(a) Senior citizens affordable housing complex monthly rental rates, inclusive of maintenance fees, are established at the current rates of six hundred twenty ($620.00) dollars per month for one-bedroom units and seven hundred ($700.00) dollars per month for two-bedroom units. As leases renew during 2023, they will be subject to a ten ($10.00) dollar per month increase. These rental rates will apply to all renters currently under lease at the time of this resolution. From 2024 forward, lease renewals will be subject to annual cost of living increases based on the Consumers Price Index, capped at a maximum of twenty ($20.00) dollars per month. Note that sewer and water utilities and trash collection, but no other utilities, are included in these rental rates.
(b) Future new renters, including those currently on the waiting list, will have initial rent established at seven hundred twenty ($720.00) dollars per month for one-bedroom units and eight hundred ($800.00) dollars per month for a two-bedroom unit, both prices being applied to applicants who become renters after the date of this chapter. These rental rates will be subject to annual cost of living increases beginning with renewals in 2024 based on the Consumers Price Index. Note that sewer and water utilities and trash collection, but no other utilities, are included in these rental rates.
(c) The senior citizens housing complex carport monthly rental fee is established at twenty ($20.00) dollars per carport. This will be subject to annual cost of living increases.
(d) Occupancy of the senior citizens housing complex is limited to the following persons:
(1) All persons at the time of intended occupancy must have attained the age of sixty- two (62) years.
(2) Occupancy will be prioritized based on the following three (3) tiers in declining order, with qualified applicants within a tier prioritized on a first come, first served basis. Tier 1 are those persons who have been a resident of the Township for at least a period of one (1) year prior to the time of their application. Tier 2 are those persons with less than one (1) year occupancy or who are not residents at all but are former residents who moved from the Township within three (3) years from the date of application; such persons must have been a previous resident of the Township for a continuous period of ten (10) years or more prior to moving from the Township. Tier 3 is all other applicants.
(3) In order to qualify as a new applicant for a single bedroom unit, the applicant must have minimum monthly household income of 40% of the most recently published Average Median Income for the Detroit/Warren/Livonia geographic area. For a two-bedroom unit, that percentage must be 45%. Persons may qualify by using a co-signor (resident or nonresident) that meets the income requirements to cosign as primarily responsible for rent payment.
(4) A maximum household income per unit is established at 80% of Area Median Income for the Detroit/Warren/Livonia Fair Market Rent geographic area.
(e) Household income is defined to mean the sum of federal adjusted gross income as defined by the Internal Revenue Code plus all items as set forth on the Michigan Homestead exemption form which are received in a calendar year. All applicants shall furnish the same information as is set forth on the Michigan Homestead exemption form for purposes of qualification in a calendar year.
(f) All leases between the Township and occupants of the senior citizens housing complex shall be for a minimum term of one (1) year. Renewals may be allowed on a month-to-month basis after the initial year at a premium rate as determined from time to time.
(g) No lease between the Township and an occupant of the senior citizens housing complex shall be transferred or assigned by the occupant and no unit or any portion of a unit may be sublet by the occupant.
(h) All persons applying for occupancy in the senior citizens housing complex shall produce evidence satisfactory to the Board of Trustees of the Township or its designee that they meet standards and requirements set forth in this chapter.
(i) The Township Supervisor may establish guidelines, applications, standard form unit leases, rules, regulations and procedures in relation to the senior citizens housing complex to implement the provisions of this chapter subject to approval by the Board of Trustees of the Township of Clinton.
(j) Applicants for occupancy shall furnish proof of residency including any of the following or such additional information as required by the Township Board's designees:
(1) Driver's license;
(2) Passport;
(3) State ID;
(4) Voter's registration records;
(5) Paid tax receipts;
(6) Tax returns; or
(7) Prior utility bills.
(k) (1) The Board of Trustees of the Township shall charge the "Heritage Estates" committee with reviewing variance requests by proposed applicants in the following areas:
A. Residency;
B. Income; and
C. Age.
(2) Extenuating circumstances only shall be considered and a specific finding of undue hardship and compliance with the spirit of the rules must be met. By way of illustrative example only, a possible appropriate variance request would be an applicant with substantial liquid assets who is close to meeting minimum income guidelines.
(l) Applications for rental units shall be received, processed, and selections made using the following formats:
(1) Applications shall first be received and processed for completeness and shall be accompanied by a twenty-five ($25.00) dollar non-refundable application fee;
(2) A non-refundable administrative "Move-In" fee equal to one hundred seventy-five ($175.00) dollars for one-bedroom or two hundred ($200.00) dollars for a two-bedroom unit shall be paid by the tenant upon acceptance of tenancy,
(3) A security deposit equal to three hundred five ($305.00) dollars for a one-bedroom and three hundred eighty-five ($385.00) dollars for a two-bedroom unit must be received upon acceptance of tenancy.
(4) Applicants selected must be ready to proceed forthwith, and if not, additional names shall be selected from the waiting list.
(m) A carport shall be offered for each applicant if available at the time of occupancy. Carports shall be limited to one (1) per unit unless an insufficient demand for carports exists. The exact location of carports shall be assigned by the Township's designee.
(Res. Unno. Passed 2-13-23.)