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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 03 Developing an Affordable Housing Strategy AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Meeting Date: 6/12/2017 Meeting Type: Work Session Staff Contact/Dept.: Sandy Belson, DPW Staff Phone No: 541-736-7135 Estimated Time: 20 minutes S P R I N G F I E L D C I T Y C O U N C I L Council Goals: Promote and Enhance our Hometown Feel while Focusing on Livability and Environmental Quality ITEM TITLE: DEVELOPING AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING STRATEGY ACTION REQUESTED: Review and comment on the synopsis of how the City is addressing the need for affordable housing in the community. ISSUE STATEMENT: In October 2016, the City Council started working with staff to articulate the city’s housing values, review city’s housing policies, and to research current needs. The City identified key findings based on the data analysis and interviews with people involved in the provision of housing. Based on this understanding of the current housing situation, over the course of several work sessions, the Council has been developing an affordable housing strategy to address the low supply of housing and to foster housing choice and affordability in the short and long term. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Council Briefing Memo DISCUSSION/ FINANCIAL IMPACT: The Council Briefing Memo outlines the efforts that the City has in place and others that the Council is considering to increase the supply of housing and foster housing choice and affordability. It encapsulates staff’s understanding of what Council has discussed during the various work sessions as a check-in before summer recess to ensure that staff has clear direction for our work in the coming months. M E M O R A N D U M City of Springfield Date: 6/12/2017 To: Gino Grimaldi COUNCIL From: Anette Spickard Sandy Belson BRIEFING Subject: Developing an Affordable Housing Strategy MEMORANDUM ISSUE: In October 2016, the City Council started working with staff to articulate the city’s housing values, review city’s housing policies, and to research current needs. The City identified key findings based on the data analysis and interviews with people involved in the provision of housing. Based on this understanding of the current housing situation, over the course of several work sessions, the Council has been developing an affordable housing strategy to address the low supply of housing and to foster housing choice and affordability in the short and long term. COUNCIL GOALS/ MANDATE: Promote and Enhance our Hometown Feel While Focusing on Livability and Environmental Quality BACKGROUND Housing Values Council wants Springfield to be a family-friendly community for all people, at all phases in life; whether someone is just starting out with a new family, or a senior downsizing to a smaller home. Springfield needs a housing market that supports employment and families at every phase of life. Key Findings and Contributing Issues There is a lack of available housing at all levels: emergency shelter, transitional housing, income-qualified housing, market-rate rentals, space in manufactured home parks, and homes for sale. Rental vacancy rates are low and it is a seller’s market. Housing is expensive: 53% of renters and 36% of homeowners are cost-burdened, paying more than 30% of household income on housing and basic utilities. Housing costs are increasing faster than incomes as wages stagnate Public subsidies are insufficient to fill the affordability gap. Housing developers have limited opportunities to make a profit. Goal Increase the supply and accessibility of affordable housing in Springfield throughout the housing continuum. Strategies The table on the next page outlines the strategies already be in place (on-going), currently being implemented (in process), or that will be considered in the future. It must also be recognized that although not part of the city’s affordable housing strategy, the city’s efforts to fund human services and stimulate economic development also help to address the gaps between household income and housing costs. Strategy Status 1. Expand the overnight parking program to provide shelter for the unhoused. On-going 2. Contribute to the development of income-qualified housing. a. Allocate Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME) Consortium funds for housing that is affordable to low-income households. b. Waive development application fees for non-profit housing providers. c. Consider property tax exemption for new construction of low-income rental housing d. Consider multi-unit property tax exemption for low-income housing On-going On-going Fall 2017 Fall 2017 3. Secure property for targeted residential development a. Utilize Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for acquisition and preparation of property to create new housing units b. Identify publicly-owned property appropriate for residential development July 2017-June 2018 In process 4. Encourage the construction of accessory dwelling units a. Temporarily waive system development charges b. Promote awareness of possibilities for accessory dwelling units c. Revise the development code to make it easier and potentially less expensive to add an accessory dwelling unit July 2017-June 2019 Summer/Fall 2017 In process 5. Assist homeowners a. Rehabilitate existing housing stock affordable to low-income persons with the Emergency Home Repair program b. Provide down-payment assistance for home ownership (SHOP) On-going Ongoing 6. Promote housing of diverse types a. Consider multi-unit property tax exemption for market-rate housing b. Update the development code c. Create brochures/web pages guides to help understand code requirements and the development review process d. Ensure appropriate zoning for residential land Fall 2107 Starting Fall 2017 Not programmed Not programmed 7. Maximize use of partnerships and community support a. Participate on the Poverty and Homelessness Board b. Participate on the Human Services Commission c. Coordinate efforts with Team Springfield d. Involve community groups On-going On-going On-going On-going RECOMMENDED ACTION: Confirm the synopsis of how the city is addressing the need for affordable housing in the community.