Affordable Housing Impact Statements

Affordable Housing Impact Statements, is a policy to document the impacts of public policy decisions by a local jurisdiction upon its affordable housing stock. The new policy proposal would be enforced to any and all proposed ordinances or applications for new zoning or land use changes. The Affordable Housing Impact Statement would instruct developers and government officials to first consider how new development might affect the availability of housing for low-income families.

Ever since hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005 the city has been dealing with poverty and living costs. New Orleans was on of the first cities to propose an affordable housing impact statement. Their poverty level across the city is one of the highest in the country. Most of their people are paying one-third of their income on housing. The income rates in general are exceedingly low for the city as well. New Orleans has been working vigorously to lower housing prices and raise income levels. With the affordable housing impact statement policy in place, the cities future development would have to incorporate affordable units up front. They have projected to create 5,000 new affordable units by 2021.

Meanwhile in Pittsburgh, city Councilman Ricky Burgess proposed an affordable housing impact statement. Although the policy has not been approved, the adoption of one is still up for debate.

How much does a family pay?

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Who qualifies?

How many units?

Further Reading