One of the ironies for
those who work tirelessly to expand prosperity, increase livability, and
generally enhance the desirability of their communities is a concomitant loss
of affordable housing. The affordability issue is enormously complex and stubbornly
resistant to easy solutions. Nevertheless, it is an issue we ignore at our
peril.
The southern Willamette Valley boasts the dubious distinction
of being one of the tightest housing markets in the United States, second only
to Seattle.(1) Nearly half of our residents are housing
“cost-burdened,” stretching their incomes just to pay for housing and other
basic necessities.(2) The crisis affects young
people unable to break into the local housing market, working families
struggling to make ends meet, and seniors looking to downsize with few options
available. It impacts every homeowner, renter, neighborhood, business sector,
and organization in our community.
Many have attempted to
crack the housing affordability nut with little success. Despite the
intractability of the problem, an exciting new Eugene-Springfield metro area group
is stepping up to assume the mantle, having fully dedicated itself to the development
of effective strategies to meet the challenge.
Better
Housing Together is a coalition of community leaders working to address the
local affordability crisis. Including key representatives from Better
Eugene-Springfield Transportation (BEST), the Eugene Association of REALTORS,
AARP Oregon, University of Oregon researchers, AIA-Southwestern Oregon, and an impressive list
of other organizations, these leaders want to better understand the problem and
identify practical solutions. The members of Better
Housing Together are committed to identifying policies
and strategies that support local affordability and more quality, walkable,
age-friendly housing.
To
help meet achieve its goals, the coalition has organized what promises to be an
outstanding event. The Better Housing Together Forum, which will take place on February
21 at the University of Oregon’s Erb Memorial Union Ballroom, will include a
facilitated community-wide discussion, as well as an exhibit of work about
housing in our community by University of Oregon researchers. Additionally,
there will be a short video featuring personal stories underscoring the magnitude
of the crisis. Members of community focus groups
will share their diverse perspectives. Eugene Mayor Lucy Vinis, Springfield
Mayor Christine Lundberg, Lane County Commissioner Pat Farr, and other elected
officials will actively participate and learn more about how they can help
advance community desires.
Despite the immensity of
the challenge, the outlines of a solution exist. As Better Housing Together steering committee member Kaarin Knudson, AIA, noted in her piece
for the 2017 Register Guard Design Annual, there is a direct connection between housing
affordability and the wellbeing of all of a community’s residents. By adding
supply to the market, affordability increases. By locating housing in areas
where infrastructure and transit access already exist, we increase our tax base
without increasing our acreage of liability. By supporting more walkable and
efficient housing types, we also advance many of our climate and equity goals.
Better Housing Together
wants everyone to join the discussion and learn more about how we can increase
housing choice and affordability. Make plans to attend the February 21 forum. Registration
is necessary to guarantee a seat. The organizers expect this free event to be
at capacity. Registration
opens on February 5, 2018.
The housing crisis isn’t just coming: it’s here. Better Housing Together knows we can all
do more to help, which is why the group has organized the coming forum event. I
hope to see all of you there.
What: Better Housing Together Forum
When: Wednesday, February 21, 2018, 5:00–7:00 PM
Where: Erb Memorial Union Ballroom University of Oregon, Eugene
Cost: Free
To Register: https://www.betterhousingtogether.org/forum/
To Learn More: Visit www.BetterHousingTogether.org
(1) "Sold
Out: These 10 U.S. Cities Have the Biggest Housing Shortages" www.realtor.com/news/trends/top-10-housing-markets-constrained-by-tight-inventory
(2) ALICE Report, www.unitedwaylane.org/what-we-do/annual-reports/alice
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