Workforce housing programs can have a significant impact on the demographics, economy and housing affordability in a community.
Breckinridge, Colorado found itself in a similar situation to ours here in Cook County. In the year 2000 only 25 percent of its housing was occupied by residents.
The local workforce was being priced out of the housing market due to the demand for second home ownership. This prompted the city to begin encouraging development of workforce housing, and has been successful in creating 623 workforce housing units with occupancy, pricing, income and/or use restrictions to insure availability for locals.
Breckinridge found that by strategically targeting solutions for households not otherwise served by the private market, many positives have emerged. First, workforce housing units comprised about 18 percent of all housing units built between 2000 and 2010, yet accounted for 46 percent of the growth in resident households.
Next, workforce housing helped the town mitigate second homeowner pressure and increase local occupancy, the percentage of housing units occupied by residents increased from 25 percent in 2000 to 28 percent in 2010.
Additionally the percentage of households who owned homes increased from 39 percent in 2000 to 52 percent in 2010, with work force housing accounting for almost 50 percent of that growth.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, between 2000 and 2010 the number of families with children increased by 216 households, workforce housing accounted for 130 of these households or 60 percent growth. This has had a significant impact on keeping the local schools healthy, and in turn the community vibrant.
The Cook County/Grand Marais Economic Development Authority (EDA) is currently working to fill a housing gap in Cook County for workers that make between 80 to 120 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI), which according to Census data is just over $52,000. This is different than federal programs through HUD or state programs geared toward low income programs are designed to serve people making less than 60 percent of AMI.
The EDA’s current housing study is targeting essential workers in the community, i.e. teachers, nurses, police officers, public sector employees, resort/business management personnel, those who work in the numerous trades and many in the service industry.
To understand the need of this large and diverse part of our community, the EDA has sponsored a variety of events: six focus groups aimed at renters and potential home owners throughout the county; an online survey that drew over 300 respondents; individual user interviews and two separate business owner focus groups.
The results have suggested a few priorities. In the West End the initial goal is for the development of more rental housing followed by creation of owner occupied housing units.
Nearer to Grand Marais, survey results indicated a stronger need for owner occupied housing with rental units coming in after.
In the months ahead, more specific locations for these projects will begin to be narrowed down, and the plans and development partners identified. The success thus far and as we move forward, is indeed by listening to the many different voices in our county. We look forward to the continuing dialogue and partnership, and to using the knowledge gained in similar communities across the country to secure success and keep our county a place we can all call home.
Anton Moody
EDA Board Member
Grand Marais
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