01-25-17 City Council Agenda Packet

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EUGENE SPRINGFIELD CONSOLIDATED PLAN 2015 a total of 3,516 units in 83 developments and Springfield and its urban growth boundary has 866 units in 28 developments. The Housing and Community Services Agency of Lane County (HACSA) serves as the housing authority for the cities of Eugene and Springfield. There are a total of 705 public housing units, and as of January 2015, 683 were leased. HACSA has 708 public housing vouchers available, with 695 in use. Additionally, HACSA has 2,817 total vouchers (2,556 in use), of which 211 are designated as Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (143 in use). For all voucher programs, 8% are held by households with one or more persons who identify as a minority race or ethnicity. HACSA maintains a waiting list for all of their public housing units. There are 957 people on the one-bedroom wait list, with an average wait time of up to five years. The wait list for two- bedroom units is 939 with a wait time of up to three years. For three-bedroom units, there are 177 families, with a one year wait. Finally, there are 56 families on the 4- bedroom wait list, and the wait time is incalculable for the four-bedroom units because of their scarcity. The Section 8 waiting list was last opened in 2013. It is expected that when it is opened in 2015, 2,500 people will respond to the online application. At this point in time, many vouchers holders are unable to find suitable housing; uor do not meet the minimum habitability standards. Housing Cost Burden Housing costs in the Eugene-Springfield area have risen sharply over the past 25 years while incomes have risen slowly, forcing many households to pay more for housing than is affordable. A majority of the renters in Eugene (54%) and Springfield (51%) are considered housing cost burdened, while approximately a third of home-owners are also cost burdened (Eugene 32%, Springfield 33%). Housing Conditions and Lead Based Paint In the cities of Eugene and Springfield, approximately 61% (54,600) of the total housing units were built prior to 1980 and may contain lead-based paint. Approximately 11,437 homes pose potential lead-based paint hazards in the cities of Eugene and Springfield. Despite the age of the housing stock, the physical condition of the housing in Eugene and Springfield is generally good, as there are relatively few housing units (1,279) in the area that are considered substandard according to HUD. Of those, 97% are rental units, and 79% are occupied by people making 50% or less of the average median income. Based on input received during provider and public consultations, units available to low income residents tend to have more significant issues, and because of the scarcity of affordable low-income housing, residents are reluctant to raise their concerns for fear of losing the housing. Manufactured dwelling parks are areas where people rent or lease a space for their manufactured home, which they may rent or own. A manufactured dwelling is a more affordable way for many people to own a home, or live independently in an environment for older August 2015 Page 10