| Sarasota County is partnering
with residents, businesses and organizations to develop housing
policy that balances the economic, environmental and social
needs of the community. The goal is a housing market that meets
the needs of Sarasota County families and individuals across a
wide spectrum of age and income.
The
Sarasota Office of Housing
and Community Development (OHCD) is a cooperative effort of the
city of Sarasota and Sarasota County government and serves
residents with affordable housing needs throughout Sarasota
County, including the cities of Sarasota, Venice and North Port.
The Community Housing Trust
Sustaining affordable prices for some homes in a hot real estate
market is a community-wide challenge that will require
community-wide solutions. The Community Housing Trust of
Sarasota County (CHT), formally organized in the summer of 2005,
is one part of the solution. This private, not-for-profit
corporation is led by a diverse board of directors from
throughout the county. The organization's mission statement is
as follows:
"To create opportunities
and foster stewardship of permanently affordable housing for
low-income and moderate-income families and individuals."
Sarasota County 's CHT is modeled
after other successful community land trusts in the country,
three of which are in Florida. It is a proven vehicle for
working families to buy homes when the opportunity may not exist
otherwise.
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