NEXT WEEK, THE NEW HAMPSHIRE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS SCHEDULED TO CONSIDER LEGISLATION THAT COULD BOOST THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK IN THE STATE. THE BILL'S ALREADY PASSED THE SENATE AND HAS THE SUPPORT OF BUSINESS AND HOUSING ADVOCACY GROUPS. NHPR’S DAN GORENSTEIN REPORTS.
NEXT WEEK, THE NEW HAMPSHIRE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS SCHEDULED TO CONSIDER LEGISLATION THAT COULD BOOST THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK IN THE STATE. THE BILL'S ALREADY PASSED THE SENATE AND HAS THE SUPPORT OF BUSINESS AND HOUSING ADVOCACY GROUPS. NHPR’S DAN GORENSTEIN REPORTS.
THE LEGISLATION EXPECTED TO HIT THE HOUSE FLOOR NEXT WEEK WOULD APPROPRIATE FIVE MILLION DOLLARS TO CREATE AFFORDABLE FAMILY HOUSING ACROSS NEW HAMPSHIRE.
THE BILL, WHICH PASSED UNANIMOUSLY IN THE HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE, WOULD AUTHORIZE A FIVE MILLION DOLLAR BOND OVER TWO YEARS
THE FUNDS WOULD BE ADMINISTERED BY THE NEW HAMPSHIRE HOUSING FINANCE AUTHORITY.
THE AGENCY ESTIMATES THE MONEY WOULD THEN HELP FINANCE SOME 300 AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS.
THE HOUSING FINANCE AUTHORITY’S DEAN CHRISTIAN SAYS THE NEED IS THERE.
14:50 YOU HAVE INCREASING INCIDENCE OF PEOPLE SEEKING HOUSING ASSISTANCE, GROWING WAITING LISTS, LOCAL WELFARE OFFICES SPENDING LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY ON EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE TO LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS THAT CAN’T FIND A PLACE TO LIVE. AND THEN THERE IS AN INCREASE IN THE VOLUME OF HOMELESSNESS, AND THE AMOUNT OF TIME SPENT IN SHELTERS
THE VACANCY RATE FOR RENTAL AND SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING IN NEW HAMPSHIRE IS 1%. AS ONE HOUSING ADVOCATE PUT IT, ‘1% IS NOT REALLY VACANCY, IT’S JUST THE TIME A LANDLORD SPENDS PREPARING THE APARTMENT FOR THE NEXT TENANT.’ THAT RATE COMPARES TO NATIONAL AVERAGE OF 6%. NEW HAMPSHIRE’S POPULATION ALSO IS GROWING QUICKLY. IN FACT IT’S THE FASTEST GROWING STATE IN NEW ENGLAND.
IN RESPONSE, TO THE HOUSING SHORTAGE, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS HAVE TAKEN ON THE TASK OF BUILDING OR REHABILITATING AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS. GROUPS LOOK FOR FOUNDATION MONEY, FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS, AND FUNDS FROM OTHER NON-PROFITS. ELLIOT BERRY HEADS THE NEW HAMPSHIRE HOMELESS PROJECT FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE LEGAL ASSISTANCE.
9:26 THE MAJOR DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A NETWORK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS WHO DON’T’ HAVE A LOT OF THEIR OWN CAPITOL. AND THEY ARE NOT GOING TO FIND ANY ONE INVESTOR WILLING TO PUT UP 100% OF IT, SO THEY GET A LITTLE HERE, A LITTLE THERE, AND EVERY TIME SOMEONE COMES TO THE PLATE WITH ONE PIECE, THAT HAS A RIPPLE EFFECT.
WHILE BERRY ACKNOWLEDGES THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING BILL ISN’T LARGE ENOUGH TO MAKE WAVES, IT DOES HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE RIPPLES.
THE PLAN IS THAT THE 5 MILLION DOLLARS WILL HELP LEVERAGE OTHER FUNDS. SOME OF IT MAY BE USED FOR DOWNPAYMENTS. SOME FOR LOW INTEREST LOANS. SOME TO ATTRACT OTHER FORMS OF FUNDING.
WHILE NON-PROFITS HOUSING GROUPS SUPPORT THE LEGISLATION, SO DOES THE BUSNESS AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. BIA’S DAVE JUVET SAYS THE STATE’S HOUSING STOCK, OR LACK THEREOF, IS IMPEDING BUSINESS EFFORTS TO LURE WORKERS.
1:47 IN SOME CASES IT’S JUST FLAT OUT DIFFICULT TO FIND HOUSING WHERE THE JOB HAPPENS TO BE LOCATED, AND SECONDLY THE COST ITSELF, THE PRICE OF THE HOUSE, EXCEEDS WHAT THE PERSON’S BUDGET WILL ALLOW.
PATTY, WHO WOULD PREFER NOT TO USE HER LAST NAME, KNOWS ALL ABOUT NOT FINDING AN AFFORDABLE PLACE TO LIVE. SHE AND HER FOUR GRANDCHILDREN STRUGGLED TO FIND ADEQUATE SHELTER FOR SOME TIME.
PATTY IS RECEIVING DISABILITY. AND ON HER 1200 A MONTH INCOME, SHE COULDN’T FIND HOUSING.
THEY CAMPED IN WEARE. THEY GOT KICKED OUT. AND PATTY MOVED THE FAMILY INTO THE CAR.
AND SHE SAYS SHE DOESN’T WANT ANYONE TO SUFFER THROUGH THE KIND OF PAIN SHE AND HER FAMILY ENDURED.
13:22 I AM PRAYING THEY GET THIS HOUSING THROUGH, I DON’T THINK THAT THEY REALIZE HOW DESPERATE PEOPLE REALLY ARE. I KNOW I WAS SO DESPERATE AT THE TIME I USED TO SAY TO MYSELF, MAYBE ME AND THE KIDS WOULD BE BETTER OFF DEAD. I WAS THAT DESPERATE. THIS IS TERRIBLE, I CAN’T LIVE LIKE THIS.
PATTY HAS SINCE FOUND AND QUALIIFIED FOR SECTION 8 HOUSING IN MANCHESTER.
SPONSORS OF THE LEGISLATION HOPE OTHER FAMILIES WON’T HAVE TO LIVE LIKE PATTY’S DID. IF THE BILL PASSES THE HOUSE NEXT WEEK WITH THE SAME MARGINS AS IT SAILED THROUGH THE SENATE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN NEW HAMPSHIRE MAY SOON BE ON.
