EVIDENCE BASED PLANNING

PUTTING HOUSING NEEDS ASSESSMENTS AND

HEALTH DATA TO WORK FOR YOUR COMMUNITY

Guidance for Developing a Housing Needs Assessment, published by the Washington State Department of Commerce, cites several factors causing housing affordability problems, including:

 ·       Rapid population growth, especially in the Central Puget Sound region

Rising construction costs

·        New housing construction that does not address local needs

·        Displacement, as middle- and moderate-income households cannot find adequate affordable housing near job centers

·        Short-term rentals -- Airbnb, HomeAway and VRBO make it easy for homeowners to convert residential properties into commercial wealth generators.

·        Lack of living-wage jobs, meaning workforce development can be as important of a solution as lower cost housing.

     “Shelter is the most basic of human needs,” the report states.” 

When people can secure stable and affordable housing near locations of jobs and opportunity, they are able to focus on achieving other life goals, such as education, career advancement, health and wellness, or raising a family. 

Without stable and affordable housing, residents face significant and sometime insurmountable challenges to achieving these goals.”