CRC Releases Report on Strategies for Increasing the Availability of Affordable Housing
Federal, state, and local governments have all implemented various programs aimed at increasing the supply of affordable housing for low income residents. The loss of high wage, low skill jobs; the foreclosure crisis; tight credit; the national recession; and continuing problems in balancing the state budget have contributed to the need for new approaches to meet the challenge of affordable housing. While some communities are overwhelmed with vacant, foreclosed properties and dispossessed families, others are concerned with providing housing for low wage service workers, seniors, or special needs populations. The differences in regional economies within the state has resulted in a need for funding structures that can be adapted to meet particular low income housing needs.
The report, Housing Trust Funds: Barriers and Opportunities, also explores income metrics, federal low income housing programs, the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, state constitutional issues, land trusts, and land banks.
"We have an opportunity to develop new structures to address the old problem of providing decent, safe housing for low income residents. This can be done in a way that leverages state resources, meets local and regional needs, and takes advantage of unique opportunities in this troubled economy," according to Bettie Buss, CRC Senior Research Associate.
The report and its summary can be read on the CRC website, www.crcmich.org.
The Citizens Research Council of Michigan is a private, nonprofit public affairs research organization, founded in 1916 to analyze issues pertaining to state and local government organization and finance in Michigan.
