Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Promoting Fair Housing Choice in St. Lawrence County November 8, 2010.

Analysis of ImpedimentsAnalysis of Impedimentsto Fair Housingto Fair Housing

Promoting Fair Housing Promoting Fair Housing Choice inChoice in

St. Lawrence CountySt. Lawrence County

November 8, 2010November 8, 2010

Overview of AgendaOverview of Agenda

WelcomeWelcome

Fundamentals of Fair HousingFundamentals of Fair Housing

Known Fair Housing Impediments in SLCKnown Fair Housing Impediments in SLC

Other Existing ImpedimentsOther Existing Impediments

Identify & Prioritize StrategiesIdentify & Prioritize Strategies

Where We Go From HereWhere We Go From Here

Lunch!Lunch!

Fair Housing Act of 1968Fair Housing Act of 1968

Prohibits housing discrimination based Prohibits housing discrimination based on:on:– Race or colorRace or color– National originNational origin– ReligionReligion– SexSex– Familial statusFamilial status– DisabilityDisability

Affirmatively FurtheringAffirmatively FurtheringFair HousingFair Housing

Act mandates HUD to make equal housing Act mandates HUD to make equal housing choice a realitychoice a reality

Grantees required to certify they will Grantees required to certify they will affirmatively further fair housing when they affirmatively further fair housing when they accept HUD fundsaccept HUD funds

Applies to all housing activities; not just Applies to all housing activities; not just restricted to HUD funded programsrestricted to HUD funded programs

What Does this Mean?What Does this Mean?

Conduct an analysis to identify Conduct an analysis to identify impediments to fair housing choiceimpediments to fair housing choice

Take action to overcome Take action to overcome impedimentsimpediments

Document actions takenDocument actions taken

Fair Housing ImpedimentsFair Housing Impediments

Can be deliberate:Can be deliberate:

Actions, omissions or decisions that Actions, omissions or decisions that restrict housing choice based on a restrict housing choice based on a person’s race, color, religion, sex, person’s race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status or national disability, familial status or national originorigin

Fair Housing ImpedimentsFair Housing Impediments

Can also be inadvertent:Can also be inadvertent:

An action, omission or decision which has An action, omission or decision which has the effectthe effect of restricting housing choice of restricting housing choice based on race, color, religion, sex, based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status or national origindisability, familial status or national origin

→In both instances, it’s the end result on the In both instances, it’s the end result on the protected classprotected class

Today’s Anticipated OutcomesToday’s Anticipated Outcomes

Barriers to Equal Housing Choice in Barriers to Equal Housing Choice in SLC IdentifiedSLC Identified

Strategies to Overcome Barriers Strategies to Overcome Barriers Developed & PrioritizedDeveloped & Prioritized

Barriers to Equal Housing Barriers to Equal Housing Opportunity in SLCOpportunity in SLC

A review of known barriersA review of known barriers

Discuss other barriers not Discuss other barriers not identifiedidentified

Known Impediments in SLCKnown Impediments in SLC

Resources:Resources:

– HUD Data based on 2000 CensusHUD Data based on 2000 Census

– North Country HOME Consortium 2006-North Country HOME Consortium 2006-2010 Consolidated Plan2010 Consolidated Plan

– DHCR 2008-2009 North Country DHCR 2008-2009 North Country Affordable Housing ReportAffordable Housing Report

2000 HUD Data for SLC2000 HUD Data for SLC

40,524 households

• 29% are renters (11,885 units)

• 71% are owners (28,639)

Households by Race

White98%

= 39,221

Native1%

= 386

Asian0.4%= 189

Hispanic0.5%= 215

Black0.4%= 158

Mobility and Self Care Limitation

1+ person with long lasting condition that substantially limits one or more basic activity, or a physical, mental or emotional condition lasting more than 6 months

9,000 households• 6,115 are owners (45% are seniors)• 2,885 are renters (41% are seniors)

Income

2000 Median Family Income = $38,510

• 80% = $30,808 (Moderate)

• 50% = $19,255 (Low)

• 30% = $11,553 (Very Low)

Households by Housing Type and Income

3,455 3,3072,4462,677

1,935

5,111

2,630

18,963

-

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

16,000

18,000

20,000

<=30% >30% to <=50% > 50% to <=80% >80%

Percent of Median Family Income

Nu

mb

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f H

ou

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old

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Renters Owners

Housing Cost Burden

No more than 30% of annual income on housing costs.

Families who pay more than 30% are considered cost burdened and may have difficulty affording necessities such as food, clothing, transportation and medical care.

