Affordable Housing Task Force

COLUMBIA AFFORDABLE HOUSING TASK FORCE MEETING AGENDA TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2022 The Columbia Affordable Housing Task Force will conduct a meeting on Tuesday, June 14, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. using video conferencing technology. Members of the public may view the meeting online at www.columbiasc.gov. For questions regarding the meeting, please contact the City Clerk at (803)545-3045 or cityclerk@columbiasc.gov. CALL TO ORDER APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approval of May 10, 2022 Minutes COMMITTEE DISCUSSION 2. Review of Task Force Work Plan Questionnaire Results 3. Assignment of Smart Goals 4. Next Meeting Date and Topics Tuesday, August 9, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. Topics:  Overview of City of Columbia Housing Programs  Committee Reports on Goals ADJOURNMENT Page 1 of 1  1.a COLUMBIA AFFORDABLE HOUSING TASK FORCE MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2022 The Columbia Affordable Housing Task Force met on Tuesday, May 10, 2022 using Video Conferencing Technology. The Honorable Tina N. Herbert, Chair called the meeting to order at Attachment: AHTF_MN_051022 (7623 : Approval of May 10, 2022 Minutes) 12:01 p.m. Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Tina N. Herbert Chair Present Jeff Armstrong Family Promise Absent Julie Ann Avin MIRCI Present Reggie Barner The Barner Group Present Yvonda Bean Columbia Housing Present Sue Berkowitz Director of the SC Appleseed Legal Justice Center Present Brenna Bernardin Fast Forward Present Pamela Bynoe-Reed Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority Present 11:15 AM Dylan Gunnels Director at Haven Homes Present 11:04 AM Tonya Isaac Community Representative Absent Jeff Larimore Midlands Housing Trust Fund Present 11:36 AM Jennifer Moore United Way Present Brittani Richards Habitat for Humanity Absent Shayla Riley Coldwell Banker Present Lila Anna Sauls President and CEO of Homeless No More Present Gregory Sprouse Central Midlands Council of Governments Absent Allison Terracio Richland County Council Absent Regina Williams Board Member Absent Lester Young Just Leadership Absent Jim Zieche More Justice Present Chris Zimmer Truist Bank Present INTRODUCTIONS There was a period of introductions of the task force members. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approval of the October 12, 2021 and December 14, 2021 Affordable Housing Task Force Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 5 Packet Pg. 2  1.a COLUMBIA AFFORDABLE HOUSING TASK FORCE MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2022 Upon a motion made by Lila Anna Sauls and seconded by Dylan Gunnels, task force members voted [12 to 1] to approve the October 12, 2021 and December 14, 2021 Affordable Housing Task Attachment: AHTF_MN_051022 (7623 : Approval of May 10, 2022 Minutes) Force Meeting Minutes. Councilwoman Tina Herbert voted no. Jeff Larimore was not present at this time. COMMITTEE DISCUSSION 2. Committee Reports Councilwoman Tina Herbert said I want to make sure this group has some type of closure and/or new beginnings. There are a couple of recommendations out there but I felt we needed to honor the work that has been done. I want each of you to give me an idea of what decisions and/or issues you have addressed and what you want to do going forward. Julie Ann Avin, Accessibility Committee Chair said we met in 2020 and determined the need to utilize universal accessibility standards for individuals that need senior living, people with disabilities, and people who have mobility challenges. We discussed accessible housing for individuals coming out of incarceration, which is more of a public policy issue. It has to do with background checks. We didn’t get a lot of traction. We spent most meetings trying to define affordable and attainable housing. Councilwoman Tina Herbert asked if the Accessibility Committee could do more after we add the recommendation of adopting universal accessibility standards. Julie Ann Avin, Accessibility Committee Chair suggested that the city make a commitment to develop housing that meets universal accessibility standards. Each developer should know how to implement those standards. Reggie Barner, Financing Committee Chair said there is an ever-moving target around financing for affordable housing. Currently, we are focusing on the state tax credit and the bond program under the 4% program. We need to address issues from a development standpoint. Columbia has one of the highest property taxes in the state and the committee needs to have dialogue around the tax abatement issue or incentive. The City's incentive for affordable housing development has not gone anywhere. We need to put some teeth behind that. There is statewide