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Lost in the maze of information about housing costs and mortgages in Sussex County are rental issues, which are just as critical, according to William Lecates, director of community development and housing for the county.
Nearly half of Sussex County’s 14,000 renters are paying more than $750 a month in rent.
About a third of those are earning below $20,000 a year and paying more than 30 percent of their income for housing, the recommended maximum percentage people are supposed to spend on housing.
Those numbers are skewed somewhat according to what part of the county a person lives in. Rents in the Cape Region typically average around $1,000 per month.
Lecates and Brandy Bennett, county housing coordinator, presented plans Tuesday, Sept. 30, to Sussex County Council for a rental program, based on the county’s moderately priced housing unit program.
“The program has been successful in other areas, and we think it can work here,” Lecates said.
Councilman George Cole asked how much additional work the program would require. “There would be no new staff,” Lecates said.
Bennett said county housing staff would screen the applicants and then work with development management companies to match applicants up with available units.
Lecates stressed the plans are a work in progress. An ordinance would be presented at a later date, and a public hearing would be required.
Highlights of the proposed program include:
• Applicants would have to be employed and live in Sussex County for at least one year. Employers could seek a waiver to this restriction on a case-by-case basis.
• Applicants would have to occupy the rental unit as their principal residence.
• Income limitations, based on the number of persons in a household, range from $11,600 to $58,300.
• Rents would be 25 percent of the total gross income of all who work in a household. For example, a low-income single mother might pay $242 a month, while a middle-income family with two workers might pay between $547 and $735 a month.
• All rental units would be within communities in designated developing areas or town centers with central water and sewer.
• Developers with 25 to 64 units would contribute 40 percent to the rental program inventory. Those with more than 65 units would contribute 15 percent to the program, with a minimum of 26 affordable rental units.
• County rental units must remain affordable and can never be leased as market-rate units during the 30-year life of the program, regardless of vacancy.
• Rental units would be integrated into the communities and not be substantially different in appearance from market-rate units.
• Developers could receive a 20 percent bonus density, not to exceed 12 units per acre. The project would receive expedited review through the county’s planning and zoning process.
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