An expert in affordable housing for rural communities says the specific need can vary from one community to another.
Nancy Orr, or Nancy Orr and Associates, says some communities are looking for homes for seniors, some just want more diversity and some need more rental opportunities. But Orr says the number one priority is land and she says that sounds very simple, but she believes it has to be stated. Orr says if a community has under-utilized land or excess capacity in a facility or they’re building a new public sector facility that could incorporate rental housing, they need to think about that. She says you really are the star if you’ve got land or space that can be used.
Orr says the next need is policy, the public sector has to be behind the project and she says there are a lot of policy options that haven’t necessarily been embraced because they haven’t been made a priority or they haven’t had the funding or capacity to do that. But you need a local champion who’s going to initiate it, that’s going to convene the conversation and bring a group of activators together.
Orr also points out that market-driven economies don’t bode housing affordability well. They’re not designed to. And so it’s essential to add a not-for-profit partnership component in, then you’ve got some long term sustainability, because, right now, she says, we’re losing more affordable housing, by a long shot, than we are building new.
Orr adds, the cost to replace that lost affordable housing far exceeds the entire National Housing Strategy budget.
