Mid-Columbia: The Landscape
Rural Bi-State Area
-Hood River County
-Wasco County
-Sherman County
-Skamania County
-Klickitat County
The Issue: Attainable Housing Shortage of quality housing options at prices
commensurate with wages • Local ordinances, regulations
• Lack of market comparables.
• Availability of buildable property
• Financing.
The Issue: Regional
Economic issue
“Housing in the Gorge is often a challenge for our employees. The main challenges include low inventory, such as lack of multi-bedroom apartments and ‘starter homes’ for young families, and high cost. Many of our junior employees and those in lower pay brackets find themselves priced out of both the rental and purchase markets.” -- Insitu
The Issue: Hood River County
“If you work here, you should be able to live here” Affordability gap
Inventory issue
The Issue: Wasco County
Housing Quality Issues Aging Housing Stock
The Issue: Sherman County
Shortage of single family housing stock Declining Population
The Process
2007 Workforce Housing Summit
2009 Affordable/Workforce Housing Report
2012 Housing Needs Analysis
2013 Regional Solutions Project
Status
Local Solutions Sherman County RLF City of The Dalles Vertical Housing Hood River County Workforce Housing Fund
Regional Opportunities Attainable Housing Revolving Loan Fund Commitment to Increasing Local Capacity
Status: Financing
Attainable Housing RLF to underwrite public and private investment
Serve as a transitional role until the regional market meets the demand for attainable housing
Status: Local Capacity
Ongoing Needs
Mid-Columbia Housing Authority
Community Commitment