I was informed of a meeting that discussed the housing shortage in Utah as well as all around the country. It was very enlightening and informative. It detailed the challenges of people not able to pay their rent.

This is a submission to my caucus corner occasional blog.

There is a whole range of efforts to assist with population growth. This meeting let me learn the wide range of groups working together to help people. It’s quite impressive.

We first heard a presentation of the challenges we face as a state and county. After the presentation, we heard from a panel of heads of government organizations. Those heads are geared to help people in need which is a lot of us.

Nonprofit advocate org Presentation:
– Geared to see that every Utah has an affordable place to live.
– Work with city councils and House of Representatives to pass good policy.
– What is affordable housing? No one should pay 30% of their gross income for where they live. Incomes may range from $700 salary to $10K.
– More people feel their income is not enough to cover their housing.
– Many are paying more than 50% of income for where they live. Transportation takes about 20% of income. It may cost more if it is unstable transportation. There is not much remaining income much left if over the 30 and 20%.
– Low income or affordable housing needs are often from those of the service industry. These include teachers, police officers of our communities. They are searching for housing that matches their wages.
– Some needs are from people who need government assistance.
– The 30% of income for housing are added upon to include utilities and HOA fees.
– Family of four has an income between a range of $24K range to $45.
– Apartments who ask for additional fees is not part of the 30% income but adds to it.
– Utah has about 61K low-income renters.
– 85% are cost burdened pay over 30% or 45% toward housing.
– 67% is severely cost burdened. Thus they can’t be fully involved in the community outside of paying for their home. That means they are limited on eating out or other entertainments. they can’t support local business.
– It is expensive to build housing.
– We have inconsistent philosophies on how to fix housing.
– Need to find a Utah based values solution.
– Housing initiative is often driven by other policy goals. Such as transportation influence each other.

Sb34b bill

– Concentrates on housing affordability.
– It comprises a diverse group is gathered to find solutions to discuss land use, rural voices. They discuss challenges and define solutions.
– This bill works on correlating house development and transportation together in community development. This bill requires cities to plan their cities for an increased population.
– Cities need to work with teachers and health agencies. All of them need to have input on housing conversations.
– The number of low-income renters increasing rapidly.
– Builders find challenges to pay for low-income housing due to the cost.
– If families have to move around to find an affordable home, it causes students to move from school to school. Thus it causes havoc for the teachers.
– Long term needs: people with disabilities and an increase of seniors face homelessness due to their fixed income.
– The bill needs to plan for low to med and high salary funding. Cities need to think long term and a proactively.
– 61A% of people in the US say they have had to make at least one (financial) sacrifice because they struggle to pay for housing. Health care and food for examples of things they go without.
– Some have to take on an additional lob. Have to work 98 hrs. a week to afford housing.
– May have to skip a rent payment or not pay a bill
– How housing affects school, roads and affecting other parts of the communities.
– What happens if we rely upon fed funds? Utah works very much to not rely on the government. The federal government provides tax credits.
– Senator Hatch supported federal housing credit. Many relied upon federal help.

HUD is an organization to help low income.

– Many people are on a fixed income.
– Utility rates are increasing.
– As prices increase for everything the wages stay the same.
– Counties of the north have louder voices. they get more of the legislative attention. Those further south don’t get as much attention.
– This is not just a Wasatch issue.
– Need rural and all parts of the state to have these needs addressed.
– Many builders complain that there are zoning restrictions that prevent them from building.
– Subsidized housing: what % is covered by federal housing? HUD subsidizes existing units, many of which are senior housing.
– Mondey(sp) from state contributed toward low-income housing. Much of it is paid by tax credit. Private investors who need a tax break to build these units.
– The last population senses was done in 2010. HUD is using that last senses to define rent help.
– Maybe define a rent cap. In other areas may be defined by the city.

Here are comments from the panel:

Karen: exec dir. of community action.

– Work with those who are at the lower end of the spectrum.
– Help find housing and seek funding sources.
– The LDS church gives a grant for emergency housing to budging hotels for the homeless. Such as the location is about 300 South. Money is used to help with the homeless.
– They may connect people of need to a host family.
– Repay rehousing funds> get into housing and money for deposit and rent.
– Agency money helps with emergency housings.
– Provide permeant housings for singles.
– We support a diverse population. Some for singles or temporary assistance for those who have kids. Also, do food bank. Community garden and a community kitchen.
– Name??: special projects manager for Provo housing authority:
– The organization covers subsidies.
– 950 units are subsidized.
– We broadened support from Provo to all around Utah County.
– Nonprofit arms for Utah regional housing.
– We have a bunch of tax credit projects. Skyline is a place for homeless housing. Travelers is a new place for the homeless.
– We got a homeless grant.
– Land trust: trying to get more affordable units for people.
– Five units in American fork.
– Looking to set up a place for people who have autism to help them and also provide wrap-around services.

