Jefferson County affordable housing future uncertain amid protests

JEFFERSON COUNTY — The future of 500 affordable housing units is suddenly uncertain, as protesters against Obama-era reforms at the Department of Housing and Urban Development stall approval of the application.

Typically, the annual vote by county commissioners of the routine application for federal funding assistance would be a formality with little fanfare, BusinessDen reports. Critics of HUD find that some housing policies are a “war on the suburbs” that prioritizes federal authority over state and local zoning laws. The protesters, including the AFFH.net Opposition Group (the name refers to the “war on suburbs” HUD policy that scrutinized local housing impacts on protected classes), have seen success in other counties. The group successfully got Douglas County to opt out of HUD’s Community Development Block Grant last year.

It is unsure what will happen in Jefferson County. Of the three-member county commissioner board, one is expected to vote in favor of funding and one is expected to vote against. The third member has remained undecided. The vote is scheduled for Tuesday morning.

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