Council says 'Go' to Affordable Housing Commission

DAYTON—At last week’s Dayton City Council meeting Planning Director Meagan Bailey talked about the perception most people have regarding what defines affordable housing, saying most people think it relates to low-income housing.

Housing is considered affordable if the household is paying no more than 30% of their income, for housing costs, for rent or mortgage plus utilities, she said.

She said subsidized housing is made affordable to occupants through direct government financial support, targeting low income households. Whereas, affordable housing is owned by a private, not-for-profit agency, and is made affordable through capital grants, low interest loans, gifts of public land, government incentives and/or equity and debt investments which are used to “buy down” construction and operating costs so savings can be passed on to the occupants.

“We can subsidize and bring down the cost of development, making housing affordable,” she said.

Bailey told the council that development costs can be lowered by utilizing various tools granted to cities by the state and federal government, through grants such as the USDA Rural Community Development grants.

She said creating an Affordable Housing Commission to work with the City Planning Director on creating an action plan for affordable housing is appropriate and timely, considering the City of Dayton is the second highest community in the state for being cost burdened regarding housing costs.

"Sixty-nine percent of Columbia County residents are cost-burdened due to rent and utility costs. Sit on that for a minute. Seven out of 10 people. How powerful is that," Bailey told The Times.

She said the Affordable Housing Commission will work to set standards.

“We see affordable housing as attractive, well-kept, single family dwellings, and well-kept, well-desiged apartment complexes, ,” she said.

Bailey said the focus on affordable housing is nationwide and the state of Washington is lagging slightly behind.

The Dayton City Council agreed to amend the Dayton Municipal Code to establish an Affordable Housing Commission.