Laserfiche WebLink
(3) There are two major types of remedies indicated in the WAC for addressing affordable housing <br /> requirements—one is fmancial and one is planning/regulation oriented. It is beyond the financial <br /> capacity of most local governments and nonprofits to satisfy all unmet housing needs through <br /> their own expenditures. Historically,the federal government has taken the lead in the financial <br /> strategies,but they have been backing away from housing assistance over the years.The housing <br /> affordability issue will get worse if federal funding trends continue. In the face of this strong <br /> likelihood jurisdictions may want to strengthen their regulatory strategies,and they may initiate <br /> other strategies to expand the constituency for housing and focus the use of limited available <br /> funds.These may include: <br /> a. Lobbying at the state and federal level for improved funding; <br /> b. Public education on the spectrum of housing needs and appropriate strategies; <br /> c. Support for the Housing Consortium's efforts to develop a regional approach to housing <br /> needs; <br /> d. Pooling of grant funding to focus on particular communities; <br /> e. Increase support for countywide planning and strategic investment in housing and <br /> infrastructure. <br /> (4) Snohomish County could use these indicators of need to set priorities regarding the locational <br /> preferences for state and federally assisted housing in Snohomish County. <br /> (5) During their Comprehensive Plan updates,jurisdictions will include local housing strategies to <br /> attain the jurisdictions' fair share housing objectives, in accordance with HO-5 of the Countywide <br /> Planning Policies. <br /> (6) While the GMA requires communities to address unmet housing needs and take actions to reduce <br /> or eliminate the need,it is recognized that it is unlikely that the need will be eliminated. <br /> Communities that are making serious attempts to reduce the need should not be solely <br /> accountable when there is still too little affordable housing. However,financial constraints shall <br /> not be a valid reason for a community not addressing countywide unmet housing needs in its <br /> comprehensive plan land use and housing strategies. <br /> 12 <br /> 4 <br />