At Housing Solutions Network, we’d like to thank Marcia Kelbon for sharing our Housing Jefferson County’s Economy Community Survey Report with the Leader’s readers. Kelbon and HSN both agree: the rental situation in our community is dire. Over the course of the last 11 years, JeffCo has lost around 579 rental units. The number of vacant homes (as defined by US Census) now outnumber rentals. Furthermore, our survey showed 72% of renters are cost burdened by housing, or spending more than 30% of income on housing costs. The graphic accompanying Kelborn’s article displays a fact from the WA Dept. of Commerce stating “rising rents are the largest driver to homelessness” -- not mental illness or drug and alcohol abuse.
This item is available in full to subscribers.
We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.
If you had an active account on our previous website, then you have an account here. Simply reset your password to regain access to your account.
If you did not have an account on our previous website, but are a current print subscriber, click here to set up your website account.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
* Having trouble? Call our circulation department at 360-385-2900, or email our support.
Please log in to continue |
|
At Housing Solutions Network, we’d like to thank Marcia Kelbon for sharing our Housing Jefferson County’s Economy Community Survey Report with the Leader’s readers. Kelbon and HSN both agree: the rental situation in our community is dire. Over the course of the last 11 years, JeffCo has lost around 579 rental units. The number of vacant homes (as defined by US Census) now outnumber rentals. Furthermore, our survey showed 72% of renters are cost burdened by housing, or spending more than 30% of income on housing costs. The graphic accompanying Kelborn’s article displays a fact from the WA Dept. of Commerce stating “rising rents are the largest driver to homelessness” -- not mental illness or drug and alcohol abuse.
HSN does not suggest this burden lies solely on landlords — an ubiquitous term that is admittedly antiquated as Kelborn points out — in fact, our report recommends agency from everyone in our community. But landlords do have a role to play in mitigating our housing crisis. To Kelborn’s credit we mistakenly oversimplified a suggested rent calculating formula that our report recommends to landlords, that came to us by way of the Methow Housing Trust (WA).
The formula should (and now does) read Housing Costs (incl. mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities, etc) + 10% for incidentals (i.e.repairs, maintenance) = Rent. We extend this recommendation to help landlords set rents that our community can bear, rather than relying on the market.
We’d also like to remind folks of two things as it relates to rental housing: 1. Housing for all benefits a community for all. 2. The buying and selling of real estate is the investment, renting above and beyond your costs is secondary profit.
Lastly, I want to address rent stabilization. In support of HB1217, this tool will help create predictability for renters and families. By capping rental increases at 7%, it allows families to plan and remain housing secure. This amount is more than the 2% target inflation rate, doesn’t apply to new developments, and allows home providers to increase rents between tenants.
There’s an Albert Einstein quote that often comes to me, “We can not solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”
Liz Revord
HSN Director
