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Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority      Lawrence Habitat for Humanity             Tenants to Homeowners

1600 Haskell Avenue                                                  840-B Connecticut                                      2518 Ridge Ct., Suite 209

Lawrence, KS  66044                                                  Lawrence, KS  66044                                  Lawrence, KS   66046

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Date:    July 22, 2005

To:       The Lawrence City Commission

From:   The Governing Bodies of the Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority, Lawrence Habitat for Humanity, and Tenants to Homeowners

Dear Commissioners,

As the governing bodies of the above organizations we are writing to urge you to approve the recommendations of the Housing Trust Fund board for these organizations as presented to you at your May 31, 2005 meeting. We offer the following comments for consideration.

The Housing Trust Fund policies established that the funds would be used to provide affordable housing opportunities for low and moderate income persons.  You are aware that housing affordability has long been an issue in this community. The recent CHAT report addresses this ongoing community issue and offers observations and recommendations on the various approaches that might be undertaken in response. Additional affordable rental housing, homeownership opportunities below the $130,000 range, and homeownership opportunities created through the development of a land trust, are cited in the report as ways to help address this problem. 

The projects proposed by our organizations that are contained in the Housing Trust Fund’s recommendations to you dovetail with the recommendations in the CHAT report.  Furthermore,

the projects proposed by the LDCHA and Tenants to Homeowners are permanent additions to the city’s affordable housing stock that will keep giving to the community by remaining affordable when they turnover. In addition, all three organizations have a proven track record which demonstrates the ability of each to complete their respective projects as planned.

With land prices exorbitant and public funding in decline there will likely not be another opportunity to comprehensively advance affordable housing opportunities in Lawrence through a single venture. The Housing Trust Fund board’s recommendations if approved will achieve this.

Thank you,

/s/  Willie Amison_______ /s/  Christopher J. Masoner /s/  Thomas Howe

Vice Chair, Lawrence-             President, Lawrence                             President, Tenants to

Douglas County Housing                       Habitant for Humanity               Homeowners

Authority