2017/11/15 Council Agenda Packet

Housing Consortium of Everett& Snohomish County PO Box 1326 Everett,WA 98037 425-339-1015 HOUSING housingsnohomish@gmail.com CONSORTIUM Of EVERETT AND www.housingsnohomish.org SNOHOMISH COUNTY November 15, 2017 To:Council President Tuohy, Honorable members of the Everett City Council From: Mark Smith, Executive Director, Housing Consortium of Everett&Snohomish County RE: Council Bill 1710-52, Regarding an Exemption for Special Connection Charges for Low-Income Housing Projects Thank you for the opportunity to comment on Council Bill 1710-52. The Mayor and City Council are to be commended for recent actions in support of affordable housing. From adopting many of the recommendations of the City Streets Initiative to partnering with Catholic Housing Services on Snohomish County's first low-barrier housing to the recently implemented impact fee waivers,you have all been truly courageous leaders in addressing the plight of our homeless and extremely low income residents. Your actions have not only helped real people facing unimaginable poverty,they also lessen the burden on Everett's public safety and emergency medical systems. Of equal importance is the message your actions send that you are committed to improving the quality of life in our community. Passing Council Bill 1710-52 is one more action that will contribute to the greater good. In January, 2017,the Housing Consortium of Everett&Snohomish County launched its Housing Snohomish County Project designed to achieve the following goals: • Create a 10 year Affordable Housing Production Plan for Snohomish County • Drive community ownership of the plan and a coordinated implementation strategy • Enhance understanding of housing need and community support for pursuing additional, county wide funding sources Our research found that the City of Everett currently has 2,765 income restricted homes that serve households making 50%or less of Snohomish County's Area Median Income (AMI).The data also showed that there are an additional 7,215 Everett families with total household income of less than 50%of AMI who are paying more than 50% of their income just for housing costs and 5,550 families paying more than 30%. Everett Low-Income1 Cost-Burdened Households, 2014 Number of households Percent of total households Cost-burdened2 5,550 13.4% Severely cost-burdened' 7,215 17.4% TOTAL 12,765 30.8% Source:U.S.Department of Housing and Urban Development(HUD)CHAS 2014 1 Household is earning 50%or less of area median income(AMI),defined by HUD as$44,800/yr 2 Household pays between 30%and 50%of income to housing 3 Household pays greater than 50%of income to housing