Affordable housing definitions and Section 106 contributions in England

This paper examines whether Local Planning Authority definitions of affordable housing provide adequate clarity with which to negotiate affordable housing contributions with private sector house builders. The paper updates Government research, Delivering Affordable Housing through Planning Policy (ODPM, 2002), by systematically interrogating the affordable housing definitions of 51 Local Planning Authorities in England. LPA housing and planning documents were scrutinised in respect of the local definition of affordable housing, whether it conformed to the Governments ‘new’ PPS3 definition, the thresholds set at which the requirement for affordable housing is triggered and the target level at which Section 106 contributions are set. The findings indicate that although Local Planning Authority definitions of affordable housing have improved in terms of their quality, precision and clarity, one in five LPAs still did not provide a concise definition of affordable housing

Illinois Affordable Housing Primer

This document addresses many of the basic issues involved in affordable housing. It provides the reader with an understanding of both the issues and a variety of the solutions being implemented. The primer includes the following sections:What is Affordable Housing?Affordable Housing TerminologyThe Growing Illinois Housing CrisisAffordable Housing Initiatives Making a Difference Across the NationAffordable Housing Work

The Tension in Affordable Housing: Are Current 'Best Practices' Enough?

Minnesota has a reputation for excellence in public systems -- an excellence that some believe is overshadowed as other states also advance more innovations. Not so in affordable housing. Minnesota has developed an affordable housing sector considered by many to be second to none, starting with sound stewardship by the state housing agency and extending to intermediaries who push and prod to engage and address challenges as they arise, local and regional government leaders committed to creating affordable housing, and a host of community-based organizations that both produce and advocate for affordable housing -- all underpinned by generous philanthropy that very early on recognized the importance of stable and affordable housing to the success of families. Moreover, the state's sector has a clear vision of affordable housing: it is not just a structure in which to live, but a platform to increase family stability and link families to opportunities through access to transportation, education, employment and healthy lifestyles. In Minnesota, affordable housing also strives to be energy efficient and green.Yet at this moment when our state's affordable housing sector is as fully realized as ever, various economic, demographic, and political forces have converged to make "homes for all" even more elusive. If we had unlimited resources, our solution might be clear: simply ramp up production. But we live in a resource-constrained world, driven by questions about whether every dollar is used for the maximum benefit of people served. Our presenting question then is this: With Minnesota's strong affordable housing sector in an unprecedented position to advance its work, can our current "best practices" meet the needs of the future -- or is some fundamental restructuring in order

The Cost of Affordable Housing Development in Oregon

The cost of new affordable housing has been a topic of intense scrutiny recently as the need for affordable housing across Oregon continues to significantly outpace the current system's ability to deliver additional units. Many people have questioned why costs for publicly subsidized affordable projects are as high as they are, and whether there are ways to significantly reduce the cost of new affordable housing. Meyer Memorial Trust convened the Cost Efficiencies Work Group to answer questions like these. Meyer recruited sixteen experts from development, construction, finance, and related fields and charged this Work Group with three major tasks: 1) To create a clear and concise summary of key factors affecting the cost of developing affordable housing; 2) To identify opportunities – whether policy and systems changes, or innovative approaches to design, construction, and financing – to deliver affordable units at a lower cost; and 3) To advise Meyer on pilot or demonstration projects to test new approaches to affordable housing development. This report synthesizes the results of this work over the last year. The full report engages a wide variety of topics in detail – and the details and nuances are important – but the key results are summarized below

Preserving Multifamily Workforce and Affordable Housing

Affordable housing units are increasingly lost or at risk of losing government subsidies, and naturally-occurring affordable housing untis are likely to be used to serve higher-income households. This report highlights 16 leading efforts and innovative approaches to preserve affordable housing, including below-market debt funds, private equity vehicles, and real estate investment trusts

Realizing Health Reform's Potential: Will the Affordable Care Act Make Health Insurance Affordable?

Examines the percentage of low-income families, by income, family structure, and out-of-pocket healthcare costs, unable to afford insurance even with the premium and cost-sharing subsidies provided under the 2010 reform. Explores implications