Show Community development hearings announced Vernal City Council has set Wednesday April 2 at pm p.m. in the city office as the time for fora a general public meeting to obtain citizen participation in inthe inthe inthe the City's Community Development Block Grant application In addition City Manager Glade I. I Nelson will meet others at the Golden Age Center Monday April 7 at 12 noon to discuss the application tion The city's for Cor federal funds which received a agreen agreen agreen green light to proceed from Crom the Denver Regional Office of the Department of oC Housing and Urban Development included programs to expand and improve the city's water and sewer systems systems' as as' as well welI as assistance for a housing project for the elderly The final application which will total must allocate funds among the three projects as well welI as any new projects which might be deemed necessary at this time from citizen suggestions TilE THE CITY urges residents to tobe tobe tobe be aware of oC the Community Development program and to provide assistance in formulating the final Cinal application This is the only way the city can be assured that community development programs will be responsive to local needs commented Manager Nelson In addition questions concerning the program and comments regarding it will be welcomed at the city office Community Development funds can be used to supplement Section 8 Title II of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 in providing assistance in new construction of oC a housing project for Cor the Section Sections 8 provides an opportunity to establish a rental program to td assist elderly persons in obtaining decent safe and sanitary housing at a price they can afford Elderly residents of Section 8 housing would pay no more than 25 percent of their income as rent with the federal government paying the balance of a contract rent For example a senior citizen living on social security might have a total income of oC only per month His one-fourth one for rent would be rather than the present 80 to most of them are paying Because most senior citizens are on fixed incomes they are very affected in a tight housing market such as is present in Vernal today stated Mr Nelson It is not unusual for many elderly persons to pay 50 percent or more of their limited income for housing placing an undue burden on them in obtaining a suitable living environment Housing costs in the Vernal area have risen faster Caster than income for the elderly creating hardships for most of them Section 8 housing differs considerably from previous housing programs primarily because the project would be privately owned operated and maintained In this way the property and development will remain on the tax rolls rolIs and direct governmental involvement will be minimized City officials are desirous of knowing what interests there might be among city residents in ina a housing project for the elderly under this program |