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4T _ <br /> Findings <br /> The subcommittee reported these findings in support of its recommendations. <br /> (1) The Fair Share Housing Allocation addresses both existing and projected needs for low and <br /> moderate-income housing distribution throughout Snohomish County.Essentially,it pools the <br /> existing and projected number of low/mod-income households throughout the County that pay(or <br /> will pay)more than 30% of their income on housing, and reallocates their needs for affordable <br /> housing across the county.The allocation is done by a formula or model that determines what <br /> each jurisdiction's fair share should be. Because the model includes both existing unmet needs <br /> and projected needs the goals established are quite large for each community and clearly represent <br /> a challenge that would require aggressive action on a wide variety of housing strategies— <br /> particularly in light of changing federal and state priorities and funding levels. <br /> (2) The Fair Share Housing Allocation represents the number of low and moderate-income <br /> households for which each of the respective jurisdictions should plan.WAC 365-195-070(6) <br /> states that planning for low and moderate-income households with housing needs will likely <br /> include"some combination of appropriately zoned land,regulatory incentives,financial subsidies, <br /> and innovative planning techniques."This is a very broad mandate. SCT, in 1994,addressed this <br /> subject and approved a document highlighting various strategies to aid jurisdictions in responding <br /> to this broad mandate. SCT's approach has been considerably different than that of King County, <br /> where the emphasis is on assuring that a certain percentage of new housing units is affordable to <br /> households making less than 80% of the median household income. <br /> (3) Local communities planning under the Growth Management Act must balance a number of <br /> competing goals, and accommodate a variety of housing needs within their jurisdictions.The <br /> model addresses the provision and geographic distribution of low and moderate cost housing.The <br /> Technical Paper addresses but does not quantify additional housing issues, such as the provision <br /> of group homes and special needs populations.Each jurisdiction is charged with addressing those <br /> needs in local plans and policies. <br /> (4) The Fair Share model is a rather complex,multi-step procedure that may be difficult for elected <br /> officials and staff to grasp quickly.While focusing on a portion of overall housing needs, the <br /> model does not specify the need for or distribution of special needs housing,group homes, <br /> shelters and other housing needs that local jurisdictions must balance in their land use and <br /> housing decisions.The subcommittee has other concerns,for example,about the economic and <br /> spatial relationship of low-cost housing to low-income jobs and how that interaction should be <br /> represented in the model,and whether or not these complex economic factors can be represented <br /> with validity. <br /> Conclusions and Recommendations <br /> The subcommittee thus recommends the Fair Share Housing Allocation as presented, with the <br /> following additional considerations: <br /> (1) Use the current model for the 2025 update,but revise the model to be more easily understood <br /> before it is used again. <br /> (2) The numbers developed in the model should be used as indicators of the magnitude and trend of <br /> housing affordability in their communities. <br /> ii <br /> 3 <br />