Sussex County’s affordable housing need shifting to rental

GEORGETOWN — Times have changed and so might Sussex County’s focus on affordable housing.

“The need in the county has shifted from home ownership to rental,” says Sussex County’s Housing Coordinator & Fair Housing Compliance Officer Brandy Nauman. “So we kind of need to update this program so that it properly reflects the current market conditions.”

In a presentation to county council July 26, Ms. Nauman offered proposed changes to the current Sussex County Rental Program ordinance.

Those changes include:

• Reducing required affordable unit set-aside from 15 percent/40 percent to a flat rate of 12.5 percent of total units;
• Setting fixed rental rates for each bedroom-size based on 50 percent of the average median income;
• It must serve households making 80 percent AMI or below.

Ms. Nauman explained by setting fixed rental rates “developers and tenants know exactly what the price of each unit. So a one bedroom has a fixed rate; two bedrooms has a fixed rate

More