Agenda - Economic Development Authority - 12/11/2014

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lour 1111.1siion: To work together to reiposibty grow our community, and to provide quality, coat -effective, and efficient government ierrlcas. Economic Development Authority (EDA) 4. 5. Meeting Date: 12/11/2014 By: Tim Gladhill, Community Development Title: Consider Payment of Building Permit Charges for Single -Family Home; Case of Homes for Our Troops Purpose/Background: The purpose of this case is to consider utilization of City funds to finance a Building Permit in an amount not to exceed $4,000. Under the City's Housing Assistance Policy, assistance for disabled veterans is not explicitly listed as a high priority funding request, although it would appear to touch on other individual components of the Housing Assistance Policy. However, it is anticipated that this home will have an affordability component to it, as outlined below. Affordable housing is a high priority of the Housing Assistance Policy. Finally, it would seem reasonable that the need to construct a dwelling that is accessible to an individual with a disability would set this request apart from a traditional, market -rate single-family home. From the Homes for Our Troops website: Homes for Our Troops (HFOT) is a privately funded 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization building specially adapted, mortgage free homes nationwide for the most severely injured Veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. Most of these Veterans are multiple amputees, paraplegic, quadriplegic or suffered severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). These homes restore some of the freedom and independence our Veterans sacrificed defending ours, and enable them to focus on their family, recovery, and rebuilding their lives. Since its inception in 2004, over 90 percent of donations to Homes for Our Troops has gone to directly support Veterans. HFOT builds homes as a departure point for these Veterans to rebuild their lives, and once again become highly productive members of society. Despite their life -altering injuries, many of our Veterans have embarked on new careers, completed their college degrees, or started families. Empowered by the freedom a mortgage free and specially adapted home brings, these Veterans can now focus on their recovery and returning to their life's work of serving others. Many have embraced their roles as motivational speakers, sharing their messages of persevering through tragedy with groups and classrooms around the country; others take to a national platform to promote awareness of veteran suicide, homelessness and PTSD. Their incredible stories — far too numerous to include on one page — are the driving force for the work we do here at HFOT. We encourage you to read more about their amazim, stories in this website. As of November 10, 2014, HFOT has built 169 specially adapted homes nationwide. There are currently 50 Veterans on our active project list. Our goal is to build a home for every Veteran who qualifies for one of our specially adapted homes. Observations/Alternatives: