Browsing by Subject "Affordable housing"

Now showing 1 - 6 of 6

Open Access
A New Approach to Housing Choice Voucher Implementation in Durham, North Carolina
(2020-04-08)
The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program is the largest federal rental housing program in the United States, providing housing subsidies for over 2.2 million low-income households at an annual cost of approximately $18.4 billion. However, even with substantial funding and bipartisan support, the HCV program does not do an optimal job at meeting its potential to give low-income households the opportunity to move into high-opportunity neighborhoods. While there is some existing evidence around creative approaches to improve HCV implementation in larger cities across the country, there is little research around implementation in midsized, southern cities like Durham, North Carolina. The following case study evaluates strategies implemented by housing authorities in Durham, North Carolina; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Richmond, Virginia. It also looks at two HCV implementation strategies that are growing in popularity across the country: source-of- income laws and Small Area Fair Market Rent (SAFMR). Altogether, the case study evaluation highlights demand-side and supply-side innovations and evaluates them against a set of criteria to determine whether the Durham Housing Authority (DHA) should consider implementation. This analysis gives way to a set of near-term and long-term recommendations. In the near-term, I recommend that the DHA... • Apply for Moving to Work (MTW) designation. This has been critical in enabling Charlotte’s housing authority, INLIVIAN, to test out new approaches to HCV implementation, many of which have been successful. In Durham, it is likely to have a similar impact. • Extend the time frame to find rental units. DHA should extend the time to find a unit to at least 120 days, a time frame that would make it more feasible for HCV recipients to find adequate units. This time frame is comparable to what is in practice in both Charlotte and Richmond. • Seek opportunities for local partnerships. Funding will be a significant barrier to implementing creative approaches to HCV administration. As such, DHA should seek out nonprofit partners who can support landlord recruitment efforts, serve as a conduit between landlords and tenants, and provide clear and consistent communication to both landlords and tenants. • Streamline landlord processes. DHA should seek out ways in which it can ease bureaucratic burdens for landlords and develop actionable solutions to implement these changes. This will reduce disincentives in the HCV program for landlord participation and will help increase the supply of landlords willing to rent to HCV recipients. In the long-term, I recommend that the DHA... • Adopt Small Area Fair Market Rents (SAFMRs). SAFMRs are growing in popularity across the country. As Durham continues to grow and housing prices continue to rise, SAFMRs have the potential to provide all voucher families with access to high- opportunity, low-poverty neighborhoods. In order to be intentional about program roll- out, DHA should consult with other PHAs which have rolled out SAFMRs to understand lessons learned from program implementation.
Open Access
Can the Quilombo Model of Collective Land Titling Work in Rio’s Favelas?
(2016-06-21) Reist, Stephanie V
Due to their informality, the favelas of Rio de Janeiro are in a precarious position. Though the informal neighborhoods have long served as sites of affordable housing for Rio’s poorest residents, changes within in the city related to public security, mega-events, real estate speculation, and urban revitalization jeopardize their permanence. As one possible solution, this study, conducted for the client Catalytic Communities, investigated collective titling in favelas modeled after quilombos, territories recognized and titled by Brazilian federal law as patrimonies of black cultural traditions.
Open Access
Challenges and supports to aging in place in a gentrifying context
(2020-05) Kumar, Manish
Background and Objectives: Neighborhoods play a critical role in healthy aging, with changes to neighborhoods having a profound impact on individuals’ ability to age in place. Using gentrification as an indicator of neighborhood change and applying the theoretical framework of the Environmental Press model, this study examines the relationship between changing environments, affordable housing, and environmental attributes that support and hinder the health and well-being of older adults. Research Design and Methods: This study used a qualitative, case-study approach to interview low-income, majority Black older adults in a gentrifying ward of Washington D.C. Thirty-two adults (16 in non-profit and 16 in for-profit affordable housing) aged 55 and older participated in semi-structured interviews. Transcripts were analyzed using the framework method of analysis. Results: Despite perceiving gentrification, most participants desired to age in place. Many appreciated gentrification related improvements to the built environment but lamented its negative impact on social capital. By providing both proximity to physical amenities and a sense of stability, affordable housing promoted participants’ ability to age in place, though many expressed uncertainties over their long-term ability to do so. Discussion and Implications: This study suggests that while gentrification may improve physical amenities for older adults, its detrimental impact on social capital exacerbates their risk of social isolation. To better support older adults, this study calls for gentrifying areas to invest in affordable housing and promote interventions to preserve older adults’ social capital.