legislation that focuses on inclusionary housing where developers would be required to develop a percentage of affordable housing. There has also been discussion around a local housing trust fund. Those would be the initial focuses we could begin with this year. Page 2 of 5 Packet Pg. 3  1.a COLUMBIA AFFORDABLE HOUSING TASK FORCE MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2022 Councilwoman Tina Herbert said the city has a Tax Modernization Committee and it is important for us to have a liaison on that committee. Can I recommend that you be our representative on that Attachment: AHTF_MN_051022 (7623 : Approval of May 10, 2022 Minutes) committee? I need to see why there has not been any action on the 2007 recommendation on inclusionary housing. I will find out why there has not been any traction with the City's incentive. Back in the day, the city funded the Midlands Housing Trust. I want to make sure we are not creating another housing trust because it sounds like a lot more overheard. Lila Anna Sauls, Legal & Zoning Committee Co-chair said inclusionary zoning works well in Charleston. It has not picked up traction here. This committee should not be looking at the city's zoning ordinances. It would be great if we could figure out inclusionary zoning and work to further that agenda in tandem with the Financing Committee. We are missing the for-profit developer on this task force. Venture capitalists are purchasing condemned properties in huge numbers. How do we access the list of properties that are condemned and slated for demolition? How do we save these properties and turn them into affordable housing for the neighborhoods? The Northside Community in Spartanburg worked because of community navigators. Neighbor Works provides training for community representatives. Community Navigators are key to solving this crisis. Councilwoman Tina Herbert said that is on my radar and I share the list at every neighborhood meeting. I realize that people do not know how to do it and I do not have the capacity to help them. Sue Berkowitz, Legal & Zoning Committee Co-chair said we need to consider how to restructure the issues in order to work through them. In terms of legal issues, we worry about people who are in jeopardy of losing housing. Eviction is a huge issue. We have the highest levels of evictions for medium size areas, especially in St. Andrews. I would like to see the right to counsel anytime someone is losing housing. We have seen how eviction court can work well. We wrote a grant for an attorney in the Richland County area. We are looking at the court rules and things that are happening to people when they are going through eviction. I would love for the taskforce to look at those issues. If we have an attorney doing this with our office, we will offer part of their time to be a part of putting that project together to help with mitigating the problems of eviction and eventually foreclosure. Jennifer Moore, Partnership Committee Chair said we started meeting jointly with the Public Education & Awareness Committee. We talked about having a storyteller’s bureau. We would be the folks to make the request once there is a clear plan. We would kick in when we need to deploy education or partnership efforts around specific recommendations by the group. United Way helped to create the Midlands Housing Trust Fund and we are sensitive to the idea of having two trust funds with overhead. We just want financing and resources to go into a housing trust fund in the most efficient way possible. Page 3 of 5 Packet Pg. 4  1.a COLUMBIA AFFORDABLE HOUSING TASK FORCE MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2022 Brenna Bernardin, Public Education & Abatements Committee Chair said it would great to Attachment: AHTF_MN_051022 (7623 : Approval of May 10, 2022 Minutes) continue to merge with the Partnerships Committee. We have an outreach list. We are waiting for ideas and goals from the committee before we go out into the community. Councilwoman Tina Herbert asked if we overlooked anything. Dylan Gunnels said let’s talk about large-scale investors and others who are purchasing at a rapid level, manipulating the market, pushing people out, and purchasing properties for cash. We are starting to see minor pieces of legislation that can help to combat that. Neighborhood and homeowner associations are coming together to keep this from happening. I do not want to neglect that part of the conversation when we are talking about affordability. Councilwoman Tina Herbert said that is critical and if we can find a way to provide them with the tools, a plan, seminar and financing that would be very helpful. Shayla Riley concurred with Dylan’s comments. On the builder’s side, there could be more communication with the builders association. Builders are selling lots to hedge funds before the house gets out of the ground. In one neighborhood, 25 lots were sold to an investor. I cannot tell you what that does to pricing and the quality of a neighborhood. It is borderline monopolizing. I cannot easily find a four-bedroom home under $260,000. We have to change the builders’ minds about what people need. We have a talent retention problem. People are leaving Columbia after graduation to go to other cities where they can afford the housing. It is important for the builders to hear about the kinds of models and floorplans people can have. More vertical development and townhomes are more appealing. 