Alliance for Housing Affordability. City Council Work/Study Session January 15, 2014

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1 J J J Alliance for Housing Affordability City Council Work/Study Session January 15, 2014

2 Housing has Many Issues Including: Types & choices to meet diverse needs Adequacy & safety Energy efficiency Balance with jobs Proximity to jobs and services Affordability

3 Affordable Housing is More Than a Structure Housing is affordable if a household can live in it without sacrificing food, health care, and other essentials Housing cost-burdened household earning less than the median county income and paying more than 30% of their income on housing (SCT and national standard)

4 Many Whose Work Serves us or our Children Cannot Afford to Live Near Those Workplaces Sandra has three kids and earns $41,000 per year as a teacher Average rent, 3-br apartment where she teaches = $1,395 To afford that rent, she d need to make at least $53,240

5 Background Alliance for Housing Affordability (AHA) = new name for the Interjurisdictional Housing Coordination program Interjurisdictional program began from effort by Snohomish County Tomorrow (SCT) to which Mountlake Terrace belongs to expand information & opportunities for attainable or affordable housing, consistent with local needs, in manner that would leverage coordination among jurisdictions in Snohomish County 2009 feasibility study for SCT ARCH model 2011 Memorandum of Understanding for Mountlake Terrace to work with other jurisdictions on crafting the program Committee work: Interlocal Agreement approval by City Council

6 Background Councilmember Kyoko Matsumoto Wright represented Mountlake Terrace on Interjurisdictional Housing Coordination Committee that has been defining program & identifying funding CED Director Shane Hope provided technical assistance

7 Background Committee s work included approval of program s mission: To help increase the supply of attainable & sustainable housing near jobs, transit, & services through an interjurisdictional approach

8 Background Committee s work included approval of program goals: 1. Create a venue for interjurisdictional cooperation & education to meet housing needs. 2. Provide housing information to assist local elected officials. 3. Provide technical assistance among members to develop & implement local housing policies, programs, & regulations. 4. Advocate for housing issues & resources, consistent with participating jurisdictions objectives. 5. Attract additional public resources, private resources, & not-for profit investment into attainable housing (by coordinating, leveraging, or contributing local resources, as appropriate). 6. Facilitate retention of existing sustainable housing. 7. Administer any specific housing programs as approved by the membership. 8. Facilitate the building of attainable housing (without being the builder). Attainable housing refers to housing that is safe & affordable to low- or moderate- income households. 9. Sustainable housing refers to housing that meets economic, environmental, & social needs of the community. This includes housing that is energy-efficient, safe, & of appropriate materials & construction to assure the housing s longevity.

9 Background Given resource constraints, local governments have taken a slow-but-steady approach to bringing the program to the next phase February 28 - City Council was briefed on coordination effort & intent to propose Interlocal Agreement in near future to begin implementing program A work plan for 2013/2014 was developed August, 2013 City Council approved signing Interlocal Agreement

10 Background 12 jurisdictions plus Housing Authority of Snohomish County have signed on: Edmonds Everett Granite Falls Housing Authority of Snohomish County Lake Stevens Lynnwood Marysville Mill Creek Mountlake Terrace Mukilteo Snohomish Snohomish County Woodway

11 Analysis Program Concept Cities & county to coordinate & share technical assistance & information on housing issues by sharing one full-time staff person Key focus over next two years to help jurisdictions prepare for major Comprehensive Plan & Regulations update that is coming due especially Housing Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan Other work may include: identifying local options for housing incentives & providing expertise on housing needs to accommodate broad spectrum of income levels

12 Analysis Joint Board Comprised of elected official from each participating jurisdiction, with limited support from jurisdictions staff

13 Analysis Roles, per Interlocal Agreement: One shared staff specialist: Was selected by a committee of AHA in late 2013 Is officially employed by and housed at AHA s current Administrative Agency (Housing Authority of Snohomish County) which provides the office space, a computer, phone, etc. Receives direction from the AHA Board Fiscal Agency is Mountlake Terrace, which carries out basic fiscal duties, such as keeping AHA s funds in a bank account & providing payroll checks from it to AHA staff specialist

14 Analysis Funding Program s main cost is for one staff person with local government housing expertise Gates Foundation provided $50,000 in start-up funds Though not guaranteed, same amount may be renewed next year if program is moving forward Each participating jurisdiction also contributes proportional share, based on population, toward operating program Mountlake Terrace s share for 2013 was $1,200; it will be slightly more in 2014 For MLT, AHA contribution is reserved in special fund that was returned from Housing Authority of Snohomish County after it ended its revolving loan fund for a Community Development Block Grant program. Fund can legally only be used for certain types of housing assistance, esp. efforts that improve housing safety &/or affordability

15 Next Steps Introduction to new AHA Policy Analyst and presentation at City Council s January 15 work/study session Delivery of draft housing profile for Mountlake Terrace before end of January Continued work by AHA to complete housing profiles for all participating jurisdictions & follow up on other housing issues

16 Questions? Comments?

MINUTES. City Council Meeting. 7:00 p.m. Mountlake Terrace, WA

MINUTES. City Council Meeting. 7:00 p.m. Mountlake Terrace, WA MINUTES City Council Meeting April 7, 2014 Mountlake Terrace City Hall 7:00 p.m. Mountlake Terrace, WA COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Councilmember McCardle Councilmember Matsumoto Wright Councilmember Richards