Open Access
Encouraging Sustainable and Equitable Upgrades to New York City's Affordable Housing Stock
(2013-04-26) Quinlan, Maureen; Hou, Ying
This study offers a qualitative appraisal of the interaction between affordable housing policies and energy efficiency in New York City. We summarize key affordable housing policies and energy efficiency programs at the federal, state and local levels, profile relevant government organizations, and assess the current efficiency potential in New York City's affordable housing stock. We identify confounding barriers that prevent the full realization of this technical potential. These major barriers include: a lack of affordable housing energy performance data, a lack of information about existing funding resources, misalignment between housing subsidies and energy conservation, substantial upfront investment and transaction costs, underfunding of existing efficiency programs, and the tenant-landlord split incentive. Lastly, we recommend strategies to enhance the energy performance of affordable housing in NYC through policy interventions that benefit both tenants and building owners. This research will be utilized by BetterBuildingsNY to inform their building advocacy efforts.
Open Access
Encouraging Sustainable and Equitable Upgrades to New York City’s Affordable Housing Stock
(2013-04-26) Hou, Ying; Quinlan, Maureen
This study offers a qualitative appraisal of the interaction between affordable housing policies and energy efficiency in New York City. We summarize key affordable housing policies and energy efficiency programs at the federal, state and local levels, profile relevant government organizations, and assess the current efficiency potential in New York City's affordable housing stock. We identify confounding informational, financial, and policy barriers that prevent the full realization of this technical potential. These major barriers include: a lack of affordable housing energy performance data, a lack of information about existing funding resources, misalignment between housing subsidies and energy conservation, substantial upfront investment and transaction costs, underfunding of existing efficiency programs, and the tenant-landlord split incentive. Lastly, we recommend strategies to enhance the energy performance of affordable housing in New York City through policy interventions that benefit both tenants and building owners. This research will be utilized by BetterBuildingsNY to inform their building advocacy efforts.
Open Access
Evaluating the Potential for More Community Land Trusts in the Triangle J Area
(2021-04-20) Boyle, Matthew
Policy Problem. There is a lack of housing that is affordable to low-income households. This is true across the United States but it is particularly acute in urban areas experiencing rapid economic growth. The Triangle J area is home to several such growing cities who are struggling to provide space for low-income households as land values rise and housing becomes more inaccessible for more people. The situation is made by worse by the fact that not all existing affordable housing units in Triangle J were designed to be permanently affordable. As such, 3,000 affordable housing units will see their affordability restrictions expire in the next five years. Replacing units lost through traditional affordable housing practices is extremely costly and ultimately inefficient. There is only so much land that can be developed and replacement affordable housing may not have the same access to amenities as what was lost. Developing permanently affordable housing will ensure that the investments local governments make towards providing housing are not eventually lost at a time when affordable housing is already in short supply. Policy Question. How can entities like the Triangle J Council of Governments (TJCOG) leverage community land trusts (CLTs) in regions where escalating housing costs are driving up the need for affordable workforce housing? This project seeks to evaluate the potential for CLTs in the Triangle J area based on examples from outside the region and the level of opportunity in Triangle J’s counties. Results Inclusionary Zoning is not Required for CLTs to Succeed: Case study CLTs formed and continue to grow without the benefit of Inclusionary Zoning ordinances. Inclusionary Zoning requires housing developers to sell a portion of the homes they develop at affordable rates set by local government. This can make it easier for CLTs to acquire more housing units. However, the case studies demonstrate that Inclusionary Zoning should not be