Housing affordability vision is outlined
>> A report examining a vision for housing affordability in Montgomery County was released Thursday.
Members of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners as well as other department heads outlined the initiative during the commissioners’ meeting.
“The Homes for All report outlines how affordable housing is foundational to ensuring the health, wellness, and vitality of every Montgomery County community,” said Montgomery County Commissioners’ Chairwoman Valerie Arkoosh in a statement. “Housing is necessary to provide the opportunity for the educational, civic, economic, and social empowerment of all our residents.”
The Homes for All Report was a joint effort of planning and analysis that took more than two years
to complete, according to a county spokesperson. Several agencies partnered to work on the venture including the county’s commerce department, planning commission and office of housing and community development.
Organizers used interviews, surveys and focus groups of more than 200 community members to create a comprehensive report that examined the current state of housing affordability in Montgomery County, according to officials. Stakeholders were made up of citizens, landlords, housing developers, municipal officials, nonprofits as well as corporate and business leaders.
It also provided predictions for future housing needs and patterns based on economic, health, and social trends. Policy and funding barriers were surveyed in order to find ways to advance housing equity and increase affordable options for all area residents.
“I commend the crosssector nature of this report, and I thank all of the county departments, community members, and other partners for coming together to take a holistic approach to affordable housing and making homeownership achievable for our residents,” said Montgomery County Commissioners’ Vice Chairman Ken Lawrence Jr. in a statement. “We look forward to seeing these recommendations become a reality as we continue to work to ensure everyone living in Montgomery County has a safe and affordable place to live.”
The following recommendations were provided in the Homes for All report:
• Continue the work of Homes for All within the successful framework of Your Way Home, whose members include County and municipal government officials, business leaders, housing developers, school district representatives, housing advocates, health and human services leaders, philanthropic foundations, financial institutions, and residents.
• Provide toolkits, training, and technical assistance to municipal officials to encourage zoning reform, incentives, and other strategies to advance the development of more affordable housing in their communities.
• Explore opportunities to leverage and attract more federal, state, local, and private funding for affordable housing development and housing assistance.
• Continue to advance equitable opportunities for all residents to live in safe and accessible housing near their places of work, learning, worship, and health.
For more information about the report, www. montcopa.org/3704/HomesFor-All.