Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Study to look at housing needs
A group supported by the Walton Family Foundation hopes to document the housing market for Northwest Arkansas residents and to propose ways to address problems such as affordability as the area grows.
The group plans four public hearings in Fayetteville, Bentonville, Rogers and Springdale as part of its effort. The hearings will have information on housing trends in the region and will allow residents to speak about housing challenges in their communities.
The University of Arkansas College of Business, Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission, Enterprise Community Partners and the Walton foundation are partnering on the study. Enterprise, a nonprofit group focused on developing affordable housing and neighborhoods for low and moderate income people, was selected to participate after a national search.
Liz Alsina, senior program officer with the foundation’s personal philanthropy group, said she hopes the exercise will provide a comprehensive look at the region’s current housing market that can be layered with the projected growth to devise a long-term
plan for responsible growth.
“I think we wanted to make sure this was a community-embedded process. There’s a really special feeling to public meetings like these, when community members come together in a larger setting,” Alsina said.
The team will also be holding focus groups and has already done several individual interviews with stakeholders including mayors, chamber of commerce officials, public housing officials and developers. A 21-member housing committee is advising the group and will help shape the plan, Alsina said. Findings from the study are expected to be released by the end of the year.
“The meetings are structured to be very interactive. This is not a lecture format, but rather it’s going to focus on engaging those present” through break-out sessions and small group discussions
so everyone’s voice can be heard throughout the process, she said.
Translators will be on hand for Spanish speakers who want to participate.
“The goal is to define an approach for responsible regional housing growth over the next 10 years that is inclusive of the needs across all income levels,” said Celia Scott-Silkwood, with regional planning.
Where residents choose to live is one of the most important factors to their quality of life, according to the foundation. The choice can affect commute times to work, access to public transportation, shopping and services, neighborhood, school and family activities, community amenities such as parks, swimming
pools, bike trails and sports fields. Where people live also effects monthly expenses and financial security.
Information on housing trends in the region will be presented at the public meetings.
According to the foundation, 27 percent of Northwest Arkansas residents are “cost burdened” when it comes to housing, meaning they spend 30 percent or more of their monthly income on housing.
More than one in 10 households in the region experience “housing insecurity,” meaning they spend more than half their monthly income on housing.