January 2024 Regional Housing Partnership Newsletter
The Greater Kansas City Regional Housing Partnership’s (RHP) newsletter spotlights important housing news from around the region. This newsletter features efforts by local leaders and community stakeholders to increase access to and preserve quality, affordable housing options for all; find a collaborative path forward to address housing challenges and identify possible solutions; and introduce you to individuals and organizations working to make housing more accessible.
New research explores trends affecting housing affordability across the region
A new data story from the RHP highlights the impact institutional investors are having on single-family housing in the KC region and the repercussions for homebuyers and tenants. A recent blog further explores the issue and highlights how local governments are struggling to manage chronic issues resulting from equity investors, such as code enforcement, public health and unpaid taxes. Another blog offers insight into the increasing number of expiring property agreements in the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, and how these looming roll-off dates could compound regional affordable housing challenges.
New year, new housing data
Created to be a community resource that empowers data-driven decision-making and planning across the Kansas City region, the Housing Data Hub pulls from multiple data sources to provide users with a one-stop shop for their housing data needs. New for 2024, the hub features updated five-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2018-2022 American Community Survey (ACS). The hub also includes updated Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy data, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s custom tabulation of ACS data, based on 2016-2020 ACS five-year estimates.
New online resource connects the public and the region’s affordable housing community
In partnership with SourceLink, LISC Greater Kansas City and the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) have launched KCRHP.org, a new online resource offering information on local affordable housing developments, housing developers, housing news and upcoming events. Residents can also find links to regional housing market data, data stories and KCHousingLocator.com, a tool that provides detailed information about rental properties and helps people find housing to best fit their needs.
Developers, nonprofits and others identify top barriers to building new affordable housing
Approximately 100 community development organizations; multifamily, single-family, nonprofit and for-profit developers; housing authorities; and other community partners from across the region participated in a needs assessment on challenges to affordable housing production. Working on behalf of the RHP, LISC Greater Kansas City commissioned the assessment, which included a survey, focus groups and one-on-one interviews. The survey identified the following obstacles to regional housing development:
Top barriers to housing production:
- Pre-development funding and/or flexible lines of credit;
- Need to streamline local housing application processes; and
Affordable housing-focused learning opportunities that include a student-driven curriculum, a master class with development case study examples and mentorship from more experienced developers.
Outreach continues on benefits of establishing a regional community land trust consortium
The RHP is excited to continue working with Kansas City Community Land Trust (KCCLT) on implementing the regional Community Land Trust (CLT) Business Plan. Over the next year, the RHP will work with KCCLT, formerly Marlborough Community Land Trust, to educate communities about the CLT consortium. KCCLT will continue to engage stakeholders and others around regional interest in using community land trusts. This partnership and next steps are possible because of the support of the Health Forward Foundation, the Marion and Henry Bloch Family Foundation, the H & R Block Foundation and the United Way of Greater Kansas City. Learn more>>
Work underway on creating regional housing fund
The RHP is partnering with Folks Capital and their team, including KCCLT, on a regional housing fund concept. Consultants have been in discussions with local governments and foundations gathering initial feedback around the fund concept and needs in communities. Folks Capital will develop a business plan for a regional housing fund in spring 2024. If you have questions, please contact Amanda Wilson at [email protected].
Strategy Committee to start 2024 goal-setting process
The RHP Strategy Committee will soon begin exploring and establishing long-term goals for regional housing initiatives. The committee will review initial regional housing work and research to date. As part of this process, the committee will design ways to expand the network of stakeholders and community members engaged in housing initiatives. The committee plans to share goals and engagement opportunities in spring 2024.