Bond election coming up in November for affordable housing (Austin: 2013, apartments)

[creepy]

We have a bond election coming up in November for affordable housing. You might ask-Why should affordable housing be a concern?

A belief that everyone should be able to afford a decent place to live is a moral concern. In Austin as in the US the income gap between rich and poor appears to me, to be increasing. Greater wealth for many unavoidably puts upward pressure on housing prices, squeezing those with less income.
A community or government representing us can take steps to stimulate affordable housing, or to mandate or require a certain number of affordable housing units. Then affordable housing has legal justification as well.
Without affordable housing, our communities will become more uniform. We and our children may lose the opportunity to interact with people who may be in different economic or cultural circumstances, to learn from them and to enjoy their company.
Keep Austin Weird is a logo that has some local street cred behind it. If things continue as they are it might instead read “Keep The Weird in Austin (they can’t afford it and are moving away)”.
Despite recent economic prosperity for many Americans, affordable housing in the United States is scarce and growing scarcer.
"[Households with worst case needs] represent 5 percent of the Nation's population and a disturbing one-sixth of all U.S. renters. Without Federal, state, or local housing assistance, these renting families face severe financial pressures -- many are merely a paycheck or unexpected medical bill away from homelessness." Do we want more homeless people in Austin? No.

Provisons of the bond include: Home Repair Programs, Home Ownership Programs, Rental Housing Development Assistance.
In Austin in 2012 we voted to give money to library facility improvements and not affordable housing. Food, clothing and shelter are the 3 basic needs and library is not on that list. There are reasons why affordable housing took a backseat. The group representing funding for library facility improvements was more vocal. Now we have a chance to make things right-vote for affordable housing on the ballot in November.

Some of my info I got from the following site:
Providing Affordable Housing for All

[Komeht]

Originally Posted by creepy

We have a bond election coming up in November for affordable housing. You might ask-Why should affordable housing be a concern?

A belief that everyone should be able to afford a decent place to live is a moral concern. In Austin as in the US the income gap between rich and poor appears to me, to be increasing. Greater wealth for many unavoidably puts upward pressure on housing prices, squeezing those with less income.
A community or government representing us can take steps to stimulate affordable housing, or to mandate or require a certain number of affordable housing units. Then affordable housing has legal justification as well.
Without affordable housing, our communities will become more uniform. We and our children may lose the opportunity to interact with people who may be in different economic or cultural circumstances, to learn from them and to enjoy their company.
Keep Austin Weird is a logo that has some local street cred behind it. If things continue as they are it might instead read “Keep The Weird in Austin (they can’t afford it and are moving away)”.
Despite recent economic prosperity for many Americans, affordable housing in the United States is scarce and growing scarcer.
"[Households with worst case needs] represent 5 percent of the Nation's population and a disturbing one-sixth of all U.S. renters. Without Federal, state, or local housing assistance, these renting families face severe financial pressures -- many are merely a paycheck or unexpected medical bill away from homelessness." Do we want more homeless people in Austin? No.

Provisons of the bond include: Home Repair Programs, Home Ownership Programs, Rental Housing Development Assistance.
In Austin in 2012 we voted to give money to library facility improvements and not affordable housing. Food, clothing and shelter are the 3 basic needs and library is not on that list. There are reasons why affordable housing took a backseat. The group representing funding for library facility improvements was more vocal. Now we have a chance to make things right-vote for affordable housing on the ballot in November.

Some of my info I got from the following site:
Providing Affordable Housing for All

I'll support this on the day, and not a day before, the city council enacts policies that will allow for a vast increase of supply of new housing in the center city. Until then, all programs like this do are reward a few lottery winners and do nothing real about the real affordability crisis this city is in fact in.

If you want to do something real about affordability - I'm on board. Until then this is just making those who harm the poor the most doing the smallest possible amount to assuage their guilt. No thank you.

[scm53]

Originally Posted by creepy

A belief that everyone should be able to afford a decent place to live is a moral concern. In Austin as in the US the income gap between rich and poor appears to me, to be increasing. Greater wealth for many unavoidably puts upward pressure on housing prices, squeezing those with less income.

