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Survey on Workforce Housing Recommendations

About Workforce Housing

“Workforce housing” means housing for the people who work in a community. When housing prices rise much faster than wages, many people are priced out of the housing market. This is starting to happen in Washington County. Workforce housing is NOT low-income housing. It is housing for people making average wages in their community.

In 2005, a Task Force on Workforce Housing made recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners about policies that could help preserve workforce housing. These policies would help families with incomes up to about $72,000 for a family of four.

After studying the report, the League of Women Voters Affordable Housing Coalition has decided to concentrate on seven of these recommendations. We think these are the most important ideas in the report for creating and protecting Workforce Housing. The full report is available at http://www.wc-link.org/hawc/Final.pdf

This questionnaire is based on those recommendations.

Please fill it out to let the County Commissioners know what you think!

Workforce Housing and You
Have you been personally affected by the high cost of housing?
Has anyone you know talked with you about problems they have had finding housing they can afford?
Families of four...
Please indicate what you think about these specific ideas for keeping affordable housing in Washington County. They would help families making up to about $72,000 a year (for a family of four).
Inclusionary Zoning
Washington County should let developers build a few more housing units on their property than the zoning rules usually allow in exchange for building affordable Workforce Housing.
Older Homes
Local government should create a pool of money to buy and fix up older homes that can be sold to Workforce Housing families
Housing Trust Fund
A housing trust fund, controlled by a body the County appoints, should be created to help pay for Workforce Housing.
Tax Break
Workforce Housing should get a break on the County's excise tax on new home.
Hiring a Consultant
Hiring a well-qualified consultant could help Washington County decide the best way to create and preserve Workforce Housing.
Public Land Trust
A public land trust should be created for Washington County. The Trust would own the land under Workforce Housing, making the housing more affordable for the homeowner or landlord.
Regulatory Relief
It would be a good idea to review the rules about building new homes, and change rules that add to the cost of building homes without providing other important benefits.
Comments on the questionnaire or general comments on the topic of Workforce Housing
About You
(please check all that apply)
Further Information
If you would like to be notified when we add new material to the Workforce Housing Advocacy Page, or when we are making presentations to community groups, consider providing us with the following information. This is NOT required.