HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-12-10 Housing & Human Services MIN
Ashland Housing and Human Services Commission
Minutes
December 10, 2020
Call to Order
Commission Chair Rohde called the meeting to order at 2:00 pm by Zoom
Commissioners Present: Council Liaison
Rich Rohde
Echo Fields
Gina Duquenne SOU Liaison
Linda Reppond None appointed at this time
Jackie Bachman
Tom Gunderson Staff Present:
Heidi Parker Linda Reid, Housing Program Specialist
Chris Mahan
Commissioners Not In Attendance:
Erin Crowley
Special Meeting - Presentation on Rent Burden
Linda Reid, Housing Program Specialist. Ashland has a rent burden of 34.7% which is in the top 3 in the State of Oregon
for Cities of this size.
Presenters: Ryan Haines from Housing Authority of Jackson County. Chad McComas from Rogue Retreat. Brian
Shelton-Kelly from Neighbor Works Umpqua
Ryan Haines: has had good luck in dealing with City of Ashland. 3 broad categories of barriers in the Rogue Valley of
Rent Burden solutions
1, General Construction Barriers: Profit margin is key with land costs. Wages is also and issue, current wages
are up in this area. Cost of goods and insurance are escalating.
2. Income and economic factors: A house is considered affordable at 2.5 times the income of the homeowner.
The 34.7% rent burden in Ashland is all renters. Of the low-income bracket 75% are paying more than 50% of their
income on rent. As a region we need to attract better paying employers.
3. Political Will: In this region a large portion of people do not see having adequate housing for low income a
priority.
Questions and answers between Commission and Ryan.
Chad McComas: Habitat for Humanity is a great source for low income house owning. More and more homeless these
days. Rogue Retreat is looking for shelters, camping land and tiny home communities. The Campground in Medford is
going well but the cost is $30k a month with 24-hour service. Kelly Shelter is a full-time shelter with case managers.
Hope Village is a 34-unit tiny home development.
Questions and answers between Commission and Chad.
Brian Shelton-Kelly : Neighbor Works is a steward of the 30 land trust units in Ashland to provide permanent
homeownership for low income families. Land Trust program is a long-term lease to take the cost of the land out of the
cost of the home to make it more affordable. The number 49,000 is the number of housing units that will be needed in
SW Oregon between now and 2040. Neighbor Works is expanding both their rental housing and home ownership.
Questions and answers between Commission and Brian.
Adjournment: Rich Rohde adjourned special meeting portion of the meeting at 3.45p.m.
Respectfully submitted by Liz Hamilton