Metro's Housing Goals: A Decade + Slouch Into Irrelevance?

Readers may recall that I recently posted comments HERE pointing out some problems with the housing needs analysis done as part of Metro's Urban Growth Report and "Great Places" efforts.

I have done some additional reading of the latest reports coming out of Metro's advisory committees and have concluded that the already weak Metro housing goals and housing goal compliance efforts are about to become even weaker. Despite several good staff and some genuine interest from individual Council members it is hard not to conclude that the latest steps are part of a decade long slouch to irrelevancy for Metro in advancing affordable housing throughout the region.

The latest step by Metro advisory committees is to move to water down the planned housing performance goal. A revised non specific commitment to "reduce" renter cost burdens would replace ALL prior housing production/supply goals AND is a step back from the DRAFT goal which had been for a 25% reduction in renter cost burdens. Specifically the markup of the draft goal a Metro advisory committee HERE, apparently supported by Commissioner Liberty (see page 246) would now read :

Affordability – By 2035, reduce the share of households in the region spending more than 50 percent of income on housing and transportation combined compared to 2000

Note also there is NO local allocation of this goal, nor any transparent data source to track progress OR to require any specific actions IF cost burdens are NOT "reduced".

The Slouching of Metro's Affordable Housing Goals, and Goal Tracking, Over the Last Decade
To provide some perspective about prior housing goals I have prepared the table HERE showing a subset of the previously adopted Metro housing goals and the compliance and monitoring done of local compliance with these goals. (Note also my "Chopped Liver" comparison showing that Metro's new goals apparently reflect the belief that it is more important to be specific about the goals for low income resident access to transportation than resident access to affordable housing).

The Metro advisory committee recommendations still formally require adoption by the full Council, however I see no realistic likelihood that the Council will resist adopting housing goals that I believe represent a continued slouch toward affordable housing irrelevancy.

Weak Goals at Odds with Orfield Appearances; May Hurt Metro in Future Competitive Grant Opportunities
The irony of Council adoption of even weaker housing goals is that this action follows the recent appearance of Myron Orfield who provided examples of the role that regional governments can play in promoting regional equity via affordable housing. Expected funding for new HUD sustainable community programs may also mean that Metro's weak commitment to affordable housing goals could hurt it in future competitive grant application cycles, especially if affordable housing advocacy support is needed to effectively compete.

Metro Meetings, Agenda, Minutes and Calendar
IF you are interested in making your views know Metro holds a variety of advisory group meetings as well as Council meetings. The consolidated Metro calendar HERE shows a list of upcoming meetings, click on an individual meeting to get to agenda, minutes, and work materials.

Agree or Think Different?
I ENCOURAGE you to add your comment, whether you agree or disagree.