Affordable Housing

Assuring the Availability of Quality Housing at All Income Levels

download the full agenda
;

Numerous reports over the years, including ValpoNext, have documented or recognized the need for quality housing for people in all income categories in our community.  It is time for our city’s leadership to accept that this need exists and to take concrete steps towards aleviating the problem,

 

We support the concept of Quality Housing for All — which includes quality housing for those persons at the lowest income levels.  Actions include:

 

One - Assuring that city leadership apply the same vision,

energy, skills, and tactics they did to development of the downtown to issues of affordable housing;

Two - Hiring an individual at the City whose job description includes

researching, advocating for, and representing the need for quality housing for all;

Three - Establish a Quality Housing for All Advisory Committee

similar to the Human Relations Committee, with a majority of its members comprised of representatives of non-profit organizations, commu-nity groups, and builders with a demonstrated record of providing quality housing for all;

Four - Create a Quality Housing for All Fund

from filing fees, increased user fees for high end housing, or other sources, to be used for fee reduction for projects that include housing for persons at all income levels requiring developers of high-end housing to set aside a percentage of lots for affordable housing or to compensate the affordable housing fund in lieu of the set-aside;

Five - Create a city land bank for Quality Housing for All

which would provide down payment assistance and grants to encourage restoration of existing housing or the building of new housing for persons at lower income levels;

Six - Require developers of high-end housing to set aside

a percentage of lots for housing for persons at lower economic levels or to contribute funds to the Quality Housing for All Fund in lieu of providing the set-aside;

Seven - Use redevelopment funds

to reduce the cost of infrastructure for projects that include housing for all income levels.

Eight - Annex land to be used for housing

for people at all income levels coupled with extended bus service to these units.

Nine - Use tax abatements to help lower income persons

own their own homes and encourage develop-ments with housing for all income levels.

Ten - Provide zoning variances for projects

that include housing for persons at all income levels and review zoning ordinances — and amend where necessary — to avoid zoning that reduces the ability of the disadvantaged and the elderly access to housing appropriate to their income levels.

Eleven - Incentivize building smaller

high quality housing units.

Twelve - Create government/not-for-profit partnerships

to create quality housing for all.

Affordable housing – the backbone that supports strong communities.

Decent, affordable housing is important to families. Certainly, it fulfills a basic human need for shelter, but it also contributes to the well being of both parents and children. Studies show that children in stable housing do better in school and are less likely to experience disruption in their education due to unwanted moves. Affordable housing also frees up funds within families’ tight budgets to spend on health care and food.  For parents, living in decent, affordable housing also means reduced stress due to a lessening of concerns that high housing costs will lead to foreclosure and eviction; this in turn leads to fewer physical and mental health problems and reduced absenteeism on the job.

Latest Affordable Housing Stories

X