Resolution for Grove: Employer Assisted Housing

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Donna Tiemann
Posts: 17
Joined: Fri Jan 09, 2015 4:06 pm

Resolution for Grove: Employer Assisted Housing

Post by Donna Tiemann »

All,
As we continue the work on the Grove development agreement, we have an opportunity to work with employers on creative ways to address the needs of workers we depend on who have difficulty making ends meet - people like our health care workers, nurses, and personal care assistants.

I want to bring everyone’s attention to the resolution in Item 31 on tomorrow’s agenda, which supports such a creative approach. We know the absence of affordable housing located near lower wage jobs, in an environment where affordable transportation options are limited, contributes to the difficulties these workers and their families face. An employer assisted housing program like those that have been used in other cities will be another tool to address affordability in Austin, and one which I fully support


“Item 31: RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the development commonly referred to as “The Grove” is located in a high opportunity area, with a high number of low and moderate-wage jobs; and

WHEREAS, the Grove PUD will provide 138 units of affordable housing (both rental and ownership); and

WHEREAS, connecting housing and jobs helps to create “complete communities” and furthers the goals and priority programs of Imagine Austin; and

WHEREAS, next to housing, transportation is typically a household’s second largest budget item and by having affordable housing in proximity to jobs, we are increasing household affordability in accordance with Imagine Austin’s Priority Program #8; and

WHEREAS, because of the Grove’s proximity o various employers, it will be important for the developer of the
Grove to affirmatively market housing opportunities (including affordable housing opportunities) to employers located within a two-mile radius of the site; and

WHEREAS, the City of Austin should assist with the creation of an
Employer-Assisted Housing Program, as recommend in HousingWorks’ 2014 Report “Finding the Balance”; and

WHEREAS, the pilot program could be funded through public-private mechanism, potentially including contributions from local employers and seeded with funding from the City of Austin;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY AUSTIN:
The City Council authorizes the City Manager to provide funding to support a pilot program that will connect housing and jobs through local employers by matching income-qualified local employees with on-site affordable units and the employer paying the differential between employee income (approximately 40% MFI) and affordable units at the Grove (approximately 60% MFI).

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: The funding authorized by this Resolution must be provided to a program that includes an evaluation of the program’s impact on employee retention, satisfaction, and other similar factors that are related to program goals.”

Best

Ann Kitchen
City Council District 5
Chief of Staff
Office of Council Member Ann Kitchen, District 5