Title
Calling for action to create and preserve housing that is affordable at all income levels, address racial, social and economic disparities in housing, and create infrastructure needed to stabilize housing for all in Saint Paul.
Body
WHEREAS the Saint Paul City Council acknowledges the housing crisis in our city and region, and the urgent need to address the crisis as our population grows, and
WHEREAS the Met Council has forecasted the need for Saint Paul to house approximately 15,000 additional households by 2030, and
WHEREAS stagnant wages, skyrocketing rents, a lack of affordable housing and a 2.4 percent housing vacancy rate are making it harder for Saint Paul residents to find housing and to afford it over time, and
WHEREAS the Saint Paul Area Association of Realtors has stated that a healthy housing market has a six month supply of homes for sale, and that in June 2018 the supply was at 1.7 months, so Saint Paul needs to increase the homes for sale from 500 to 1720 to achieve a healthy housing market, and
WHEREAS the City Council has convened work groups to draft reports on poverty and homelessness as well as fair housing, and
WHEREAS Resolution 17-2064 passed by the City Council in December 2017 directed the Fair Housing Workgroup to develop a Fair Housing Strategic Plan and the Fair Housing Workgroup presented a report titled “Fair Housing Work Group: Status update and policy and program options in response to Resolution 17-2064” to the City Council in March 2018, and
WHEREAS the City of Saint Paul is currently engaging in programs and practices advancing Saint Paul’s housing goals including:
-Low Income Housing Tax Credits (4 and 9%), which provide financial support for development of additional affordable multi-family rental units in areas of opportunity and preservation of units in areas of concentrated poverty,
-Inspiring Communities Program which provides financial support to develop additional affordable single family units....
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