Bill Street: works with commercial real estate.

– He shares a personal experience. Son and wife with four kids live in a two-bedroom home.
– We need to have housing affordability across the spectrum. The range stretches from seniors to first-time homeowners.

Jason bench: long-range plans of growth of the city. Provo?

– Works on general plans and master plans.
– Modern income study is required as an annual report. Looks at challenges that Orem faces. They have seven recommendations. Can include zoning and education.
– 70% of the population coming from growth are from within the state (kids who are now adults). They are our children and grandchildren.
– Only 30% of population growth is from out of state.

Brad Bishop: self-help homes:

– Work with agriculture development.
– Have a federal mortgage set aside for rural areas.
– Provide opportunities for mutual self-help.
– Have eight families work together to build each other’s homes as a group. Using sweat equity to build each other’s homes.

Comments from the panel:
– One former homeless person had $600 rent. In one year their landlord raised it to $850.
– A lot more of the elderly are coming into the agency. They are coming in to get food. With more of their limited being directed to housings, they have less money for medical and food.
– Special needs also need a place to live.
– There are also those who have come out of incarnation. One man wanted to reunite with his children and start over. Landlords are reluctant to rent to people with criminal records. He wanted to turn his life around.
– When you have families send more than 50% on hosing. They can’t pay bills or rent. It involves an elementary child that moves from one school to another.

Vouchers:

– The waiting list for housing choice voucher range from 1.5 yrs. a yr. senior housing wait time is 4-6 mo.
– We only have a thousand vouchers. We can’t give out more until people move on from the need we’ve offered. We don’t have more.
– People come in and want to be prioritized because they are in crisis. We can’t move them up the line because those already on the program are also in crisis.
– 30% of gross income prior to tax withdraw. Get deductions for out of pocket child care or for senior for medical deductions credit.

Housing conditions:

– Many neighbors are doubled up in households. They are looking for places to live. We need to create competition for housing.
– Families are paying $1200 rent. Using energy star to help keep utilizes lower.
– The average size of a home has tripled and has smaller families.
– One challenge is one half of an acer of property cost $ 1.3 million.
– Many of the people in the service sector are in need to help assistance. These include police, firemen, teachers, and seniors.
– Student housing: many students are working 2-3 jobs for housings, living, and school.
– Ask student do you have debt. They say no. and then ask do you have a student loan. Yes. They don’t see a 100 k loan as debt.
– Apartments: adding a bunch of fees.
– Predatory pricing> rates will go up 10% for no added value or enhancement or added value. This predatory behavior is really damaging our communities. The whole nature of the contract system is overweighed to the owner’s advantage.
– Other countries have put in limits but not here in use because of free enterprise.
– Provo city raised impact fees ty 82% (Impact fees are utilities, parks and police services. This increase is specific to real estate. They contribute to the maintenance of roads.
– 50% are senior or disabled. 775 a mo.

City and realtor challenges:

– Easier for organizations to buy existing properties and modify
– Many cities have a minimum housing size of 800 feet.
– We need to have a say for all to have decent, safe, and sanitary housing.
– Citizens are pushing back on cities building counsel wanting to have smaller homes. They want bigger homes. People may feel that they create a slum attitude.
– Meeting with development: look at ways for housings to include parking needs.
– There are more households then homes available. Apartment owners don’t have the incentive to set aside units for voucher people. they can get other renters.
– By 2040 we should double in population size.
– By next yr. colleges will have 40K students. `

Solution efforts:

– Accessory housing: another unit in your home a small apartment. City zoning is restricting renting out the basement.
– When establishing a private and public partnership. Mix community and developer agree that if you have 20% for the low income you can have high density.
– Redevelop older communities to revitalize the community.
– Sometimes people on vouchers: some may be motivated to not change so they lose their benefits.
– Have programs to motivate people to get out of their situation.
– Suggestion to builders to include some low-income homes in part of their complex.