Have
figured out a possible formula for a State/Burlington approach which
at much lower cost than feds Section 8/vouchers/etc. will make a real
difference and provide confidence among legislators/city councilors
that the money really helps make a difference.
First,
it marries the non-profit housing engine in the state which knows
they cannot reach the lowest income where the crisis sits—and that
lots of folks in non-profit housing still suffer from an
extraordinary amount of income going to rent—but know they are
better off than thrown to the lions in the private rental “market”
where they once were either as an owner or renter.
HUD
programs cost in Vermont $700+ month or about $9,000 a household.
(Remember we want to help low income homeowners and mobile home
owners which the feds do not allow.) So, in a collaborative
carefully worked out City/State program(s) “affordable housing
assistance” tied to the recipient to the degree possible gets
allocated to non-profits for a portion of their “tax credit”
units which already are a few hundred below market but neither enable
the lower income to pay less than 25% of their income nor are rents
adjusted with a household has a sharp drop income. So, instead of
10 units of “livable housing” units per $100,000 using a strictly
HUD approach, we get more, perhaps 15-17 units—and this makes a
real difference. HUD should even give us $1 million (or more) to
try a 10 year demo to be the first to do it. Variations are
infinite, so to speak—co-op, student, senior, mixed, etc.
We can
sell the $2 a night fee if we can involve all elements of the
concerned groups and actors. Right now there seems to be a lack of
enthusiasm. Must change. $15 for wages and $2 for truly affordable
housing!