The Year 2035 Regional Housing Plan for Southeastern Wisconsin outlines a comprehensive strategy to address housing needs across various demographics, emphasizing affordability, accessibility, and sustainability. The plan is structured around six key areas: housing affordability, job/housing balance, subsidized housing, accessible housing for persons with disabilities, fair housing practices, and effective housing development strategies.
It represents a strategic framework aimed at addressing the pressing housing issues faced by the region. Developed by the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SEWRPC), this plan is a response to the ongoing challenges of affordable housing that have persisted since the economic downturn in 2008. The plan’s vision is to create “financially sustainable housing for people of all income levels, age groups, and needs throughout the entire southeastern Wisconsin region”.
Background and Purpose
The impetus for the Regional Housing Plan arose from a significant need identified in 2010, when over 280,000 households in southeastern Wisconsin were spending more than 30% of their income on housing costs. This statistic highlighted a broader issue of affordability, particularly among low to moderate-income households, which constituted two-thirds of those affected.
The plan seeks to provide a comprehensive analysis and advisory recommendations for local governments, focusing on areas with public sewer services across seven counties.
Key Objectives
The Regional Housing Plan outlines several key objectives:
- Assessment of Housing Needs: The plan includes detailed analyses of current housing data, identifying both existing and projected housing shortages. It emphasizes the need for various housing types to accommodate an increasing population and changing demographics.
- Encouragement of Diverse Housing Options: By promoting smaller lot sizes and higher-density developments, the plan aims to enhance affordability and accessibility for a wider range of households.
- Integration with Local Plans: The SEWRPC has collaborated with local governments to ensure that the Regional Housing Plan aligns with existing comprehensive plans adopted by municipalities. This integration is crucial for fostering cohesive development strategies across the region.
Housing Affordability
The plan identifies housing affordability as critical, particularly for lower- and moderate-income households. It suggests that local governments should revise their comprehensive plans and zoning ordinances to facilitate the development of affordable housing. Recommendations include allowing higher densities for multi-family units and creating smaller single-family homes on smaller lots. Specifically, it advocates for:
- Multi-family housing: Development of modest multi-family housing at a density of at least 10 units per acre.
- Single-family homes: Allowing new single- and two-family homes on lots of 10,000 square feet or less.
The aim is to ensure that housing costs do not exceed 30% of a household’s monthly income, targeting households earning between 50% to 135% of the region’s median income.
Job/Housing Balance
The plan includes an analysis of the job/housing balance, comparing job wages with housing costs. It highlights imbalances in certain communities where there are more lower-wage jobs than affordable housing options. To address this, the plan recommends:
- Conducting detailed analyses in communities with identified imbalances.
- Developing additional modest multi-family and single-family homes where shortages exist.
Enhancing public transit connections between affordable housing areas and job centers is also emphasized to improve access for low-income individuals.
Subsidized and Tax Credit Housing
Recognizing the need for subsidized housing, the plan indicates that government or non-profit organizations must provide affordable options for households earning less than 50% of the median income. With approximately 24% of households in the region falling into this category, it calls for:
- Increased federal funding for housing vouchers.
- Targeted development of new subsidized and tax credit housing in areas with significant low-income populations.
The establishment of a regional Housing Trust Fund is also proposed to assist in financing affordable housing projects.
Accessible Housing for Persons with Disabilities
The plan stresses the importance of accessible housing as the population ages and the incidence of disabilities increases. Currently, there are insufficient accessible units available. Recommendations include:
- Increasing multi-family housing developments that cater to individuals with disabilities.
- Ensuring new developments meet accessibility standards to provide greater choice and access to employment opportunities.
Fair Housing Practices
To combat disparities in housing opportunities among minority populations, the plan suggests expanding fair housing practices. This involves:
- Increasing lower- and moderate-cost housing options in areas with high minority populations.
- Implementing a regional voucher program to facilitate movement to less impoverished areas.
- Assisting low-income families seeking better living conditions.
Housing Development Practices
The plan advocates for compact urban development as a means to increase affordable housing supply while minimizing land consumption. Key points include:
- Promoting higher-density development patterns that allow residents easier access to jobs and services.
- Reducing vehicle travel through walkable neighbourhoods.
- Preserving farmland by limiting urban sprawl.
By focusing on these strategies, the Year 2035 Regional Housing Plan aims not only to create more affordable housing but also to enhance community stability and economic viability throughout Southeastern Wisconsin. The document serves as a blueprint for local governments and stakeholders to collaborate on creating sustainable living environments that meet the diverse needs of their populations.In conclusion, this comprehensive approach addresses both immediate housing shortages and long-term sustainability goals, ensuring that all residents have access to safe, affordable, and accessible homes by 2035.
Further reading:
Whitewater Housing Roundtable SEWRPC presenter says affordable … whitewaterwise
Year 2035 Regional Housing Plan for Southeastern Wisconsin … policycommons