Forum Discussions - HousingPolicy.org Forum

Policy Framework templates

2014-06-24T20:15:49.118Z

I am working on a draft of a policy framework for homeownership for a partnership of organizations working together to offer our jurisdiction a cohesive plan. Any formats, tips or ideas? Thanks!

Homebuying trends in QM-driven market?

2014-02-11T13:57:19.178Z

We are polling our HFA partners (and other program administrators) to learn about innovative practices they are using to work with lenders to help more buyers. We're interested in discovering any early trends HFAs are seeing as a result of the QM rule.

Please let me know if you have any to share - we may use the examples in our blog and/or in a webinar series for lenders about the increasing relevance of HFAs in today's QM-driven market.
Thanks!
Tracey Shell

Down Payment Resource

Self-Sufficiency Tools in Resident Service Offerings

2014-01-24T13:57:20.235Z

On January 16, NHC and the AFI Resource Center hosted a webinar on Financial Education and Matched Savings for Affordable Housing Residents. The webinar included:

A summary from More Than A Roof [PDF] about how housing authorities can offer economic security programs for their residents
Details about the Assets for Independence (AFI) program and AFI's matched savings accounts (also known as Individual Development Accounts or IDAs)
An example from the California Coalition for Rural Housing about pairing their AFI grant with a Self-Help housing program to boost sustainable low-income homeownership
Information about an upcoming AFI grant opportunity

Additional webinar resources can be accessed below:

Speakers' slides
Full webinar recording (on YouTube)

If you would like to be notified when the 2014 AFI Funding Opportunity Announcement is released, or have additional questions for the AFI Resource Center, please email [email protected]" target="_self">[email protected].

You are welcome to share your thoughts and questions about self-sufficiency programs for affordable housing residents using the discussion area below.

Housing Crisis Led to Worsening Housing Affordability for Older Adults

2014-01-23T15:42:45.294Z

A recent AARP report, Loss of Housing Affordability Threatens Financial Stability for Older Middle-Class Adults, assesses the impact of the housing crisis on the economic security of older adults (50 years and older). The authors found that, unsurprisingly, the housing crisis negatively impacted housing affordability for older adults, and as a result, housing cost burdens among older adults increased and spread between 2000 and 2010. Also significant was the uneven impact based on race and ethnicity. Between 2005 and 2009, homeowners of color lost half of their wealth, due in part to growing income gaps between white and other homeowners, and higher foreclosure rates on prime mortgages among households of color.

Do these results match what you see on the ground? Do you know of innovative programs to address the housing affordability needs of older adults?

Mapping Combined Housing and Transportation Costs

2014-01-02T19:38:40.798Z

Have you tried out HUD's new Location Affordability Index yet? The index estimates the typical share of household income spent on housing and transportation costs to offer a picture of housing affordability in neighborhoods and regions across the country. When housing affordability is discussed, transportation costs are typically not included. This can obscure the reality that affordable housing is often located far from job centers and requires long and expensive commuting. Once transportation costs are considered with housing costs, many affordable options are no longer affordable to households with limited budgets.

For those of you have used the Index, what do you think? How do you foresee using it in your work?

Grim picture for renters highlighted in recent report

2013-12-12T17:57:22.144Z

Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies recently released a report that explores the nation's rental housing market and rental housing needs, America's Rental Housing: Evolving Markets and Needs. The findings from the report, summarized in a great infographic, describes the growing renter population, shows how rents have increased while renter incomes have fallen, and explains the impact this has on renter households that must cut back on spending in other areas like food, transportation, and healthcare.

One element of the report that stuck out to me was the discussion of the share of income that lower-income renters spend on energy, as much as 15 percent for renter households earning less than $15,000 are year. Have you read the report? Did anything surprise you?

Rebuilding After Sandy

2013-10-31T17:45:40.387Z

With the 1 year anniversary of Hurricane Sandy the topic of many discussions, I have been thinking a great deal about rebuilding efforts. Post-disaster, there is a difficult tradeoff between rebuilding and re-housing people quickly and rebuilding better and stronger to make housing more resilient during future disasters.

There are still families displaced by Hurricane Sandy living in temporary situations while their homes are rebuilt or searching for more permanent housing. Displacement places enormous stress of families and makes even simple daily tasks like commuting to work or school a burden. In addition to helping these families find and rebuild homes, there also needs to be a focus on making these homes resistant to future hurricanes so that these, and other families, do not have to live the nightmare over again.

Supportive Service Models for Aging in Place

2013-10-10T14:59:08.409Z

While most are aware that baby boomers are rapidly swelling the ranks of older adults in this country. You may not know that the majority of these older adults prefer to age in their homes as their health declines or they become frail instead of moving to nursing homes.

In order for older adults to remain in their homes as they age, they need access to health services in their community, have transportation to reach health centers, or receive health services in their homes. There are several models working to connect supportive services to older adults aging in place that may serve this need. I am interested in learning more about how effective these models are and whether they extend the period of independence of older adults, or reduce health and other supportive service costs.

Are there studies that you have read on this topic that you found compelling or surprising? Are there models or programs that you think are particularly promising?

Do "Good Neighbor" Agreements Build Community Support for Affordable Housing?

2013-10-04T04:47:02.004Z

My colleague Amy Clark and I are working on a new research project. We're profiling effective steps that jurisdictions can take to build neighborhood support for supportive housing for formerly homeless families and single adults.

Any success stories you're aware of?

Specifically, has anyone out there come across or used "good neighbor agreements?" This is where a city encourages its housing providers to enter into a contract with a neighborhood association to provide greater assurances that the property will be well managed, there will be specific channels for resolving issues that come up, etc.

Bonus question: Are they helpful? Harmful? Inquiring minds want to know.

Housing as a Health Solution?

2013-09-19T20:33:53.540Z

The state of New York is planning to build hundreds of new supportive housing units for low-income Medicaid recipients through out the state. Research shows that there are important connections between a person's housing situation and their health. Expanding supportive housing for low-income households is an important step to achieving better health outcomes.

Are you seeing progress in addressing health issues through supportive housing development, or other housing strategies, in your community? What have been the keys to the success of these initiatives?