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A Resolution of the County of Allegheny, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, requesting that the Allegheny County Housing Authority place a one-year moratorium from the date of the passage of this resolution on approving new properties for the Housing Choice Voucher Program in the communities of Carnegie, Etna, McKees Rocks, Millvale, Sharpsburg, and Tarentum to provide these flooded areas the opportunity to recover from the September 2004 flooding and revitalize their housing stock.
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WHEREAS, on September 17 and 18, 2004, the storms and rains of Hurricane Ivan caused widespread flooding in Allegheny County that resulted in the destruction of housing and businesses throughout the County, particularly those communities of Carnegie, Etna, McKees Rocks, Millvale, Sharpsburg, and Tarentum; and
WHEREAS, since that time, property owners have struggled to recover through the utilization of grants and loans provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as well as supplemental programs offered by numerous social service agencies and foundations in the region; and
WHEREAS, even with the aid provided to these property owners, some residents have found it difficult to return to their homes and businesses and have, instead, placed their properties up for sale at extremely low prices due to the economically depressing conditions caused from the flooding; and
WHEREAS, many of these properties, particularly those in Carnegie, Etna, McKees Rocks, Millvale, Sharpsburg, and Tarentum, are being bought up by landlords whose sole intent is to turn the properties into housing for the Housing Choice Voucher Program, formerly known as Section 8; and
WHEREAS, the Housing Choice Voucher Program assists low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market; landlords have the responsibility to provide a dwelling that is up to quality standards and tenants are required to maintain units in good condition, the effect of the program is not always as positive causing a drop in property values and conditions in the specific community; and
WHEREAS, many local officials in these flood ravaged municipalities are concerned that all renovation, remodeling, and repair of properties in their be allowed to be completed before the Housing Choice Voucher Program be implemented in their community; and
WHEREAS, Allegheny County has a responsibility to assist its communities by providing opportunity for them to recover from disasters such as the Hurricane Ivan flooding, including doing everything within its power to provide adequate time for those communities to recover and revitalize those properties that were damaged in the flooding;
The Council of the County of Allegheny hereby resolves as follows:
SECTION 1.
Allegheny County formally requests that the Allegheny County Housing Authority place a one-year moratorium on approving new properties for the Housing Choice Voucher Program in the communities of Carnegie, Etna, McKees Rocks, Millvale, Sharpsburg, and Tarentum to provide these flooded areas the opportunity to recover from the September 2004 flooding and revitalize their housing stock.
SECTION 2. If any provision of this Resolution shall be determined to be unlawful, invalid, void or unenforceable, then that provision shall be considered severable from the remaining provisions of this Resolution which shall be in full force and effect.
SECTION 3. Any Resolution or Ordinance or part thereof conflicting with the provisions of this Resolution is hereby repealed so far as the same affects this Resolution.