04/27/20 City Council Agenda Packet - Work Session

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Homes for Good serves as the housing authority for the cities of Eugene and Springfield. There are a total of 595publichousingunitsinLaneCountywith383 of thoseinEugeneandSpringfield,and as of February2020,98.9%were leased. Additionally,Homesfor Good has3,065totalvouchers (3,056 in use), of which236 are designated as Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (192 in use). For allvoucherprograms,6%areheldbyhouseholdswithone ormore persons who identifyas a minorityrace or ethnicity. Homes for Good maintains a waiting list for all their public housing units. There are approximately 1800 households on public housing waiting listswithtypical wait times between 1 and 5 years. The Section 8 waiting list was last opened in 2019 and 4,887 people responded to the online application. At this point in time, 74% of families issued vouchers are able to lease a unit. HousingCostBurden While wages and incomes have continuedtorise in recent years, theyhave not kept pace with the cost of both ownerand rental housingin both cities.From2010 to 2017, Median Household Income rose 14%in Eugeneandby 15% in Springfield. Housing costs in the Eugene-Springfield area have risen more sharply since 2010, especially in recent years. Median home prices have increased by about 130% between 2000 and 2019 in both Eugene and Springfield, reaching $320,000 in Eugene and $270,100 in Springfield (Zillow October 2019). Median Rental Rates have also increased substantially faster than incomes, if not as dramatically as home values. Between 2010 and 2019, the median rental rate rose to $1,373 in Eugene (47% increase) and increase). $1,181 in Springfield (58% As a result, many households pay more for housing than is affordable, or are unable to affordany housing. Households paying more than30% of household income are considered to have a ‘housing costburden’. A majority of all rentersin Eugene (55%) and slightly under half of all renters in Springfield (48%) are considered housing cost burdened, while a smaller but significant share of all homeowners in each jurisdiction are also cost burdened (Eugene – 27%, Springfield – 29%). HousingConditionsLeadPaint In thecities of Eugene and Springfield, approximately 60% (55,005) of thetotal 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 (1,875) in the area that are considered substandard according to HUD.Of those,90%arerental units, and 59% are occupied by people making 50%or less of the average median income.Based on input received during providerand 2020Consolidated Plan 10Eugene and Springfield, OR