Two new organizations have signed on to endorse a housing trust fund in Waukesha County. Those two groups are Evergreen Consulting, Inc. in Milwaukee and the Women's Center in Waukesha, bringing the total number of endorsing organizations to 34.
Our base of support is growing for the establishment of a county housing trust fund to support affordable homes in the county's communities. To view the full list of endorsers, please visit our website, and click on the attachment, "Ongoing endorsement list.pdf" at the bottom of the page.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
TIFs Suffering in Villages
An interesting Daily Reporter article regarding Tax Incremental Financing Districts in the smaller communities that are suffering losses in value. It seems that in this economic times, many TIDs are seeing losses in their value.
Make no mistake, though-they may be seeing a loss this year, but they've likely had gains in past few years and will again in the future. But it does extend the length of time it would take some TIDs to be paid off-and when the extra year could be added with the TID money being used for affordable housing under the new law.
Make no mistake, though-they may be seeing a loss this year, but they've likely had gains in past few years and will again in the future. But it does extend the length of time it would take some TIDs to be paid off-and when the extra year could be added with the TID money being used for affordable housing under the new law.
Affordable Home Ownership Improves Neighborhoods
"Tunraround seen for Woodlands" appeared Sunday August 16, 2009 in the Local Section of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. This article, well researched and reported by Georgia Pabst, documents the improvements that can be made to a neighborhood when non-profit organizations and government agencies work together on a cooperative plan. In this specific case, refurbished 3 and 4 bedroom condos are selling for $20,000 to $35,000, and the pride of ownership along with improved government services are transforming the entire neighborhood.
What does this have to do with Creating Communities in Waukesha County? It relates on several levels. First, the NIMBY fear of affordable housing does not make sense. If a neighborhood like the Woodlands can be improved through the carefully planned development of affordable housing, it can happen in Waukesha County as well. Second, part of the redevelopment cost for the Habitat for Humanity effort in the Woodlands came from the Milwaukee housing trust fund. If Waukesha County had a housing trust fund, partial funding could be made available to similar workforce housing developments. Third, the idea that workforce housing cannot be integrated into higher cost housing locations must be eliminated. Certainly the home owners around the Woodlands approve of a reduction in illegal activities.
I agree that Waukesha is not Milwaukee, and affordable, workforce housing in the county will be developed differently than in Milwaukee, but the affordability must be addressed today, and the creation of a housing trust fund is certainly a fine place to start.
What does this have to do with Creating Communities in Waukesha County? It relates on several levels. First, the NIMBY fear of affordable housing does not make sense. If a neighborhood like the Woodlands can be improved through the carefully planned development of affordable housing, it can happen in Waukesha County as well. Second, part of the redevelopment cost for the Habitat for Humanity effort in the Woodlands came from the Milwaukee housing trust fund. If Waukesha County had a housing trust fund, partial funding could be made available to similar workforce housing developments. Third, the idea that workforce housing cannot be integrated into higher cost housing locations must be eliminated. Certainly the home owners around the Woodlands approve of a reduction in illegal activities.
I agree that Waukesha is not Milwaukee, and affordable, workforce housing in the county will be developed differently than in Milwaukee, but the affordability must be addressed today, and the creation of a housing trust fund is certainly a fine place to start.
Friday, August 14, 2009
TID Funding for Housing
Back in June, I blogged on a new item in the Wisconsin budget legislation that would provide authority for communities to extend the life of Tax Incremental Financing Districts by an additional year for housing. I think of a TID this way: it's a loan against the future value of a district, with the loan being used to make improvements that will revitalize the district & create better tax-producing parcels.
Once a municipality decides to do this, the council has to pass a legislation authorizing this, describing how the money would be used for housing. At least 75% has to be used for affordable housing, with the remaining money used to improve the housing stock (such as lead paint removal).
According to a 2008 Public Policy Forum brief on TIDs, Waukesha County has 27 districts in 14 communities as of 2007, valued at approximately $1.5 million. An updated report (this morning!) with a list of communities and their TIDs can be found at the Department of Revenue.
Think about it. Whatever those communities currently pay out annually toward the cost of the TID could be used for housing for a year! Think of how many detoriating homes could be rehabbed with that money, how many homes Habitat for Humanity or Rebuilding Together could work on, how many homes could have lead paint safely removed!
Communities have lived without the tax increments from the increased value of the districts for years-maybe even two decades, so don't tell me they can't go one more year without that money. This is a great resource for communities clever enough to take advantage of it.
Once a municipality decides to do this, the council has to pass a legislation authorizing this, describing how the money would be used for housing. At least 75% has to be used for affordable housing, with the remaining money used to improve the housing stock (such as lead paint removal).
According to a 2008 Public Policy Forum brief on TIDs, Waukesha County has 27 districts in 14 communities as of 2007, valued at approximately $1.5 million. An updated report (this morning!) with a list of communities and their TIDs can be found at the Department of Revenue.
Think about it. Whatever those communities currently pay out annually toward the cost of the TID could be used for housing for a year! Think of how many detoriating homes could be rehabbed with that money, how many homes Habitat for Humanity or Rebuilding Together could work on, how many homes could have lead paint safely removed!
Communities have lived without the tax increments from the increased value of the districts for years-maybe even two decades, so don't tell me they can't go one more year without that money. This is a great resource for communities clever enough to take advantage of it.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Westchester Desegregation Pact
Westchester County, a wealthy suburb in the New York metropolitian area, has been fighting a court case alleging that they discriminated against minorities by not "affirmatively furthering fair housing." In other words, they accepted federal funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) which carries with it an obligation to desegregate and the Anti-Discrimination Center sued, stating that Westchester County has not been meeting their obligation.
A federal judge agreed.
Westchester County agreed to a settlement in which they "will have to pay more than $60 million, develop at least 750 housing units in the most residentially segregated white municipalities in the County, and institute meaningful housing de‐segregation policies."
This has implications for highly segregated communities around the country that have accepted federal funds through HUD and have done little to affirmatively further fair housing.
A federal judge agreed.
Westchester County agreed to a settlement in which they "will have to pay more than $60 million, develop at least 750 housing units in the most residentially segregated white municipalities in the County, and institute meaningful housing de‐segregation policies."
This has implications for highly segregated communities around the country that have accepted federal funds through HUD and have done little to affirmatively further fair housing.
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