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SUBJECT: REGIONAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING <br />DATE: SEPTEMBER 19, 2017 <br />PAGE 2 OF 7 <br />the County, and residents in every community face unique housing challenges. <br />Affordable housing patterns affect, and are affected by, transportation and mobility, <br />transit systems, workforce availability, schools and education, and more. <br />The Partnership was formed as municipalities within Boulder County were experiencing <br />significant housing challenges. In 2015, roughly 59% of Boulder County renters were <br />considered "housing cost -burdened," spending more than 30% of their income on <br />housing. Nearly 30% of Boulder County renters were "severely housing cost -burdened," <br />spending more than 50% of their income on housing. Homelessness is a growing <br />problem for families, who cannot afford housing in our community. Boulder Valley and <br />Saint Vrain Valley School Districts had 844 homeless students in 20162, a number that <br />has risen steadily over the past several years and likely doesn't capture families who <br />are temporarily living with family or friends or "doubling -up" (sharing housing of another <br />person or family to reduce housing costs). Over the past 12 years more than 9,000 <br />market rate homes that were previously affordable have been lost to inflation. And <br />finally, County residents have reported the lack of affordable housing as one of their <br />highest concerns. <br />Due to the regional nature of the problem, the report emphasizes the importance of <br />local governments working both individually and collaboratively, and in partnership with <br />the private sector, housing authorities, local governments and non -profits to address <br />affordable housing needs. Partnership members included housing, human services, and <br />economic development experts from the following agencies: <br />Boulder County Housing Authority <br />Boulder Housing Partners <br />Longmont Housing Authority <br />Boulder County Community Services and Housing and Human Services <br />Department <br />Boulder Chamber of Commerce <br />Longmont Community Services <br />City of Boulder Division of Housing and Community Investment Program <br />The Partnership has been working through the Consortium of Cities to share the report <br />and gain Council and Board buy -in on the goals and strategies outlined in the plan. <br />Currently, Boulder County Cities and Towns have nearly 6,000 affordable housing units, <br />with approximately 603 units identified in Southeastern Boulder County (346 units in <br />Louisville, 257 in Lafayette and none in Superior). The Partnership identifies the goal of <br />15,000 to 22,000 low to middle income affordable housing units by 2035 to address the <br />affordable housing challenges. With the current affordable housing stock, an additional <br />9,000-16,000 homes (with 3,100 in Southeast Boulder County), and the retention of the <br />HUD Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy data. <br />2 Boulder Valley and Saint Vrain Valley 2016 McKinney-Vento data. <br />CITY COUNCIL COMMUNICATION <br />239 7 <br />