Durham Strategic Plan Dashboard
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Initiative: 3.23 Conduct affordable housing research
Connected, Engaged, & Inclusive Communities
Description
Conducting affordable housing research is a new initiative for the Community Development Department. We recognize the importance of investigating the current housing needs of the community so we can make informed decisions about the programs we fund. The projects we will pursue in this initiative include: 1) conducting a Housing Market and Affordability Analysis with Community Partners, 2) creating a new 5-Year Consolidated Plan, 3) creating a new 5-Year Comprehensive Housing Strategy, and 4) developing Public Facing Spatial Maps and Dashboards.
Key Measures & Data Analysis
• Each year, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) receives custom tabulations of American Community Survey (ACS) data from the U.S. Census Bureau. These data sets, known as the "CHAS" data (Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy), demonstrate the extent of housing problems and housing needs, particularly for low-income households. On September 12, 2024, HUD released updated CHAS data based on 2017-2021 ACS 5-year estimates.
• The chart depicts housing cost burden for City of Durham residents. Cost burden is the ratio of housing costs to household income. For renters, housing cost is gross rent (contract rent plus utilities). For owners, housing cost is "select monthly owner costs", which includes mortgage payment, utilities, association fees, insurance, and real estate taxes.
• The CHAS data are used by entitlement jurisdictions, like the City of Durham, to plan how to spend HUD funds.
• Through initiative 3.23 Conduct affordable housing research, we will obtain updated data sets like the CHAS and use the information to make informed decisions about how we invest in affordable housing projects.
Housing Cost Burden by Household
Why is it important?
Research is essential in advancing relevant affordable housing programs and fostering creative solutions to address the complex housing crisis. We will use the information obtained through our research projects to inform programmatic decisions and priorities.
What have we been doing?
Through this initiative, we have been working on the following projects:
- Housing Market and Affordability Analysis with Community Partners
- We have partnered with identified local organizations and governmental entities to complete a housing market and affordability analysis. This work will provide an intuitive picture of the local housing market with analysis and indicators to illustrate the range of housing market challenges Durham is facing across workforce housing, affordability, homeownership access, and racial disparities.
- A study of this type does not currently exist. Data surrounding our housing market is disaggregated and, in some instances, outdated. This study will synthesize all of this important information into one place. We will use the information from the study to inform our next 5-Year Comprehensive Housing Strategy.
- 5-Year Consolidated Plan
- The 5-Year Consolidated Plan is designed to assess affordable housing and community development needs and market conditions, and to make data-driven, place-based investment decisions. The consolidated planning process serves as the framework to identify housing and community development priorities that align and focus funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Planning and Development (CPD) formula block grant programs: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Program, and Housing Opportunity for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) Program.
- The next 5-Year Consolidated Plan will be for the period of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2030.
- In November 2024, a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) was released soliciting qualified vendors to assist the City in the preparation of the 5-Year Consolidated Plan. Proposals are due January 10, 2025, will be evaluated, and a vendor recommended to City Council through the contracting process.
What's next?
Through this initiative, we are focusing on the following projects:
- Housing Market and Affordability Analysis with Community Partners
- We will continue our partnership with identified local organizations and governmental entities to complete the housing market and affordability analysis. It is anticipated the study will be completed by Fall of 2025.
- 5-Year Consolidated Plan
- We will complete the evaluation of proposals received and contracting process with the selected vendor who will assist the City in preparing the 5-Year Consolidated Plan for submission to HUD by July 25, 2025.
- 5-Year Comprehensive Housing Strategy
- We will begin working on the development of the next 5-Year Comprehensive Housing Strategy in the Fall of 2025 following submission of the 5-Year Consolidated Plan to ensure alignment. Additionally, data from the Housing Market and Affordability Analysis will be used to support the creation of our strategy.
- Public Facing Spatial Maps and Dashboards
- Once we have completed the Housing Market and Affordability Analysis, 5-Year Consolidated Plan, and 5-Year Comprehensive Housing Strategy, we will consolidate information from these sources to create user-friendly dashboards and spatial maps that will be accessible to the public through the Department's website.
- This project will begin in the Winter of 2025.
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