Affordable Housing Strategy
The City’s 2021 Work Plan included the development of an Affordable Housing Strategy to identify public policy tools and actions the City can use to encourage the development of housing for individuals earning up to 120% of Median Family Income (≈ $92,160 adjusted for household size). The plan includes steps to implement those strategies.
ECONorthwest provided technical assistance on the project and City Council formed an advisory community task force to provide input on strategies to include.
The task force met five times between September 2021 and March 2022 and served as a sounding board for identifying and evaluating potential strategies for Council consideration. Task force meetings were held via Zoom webinar. Meeting agendas and and materials are provided below.
The City Council adopted by resolution the Affordable Housing Strategy on May 9, 2022.
WHAT IS AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRODUCTION STRATEGY?
An Affordable Housing Production Strategy is a plan that identifies public policy tools and actions the City can use to encourage the production of more affordable housing. The plan includes steps to carry out those strategies.
Currently, many community members are struggling to afford housing. Renters or owners are cost-burdened when the household spends more that 30% of household incomes on housing costs. Generally, private housing developers are not producing housing affordable to those earning up to 120% MFI. An Affordable Housing Production Strategy will offer ways to encourage production of a broader range of housing types.
PROJECT GOALS
The following outlines City Council’s adopted project goals.
PROJECT TIMELINE
COMMUNITY ADVISORY TASK FORCE
- The City Council appointed 12 people from a pool of 34 applicants to serve on the Affordable Housing Production Strategy Advisory Community Task Force: Paula Chakowski, Nate DeVol, Ubaldo Hernandez, Kate Hoffman, Rudy Kellner, Kenny LaPoint, Audra Moffett, Jennifer Pauletto, Karen Porter, Sarah Sherrell, Stuart Watson, and Tiffany Woodside. Councilor Megan Saunders serves as a Council liaison to the task force.
- Task Force members represent many perspectives on housing including residents of income-restricted rental housing, residents of market-rate rental and ownership housing, employers with workforces who are impacted by local housing opportunities, housing providers, service providers that serve residents of affordable and area housing, and housing advocates.
- Task Force Charter
- Meeting #1 Materials
- Meeting #2 Materials
- Meeting #3 Materials
- Meeting #4 Materials
- Meeting #5 Materials