Better Housing Together

One of the ironies for those who work tirelessly to expand prosperity, increase livability, and generally enhance the desirability of their communities is a concomitant loss of affordable housing. The affordability issue is enormously complex and stubbornly resistant to easy solutions. Nevertheless, it is an issue we ignore at our peril.

The southern Willamette Valley boasts the dubious distinction of being one of the tightest housing markets in the United States, second only to Seattle.(1) Nearly half of our residents are housing “cost-burdened,” stretching their incomes just to pay for housing and other basic necessities.(2) The crisis affects young people unable to break into the local housing market, working families struggling to make ends meet, and seniors looking to downsize with few options available. It impacts every homeowner, renter, neighborhood, business sector, and organization in our community.

Many have attempted to crack the housing affordability nut with little success. Despite the intractability of the problem, an exciting new Eugene-Springfield metro area group is stepping up to assume the mantle, having fully dedicated itself to the development of effective strategies to meet the challenge.

Better Housing Together is a coalition of community leaders working to address the local affordability crisis. Including key representatives from Better Eugene-Springfield Transportation (BEST), the Eugene Association of REALTORS, AARP Oregon, University of Oregon researchers, AIA-Southwestern Oregon, and an impressive list of other organizations, these leaders want to better understand the problem and identify practical solutions. The members of Better Housing Together are committed to identifying policies and strategies that support local affordability and more quality, walkable, age-friendly housing.

To help meet achieve its goals, the coalition has organized what promises to be an outstanding event. The Better Housing Together Forum, which will take place on February 21 at the University of Oregon’s Erb Memorial Union Ballroom, will include a facilitated community-wide discussion, as well as an exhibit of work about housing in our community by University of Oregon researchers. Additionally, there will be a short video featuring personal stories underscoring the magnitude of the crisis. Members of community focus groups will share their diverse perspectives. Eugene Mayor Lucy Vinis, Springfield Mayor Christine Lundberg, Lane County Commissioner Pat Farr, and other elected officials will actively participate and learn more about how they can help advance community desires.

Despite the immensity of the challenge, the outlines of a solution exist. As Better Housing Together steering committee member Kaarin Knudson, AIA, noted in her piece for the 2017 Register Guard Design Annual, there is a direct connection between housing affordability and the wellbeing of all of a community’s residents. By adding supply to the market, affordability increases. By locating housing in areas where infrastructure and transit access already exist, we increase our tax base without increasing our acreage of liability. By supporting more walkable and efficient housing types, we also advance many of our climate and equity goals.

Better Housing Together wants everyone to join the discussion and learn more about how we can increase housing choice and affordability. Make plans to attend the February 21 forum. Registration is necessary to guarantee a seat. The organizers expect this free event to be at capacity. Registration opens on February 5, 2018.

The housing crisis isn’t just coming: it’s here. Better Housing Together knows we can all do more to help, which is why the group has organized the coming forum event. I hope to see all of you there.

What:  Better Housing Together Forum

When:  Wednesday, February 21, 2018, 5:00–7:00 PM

Where:  Erb Memorial Union Ballroom University of Oregon, Eugene

Cost:  Free

To Register:  https://www.betterhousingtogether.org/forum/ 

To Learn More: Visit www.BetterHousingTogether.org

(1)   "Sold Out: These 10 U.S. Cities Have the Biggest Housing Shortages" www.realtor.com/news/trends/top-10-housing-markets-constrained-by-tight-inventory

(2)   ALICE Report, www.unitedwaylane.org/what-we-do/annual-reports/alice