My current understanding is that MNPLS affordable rental housing of any size has had a vacancy rate around 2% or 3% for a few months. A healthy vacancy rate is around 5%: therefore our market is tight enough that it's hurting the city as a whole: simply put, we can not attract employees we will not house. Affordable housing for larger families, the area of greatest need, is an even tighter market.
Although there are several individually helpful initiatives on the table particularly as regards zoning, this city administration has not to my knowledge committed to dedicating any different budget priority to affordable housing needs, than was budgeted in the past administration. Nor has the present administration put any lasting comprehensive structure, such as housing trust fund, in place to encourage a healthier affordable housing arena over time, beyond their tenure. My understanding is that the improvement we have seen over the past few months is a small and natural fluctuation that will soon fluctuate back the other way unless we as a city meaningfully adapt our ongoing priorities. Rachel Lewis Longfellow _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