Since the demand for below market rate housing in Austin will always exceed supply, I was wondering how you would ration the supply?

[df175]

Originally Posted by Komeht

I'll support this on the day, and not a day before, the city council enacts policies that will allow for a vast increase of supply of new housing in the center city. Until then, all programs like this do are reward a few lottery winners and do nothing real about the real affordability crisis this city is in fact in.

If you want to do something real about affordability - I'm on board. Until then this is just making those who harm the poor the most doing the smallest possible amount to assuage their guilt. No thank you.

I agree.

The city council has done more harm to housing affordability over the years than any bond proposal could ever correct. The inability to build in many central neighborhoods is a huge reason for "stealth dorms." Even worse, the council is still considering an ordinance that will require inspections of all rental properties even when they have no complaints, which will no doubt lead to many "technical" violations on older properties, requiring expensive repairs.

[CarnivalGal]

Why are the even bothering with a bond election? Last time the was an affordable housing bond on the ballot, it didn't pass. But the city council went ahead and did it anyway. So why do they even bother to ask people to vote on it?

[hoffdano]

Originally Posted by mm57553

Why are the even bothering with a bond election? Last time the was an affordable housing bond on the ballot, it didn't pass. But the city council went ahead and did it anyway. So why do they even bother to ask people to vote on it?

Not sure that is what happened. The city cannot issue bonds without voter approval. They can spend general funds, but not issue bonds.

[Trainwreck20]

They can spend general funds, but not issue bonds.

Yup, bond failed last time, so they spent about the same amount from the general fund.

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

Yup, bond failed last time, so they spent about the same amount from the general fund.

Exactly, they ignored the will of the people and spent our tax dollars anyway. Now they are throwing another bond election as us. I am voting against it just on that principal. I hate the way they have been packaging bond issues together to force us to approve things that we don't support in order to approve bonds that we do support. They will find me approving very few bond issues as long as they continue that practice.

[car957]

Originally Posted by CptnRn

Exactly, they ignored the will of the people and spent our tax dollars anyway. Now they are throwing another bond election as us. I am voting against it just on that principal. I hate the way they have been packaging bond issues together to force us to approve things that we don't support in order to approve bonds that we do support. They will find me approving very few bond issues as long as they continue that practice.

I've even been hesitant on some of the transportation bond packages because from my view, I'm not seeing equity for various parts of the City. I'm also suspect given that Travis County was in the process of spending $33 million for a road improvement on FM 812 that would really be beneficial to the Circuit of The Americas.

I've been writing letters to City Council for the past 8 years asking that South Congress be widened from Eberhart Ln. to W. Slaughter Lane. Two bond elections ago, funding was approved for engineering the project. I still haven't seen any action. I understand CIP transportation dollars for those of us want to upgrade our own infrastructure are limited, but I find the Bond Committee seems to get its queues from folks who have little connection to the respective areas of town.

As to the Affordable Housing bond, its horse crap. I've seen several of these Cities in The Box built as Smart Housing but I have yet to have a clear explanation of what is affordable from the developers. The 704 (the apartment that wraps around the Broken Spoke) and one of the developments on South Shore District drive are examples of multi-million dollar apartments that are not priced for affordability unless $1500/month meets your definition of affordable for a 811 square foot box with granite countertops and stainless appliances.

[Komeht]

We Should All Be On Supply’s Side | citytank

You cannot solve affordability with bond programs. To make any kind of dent whatsoever, it must be done through increasing supply. Please do not support this sham that will continue to give cover to the city council from doing something real about affordable housing.

Affordability will absolutely kill Austin if we don't take critical steps to ensure adequate housing base to meet dramatically increased demand. THESE BOND PROGRAMS ARE NOT ONLY EXPENSIVE _ THEY WILL NOT WORK.

Austin is following the same disastrous policies that made San Francisco the most expensive and exclusive city in the US. And while we wont ever be as expensive as San Francisco, we'll continue to be far far more expensive than we should be as long as we follow similar land use policies.

If you care about Austin affordability - please do NOT vote in favor of this bond package. Instead, send a message to city council that now is the time to revisit the policies that are rapidly making central Austin an enclave and playground of the very wealthy.