thought of as a necessity for successful CLTs. Inclusionary Zoning can Optimize the Growth of CLTs: While Inclusionary Zoning policies are not necessary to create sustainable CLTs, they can promote their growth. Unless it is donated land, CLTs must pay the going price for any property they want to acquire. Policies that require more affordable housing development therefore make acquiring land easier for CLTs. Rental Housing is Still Cheaper to Provide: Every case study CLT provides more rental units than they do homeownership units. This is the case even for CLTs that started off focused solely or primarily on homeownership. Rental units allow CLTs to serve extremely low income populations, but resource constraints are the more immediate reason CLTs provide more of them. There is no feasible way for CLTs to provide homeownership to every household they currently serve with rental housing. CLTs can be Sustained in Many Contexts: The CLTs in this study are found in areas of relatively high and relatively low opportunity. Some counties are rural or sparsely populated while others are highly urbanized and heavily populated. The CLTs in the study were all formed over ten years ago and have survived such shocks as the housing bubble and now the COVID 19 epidemic. Educating Relevant Stakeholders on CLTs is Important: A common theme emerged in which poor understanding of the legal basis for CLTs created obstacles for CLTs. Even when CLTs had high level government support, agents on the ground that were only familiar with traditional homeownership believed the model was illegal and opposed it. They were under the impression that ownership of the land could not be separated from ownership of homes on the land. Traditional Banking Plays a Role in CLT Homeownership: CLT homeowners must still acquire mortgages from banks and lending institutions. CLTs establish relationships with banks and assist potential homeowners in obtaining these loans. This assistance can help prevent predatory lending in CLT homes. However, CLTs are still vulnerable to bank closures and the aftermath of the Great Recession has made acquiring loans for new homeowners more difficult. Recommendations Advocate for Inclusionary Zoning Policies and Enabling Legislation: While CLTs can be sustained without mandatory inclusionary zoning policies, they are generally helpful. Care must be taken to design the policies so that CLTs can utilize them. Local governments have some flexibility on this issue in NC, but state legislation clarifying that such ordinances are permissible would help with the rate of adoption. Raise Awareness about the CLT Model: Despite how long CLTs have been around, it seems many people are unaware of what they are. Unfamiliarity with how they operate in practice is particularly common. CLTs should be promoted as a cost effective tool to provide affordable housing on a more permanent basis. Expand CLTs Beyond Major Urban Centers: CLTs are highly adaptable and can work in rural and urban settings. Presently, Triangle J only has CLTs in highly urbanized areas. CLTs in more sparsely populated areas can also act as conservation land trusts that protect undeveloped land in addition to affordable housing. Utilize Existing CLTs as Capacity Builders: Triangle J is fortunate that it already has a couple of well-established CLTs within its borders. The people who work there are experts in running CLTs and they should be encouraged to use their skills to build capacity in areas that lack CLTs. Methodology The project uses a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods. First, three case studies are used to demonstrate how regional CLTs have developed in the past. Interviews with individuals involved in the CLTs were used to learn about their origin stories and organizational dynamics. These CLTs can serve as examples for developing successful county-wide and multi-county CLTs in the Triangle J Area. This report sought to test the adaptability of the CLT model. For that reason, data from the Opportunity Index was used to compare the level of opportunity in the counties the CLTs were located in with their surrounding counties. The same was done for Triangle J’s counties. The opportunity data were collected to demonstrate the kinds of environments that CLTs have successfully formed in. Counties in the Triangle J Area vary in terms of their racial makeup, level of opportunity and population size, among other aspects. The case study data helps to answer the question of whether CLTs could successfully establish and maintain themselves throughout the Triangle J Area.