East Central FloridaSustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant

Affordable Housing Group

Bill O’DellShimberg Center for Housing Studies

7 April 2014

Most assisted housing tenants drive to work

84% report driving 10% take transit 6% travel another way

Tenant characteristics affect transit use

Use of public transit to work increases to 16-20% for: Households with income <=$10,000/year Tenants receiving Section 8 rent assistance (project- or

tenant-based) Households with at least one person age 62 or older

“Other” modes also increase, to 10-15% Driving drops to 65-75%

Location also affects transit use Use of public transit increases to 20-24% for:

Units with job access score 40-50 Units with total transit access score 80-100

Orange areas:

•High driving costs

•Little or no transit accessibility to jobs

Zooming In:

Improving transit access in Lake Mary, Sanford station areas can lead to lower travel costs, more accessibility to job centers for residents

Most assisted rental housing is located in southern 2/3 of SunRail station areas

• Clusters of housing based on transit accessibility to jobs, fair housing/economic opportunity

• Transit access and opportunity can complement, conflict

(Southern Stations)

Strategies

High access/high opportunity areas: affordable housing development & preservation

Low access/high opportunity areas: improve transit access

High access/low opportunity areas: economic diversification

(North Central Stations)

East Town Center Concept Plan Area – Altamonte Springs Station

Workforce Housing Demand (based on walking distance - 800 meter buffer)

Framing sustainability in the 3 'Es': Equity, Environment, and Economy: HUD, DOT, EPA, (DOE)

The Partnership’s 6 Livability Principles

Key Principles for Transit and Equity

Build “places” adjacent to transit stations that are inclusive of all residents across the opportunity spectrum.

Ensure that there is a community benefit(s) that is measurable relative to employment, public assets and services and affordable housing.

Prevent displacement of current, marginalized residents who wish to remain in their communities. 

Maintain and encourage affordable housing  New land uses around station development should encourage economic

development that provides benefits in terms of jobs and opportunities for local (and all) residents.

Encourage institutional commitment to equity from members of the Consortium, local municipalities, and transportation planning agencies and service providers.

Housing located far from transit places a heavy financial burden on working families. Transit service accessible to low- and moderate-income families can mean much needed cost savings. On average, working families spend 57 percent of their incomes on housing and transportation. Families who live near transit spend just 9 percent of their income on transportation, while those who live in auto-dependent neighborhoods spend an average of 25 percent of income on transportation. (Center for Housing Policy and Center for Transit-Oriented Development)

Northeastern Illinois Housing Endorsement Criteria

Promote Economic Development and Sustainability to reduce the mismatch between where jobs are and where workers can afford to live…

Encourage an Array of Quality Options throughout the Region Support Innovative Community Development and Design Provide for Mixed Uses within a Neighborhood Minimize Cost of Municipal Services by clustering housing near existing

infrastructure Promote the Use of Public Transit…Housing, together with commercial

space and public amenities should be planned for, and built first, within walking distance of existing or planned transit service…

Potential Strategies Prevent displacement via regulation Preserve transit-oriented development (TOD)-appropriate affordable

housing Increase affordable homeownership opportunities Promote affordable housing development Preserve affordable housing development opportunities Reduce the cost of housing production Leverage market-rate development Promote transit amongst low-income populations Site public facility investments in station area

The most important strategies for inner city sites: Preserve existing project-based Section 8 and other subsidized housing Prevent displacement via regulation Reduce the cost of developing mixed-income housing

Tools to Implement Strategies

Options for Financing Affordable Housing Near Transit-Oriented Development

Public Land Disposition Plan Land Banking Funds Parking Regulations Linkage Fees Joint Public/Private Development Infill Development or Redevelopment in Transit Zones Tax Increment Financing Fast-track permitting Fee waivers, reductions, and deferrals Regulatory accommodation for small sites Tax forgiveness for back taxes on affordable housing sites

Florida Housing Finance Universal Application Cycle 11