Housing Costs

Renters:– Rent– Utilities

Owners:– Mortgage payment– Taxes– Insurance– Utilities

Housing Costs as a Percent of Gross Annual Income

21% =2,460

38% =4,493

24% =6,902

11% = 3,265

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

> 30% of Gross Income > 50% of Gross Income

Pe

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of

Ho

us

eh

old

s

Renters Owners

Housing Problems

Definition:– Housing cost burden >30% of gross income– Overcrowding (>1 per room)– Without complete kitchen/plumbing facilities

• 41% of all renters (4,825 units)

• 20% of all owners (5,785)

Housing Problems for Disabled by Type

49% = 1,411

27% = 1,633

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Renter Owner

Housing Problems by Income

77%

5%

21%

56%

79%

7%

30%

54%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

<=30% >30% to <=50% > 50% to <=80% >80%

Percent of Median Family Income

Pe

rce

nt

of

Ho

us

eh

old

s

Renters Owners

Housing Problems by Race

50%50%

40%

48%

57%

15%16%20%

32%34%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

White Black Hispanic Asian Native

Renter Owner

North Country HOME North Country HOME Consortium Consolidated PlanConsortium Consolidated Plan

86,295 households, 4% minority86,295 households, 4% minority

Highest concentration of very low Highest concentration of very low income households in SLC (43%)income households in SLC (43%)

62% of Native households in SLC62% of Native households in SLC• 46% were very low income46% were very low income

Income & Housing

Affordable housing problems directly Affordable housing problems directly related to incomerelated to income

• 73% of all renter households with low 73% of all renter households with low and very low income report problems and very low income report problems with housingwith housing

Resource Constraints

Competitive funding awards remain Competitive funding awards remain flatflat

Rising construction costsRising construction costs

Lead abatement threshold unchangedLead abatement threshold unchanged

Public Housing Authorities

4 PHAs, 788 units total

Low vacancy rates, long waiting lists

Elderly units harder to fill

Greatest demand is for family units (esp. 2 bedroom)

Section 8 Assistance

759 units total

At 95% capacity, 40 vacant units

Waiting list of 500 individuals

Emergency/Transitional Housing

Renewal House, 9 beds

Single Room Occupancy, 41

North Country Freedom Homes, 16

Transitional Living Svcs of NNY, 14

DHCR North CountryDHCR North CountryAffordable Housing ReportsAffordable Housing Reports

Type, location and condition of Type, location and condition of housing stockhousing stock

Housing Preservation ResourcesHousing Preservation Resources

Stick Built Homes

Majority built before WWII– Considerable deferred maintenance

More likely to be substandard outside population centers

Mobile HomesMobile Homes

13.7% of housing stock comprises of 13.7% of housing stock comprises of mobile and manufactured housingmobile and manufactured housing

Value tends to decline over timeValue tends to decline over time

Primarily assisted via WAP ($7,500)Primarily assisted via WAP ($7,500)

Rental UnitsRental UnitsLess than 20% of housing stock has 2+ Less than 20% of housing stock has 2+ unitsunits– Many developed via USDA RD Section 515 Many developed via USDA RD Section 515

ProgramProgram

Affordable units not energy efficientAffordable units not energy efficient

In high demand in college townsIn high demand in college towns

Emergency/Transition Housing

Too few emergency shelters

Oversubscribed– Rely on local motels

– Relocate outside region

– Move in with family/friends

Adirondack Park

In APA, 8% of land available for high In APA, 8% of land available for high density developmentdensity development

Burgeoning second/seasonal home Burgeoning second/seasonal home marketmarket

Preservation ResourcesPreservation Resources

Good paying jobs Good paying jobs

Active enforcement in population Active enforcement in population centerscenters

More lead-certified & NYSERDA More lead-certified & NYSERDA contractors contractors

Questions & Feedback

What other impediments exist in SLC?– What wasn’t covered

– What should be emphasized

What has changed since these reports were published?

5 Minute BreakReconvene in Groups

Brainstorming Strategies

Breakout into Groups

–What can we do to overcome these impediments?

Group Reports

Report on strategies

Categorize strategies– Group similar issues together

Prioritizing Strategies

Sticky Dot Vote

–Significance of issue

–Resources available

–How quickly can issue be addressed

Review Priorities

Develop Activity Timelines–Implemented by stakeholders at

local level

What’s Next

Electronic distribution of today’s workshop

Reviving County’s Fair Housing Task Force

Use of email distribution list

Sources:Sources:

HUD Data:HUD Data:http://socds.huduser.org/chas/index.htm

North Country HOME Consortium 2007 – North Country HOME Consortium 2007 – 2010 Consolidated Plan:2010 Consolidated Plan:http://danc.org/downloads/Consolidated%20Plan.pdf

2008-2009 North Country Affordable 2008-2009 North Country Affordable Housing Needs Study:Housing Needs Study:http://nysdhcr.gov/Publications/HousingNeedsStudy