov.com/arpa.

Residents will have the opportunity to provide feedback through three in-person drop-in community forums on Wed., Aug. 9 from 2:00 - 4:00 PM at the ACC Extension Office (275 Cleveland Road); Sat., Aug. 12 from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM at the Triangle Plaza Resource Center (585 Vine St., Suite 1); and Wed., Aug. 23 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM at the ACC Library (2025 Baxter Street). The online survey will be available through Aug. 30.

“We know that affordable housing is a tremendous challenge for many in our community,” says Alejandra Calva, ACCGov Housing and Community Development Community Impact Administrator. “As this strategic plan is designed to provide some solutions to this problem, it is important that we hear feedback from residents about the draft plan as we finalize it.”

After this public comment period, the plan is tentatively scheduled for discussion by the Mayor & Commission at their Agenda Setting Session on September 19, with a vote tentatively expected at their October 3 Regular Session. Additional public comment opportunities will be available prior to and during those meetings as for all agenda items under consideration by the Mayor and Commission.

Throughout this process, ACCGov’s Housing and Community Development Department has conducted surveys and hosted community forums to gather feedback to help ensure community needs and priorities are reflected in the final Affordable Housing Investment Strategy.

The draft Affordable Housing Investment Strategy was developed with input from community forums, focus groups, businesses, service providers, and residents.

On May 1, 2022, the Mayor & Commission authorized the allocation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for specific uses and designated program areas including Youth Development and Violence Prevention, Affordable Housing, Homelessness, Business Development and Workforce Support, and Behavioral Health.

The initial advisory group for Affordable Housing is made up of members from the existing Georgia Initiative for Community Housing (GICH) Committee. The group is charged with creating a community‐wide five-year strategic plan to address affordable housing in Athens-Clarke County.

A separate process related to housing resources will begin on September 5 to seek input on a homelessness strategic plan. Public input on that process ends on September 27, 2023.

For more information on both plans, visit www.accgov.com/arpa or contact the Housing and Community Development Department at 706-613-3155 or arpa@accgov.com.

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