In this episode we discuss the challenges firefighters face when looking for housing. We also discuss how rent control is not the solution to affordability.
Category Archives: Workforce Housing
HousingThink Podcast – Episode 7
In this episode we discuss the challenges facing teachers in finding housing near their place of work. We also discuss strategies for working with local municipalities to create new housing for this market segment.
How Developers are Helping Teachers Find Affordable Housing
“According to the National Education Association, teacher salaries from the 2018-19 school year are down 4.5 percent compared to salaries from the 2009-10 school year, when adjusting for inflating. Over that same time period, the Case-Shiller National Home Price Index has risen by 43.1 percent.
This means many teachers have been forced to leave their school communities—particularly in high-cost metro areas like San Francisco and New York City—or to leave the profession altogether. ”
https://www.curbed.com/2019/5/7/18535284/affordable-housing-teachers-landed-village
HousingThink Podcast – Episode 6
In this episode we look at how veterans factor into the workforce housing market and how workforce housing renters are often forced to live in lower quality housing.
HousingThink Extra – Episode 5
Our nation’s workforce is the backbone of the US economy. In this HT Extra, we’ll introduce you to some of these workers.
HousingThink Podcast – Episode 5
Workforce Housing is designed for those who earn too much to qualify for affordable housing and too little to live in newer market-rate housing. Today’s show puts a face on this often-overlooked market segment.
Let’s Say ‘Yes In My Backyard’ To Fix Housing Woes
“Amid soaring housing costs, homelessness and environmental destruction, it’s time to do away with the exclusionary ‘not in my backyard’ (NIMBY) attitude and embrace a ‘yes in my backyard’ (YIMBY) approach that calls for dense, responsible development.”
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesrealestatecouncil/2020/01/28/lets-say-yes-in-my-backyard-to-fix-housing-woes/amp/
Where are the Republican YIMBYs?
This is a question I have been asking for years.
“People who want dynamism in housing markets and urban development ought of find common ground with Republicans, so why do there seem to be so few Republican YIMBYs? Nolan Gray of the Mercatus Center comments.”
https://www.cato.org/multimedia/cato-daily-podcast/where-are-republican-yimbys
Fannie Mae Report: Workforce Housing
The Urban Land Institute defines workforce households as those households earning between 60% and 100% of Area Median Income (AMI). According to Fannie Mae, this income band accounts for about 30% of all renter households in the United States.
But half of all new construction targets those households earning more that 100% of AMI; the other half targets those earning less than 60% of AMI. Fact is, very few new units are being built to meet the needs of the workforce housing market segment – the backbone of any local economy.
Follow this link to the Fannie Mae report:
https://www.fanniemae.com/content/fact_sheet/wpworkhouse.pdf
CBRE Report: The Case for Workforce Housing
CBRE Research recently published a report entitled The Case for Workforce Housing. The report enumerates the many reasons to invest in this underserved market segment. According to CBRE “…workforce housing has very strong supply/demand fundamentals that give the sector a solid foundation to provide continued good investment returns.” 
For more information, follow this link to the report:
https://www.cbre.com/research-and-reports/The-Case-for-Workforce-Housing