3. Monthly Meeting Schedule Councilwoman Tina Herbert asked if 11:00 a.m. is a good time to meet each month. I would like to have an in-person meeting later. There were no objections to meeting at 11:00 a.m. each month. Page 4 of 5 Packet Pg. 5  1.a COLUMBIA AFFORDABLE HOUSING TASK FORCE MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2022 4. Discussion of a Task Force Work Plan Attachment: AHTF_MN_051022 (7623 : Approval of May 10, 2022 Minutes) Councilwoman Tina Herbert said I am going to take the information I heard today and send you a survey. I want you to help me prioritize the issues because my ultimate goal is for us to develop three things that we know we can accomplish or recommend for the City. We can divide that from advocacy issues. I will formulate the discussion so when we come back next time we will have those results. We can also see if we are all on the same page. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 12:02 p.m. Respectfully submitted: Erika D. Moore Hammond, CMC City Clerk Page 5 of 5 Packet Pg. 6  2.a Affordable Housing Task Force Work Plan Questionnaire Project Engagement Attachment: AHTF Questionnaire Results 060322 (7620 : Review of Task Force Work Plan Questionnaire Results) VIEWS PARTICIPANTS RESPONSES COMMENTS 51 18 267 12 Which committee(s) have you served on since June 2020? 35% None 6  29% Public Education & Awareness Committee 5  24% Partnerships 4  12% Accessibility 2  12% Legal and Zoning 2  0% Financing 0  17 Respondents Packet Pg. 7  2.a On June 9, 2020, this taskforce identified the following as impediments or challenges to affordable housing. Please rank what you believe to be the top 5 impediments or challenges (with 1 being the greatest impediment and 5 being the least). 53% Capital for developers Rank: 1.50 8  20% Rank: 2.00 Attachment: AHTF Questionnaire Results 060322 (7620 : Review of Task Force Work Plan Questionnaire Results) Lack of rental assistance 3  7% Lack of housing vouchers Rank: 2.00 1  7% Aging infrastructure Rank: 2.00 1  27% Wage disparities Rank: 2.50 4  47% Zoning (where you can build) Rank: 2.57 7  47% High fees and taxes for affordable housing (i.e. cost of development) Rank: 2.71 7  7% Maintenance of existing affordable housing Rank: 3.00 1  7% Using eviction as a debt collection tool Rank: 3.00 1  40% NIMBY (not in my backyard) Rank: 3.17 6  20% Rapid Response to keep people from homelessness Rank: 3.33 3  67% Accessibility/affordability/safety of quality units Rank: 3.40 10  60% Having supportive services for residents of affordable housing Rank: 3.56 9  53% Education/ Addressing the stigma of affordable housing Rank: 3.63 8  27% Streamlined government approval process for development Rank: 4.00 4  7% Duplication of efforts Rank: 5.00 1  7% Lack of resources for maintenance of affordable housing Rank: 5.00 1  0% Access to housing for formerly incarcerated citizens 0  15 Respondents Packet Pg. 8  2.a Identify the top 5 areas that you believe this task force can effectively change. 81% Education/ Addressing the stigma of affordable housing 13  50% NIMBY (not in my backyard) 8  38% Capital for developers 6  Attachment: AHTF Questionnaire Results 060322 (7620 : Review of Task Force Work Plan Questionnaire Results) 38% Streamlined government approval process for development 6  38% Zoning (where you can build) 6  31% High fees and taxes for affordable housing (i.e. cost of development) 5  31% Accessibility/affordability/safety of quality units 5  25% Duplication of efforts 4  25% Supportive services for residents of affordable housing 4  19% Uniform Fair Housing Standards 3  19% Concentration of housing in low-income areas 3  13% Maintenance of existing affordable housing 2  13% Lack of resources for maintenance of affordable housing 2  13% Aging infrastructure 2  6% Lack of rental assistance 1  6% Rapid Response to keep people from homelessness 1  6% Lack of housing vouchers 1  6% Use of eviction as a debt collection tool 1  0% Access to housing for individuals exiting prison 0  0% Wage disparities 0  16 Respondents Packet Pg. 9  2.a * The following items were discussed during the first meeting of the year. Please identify your top 3 suggestions for the task force work plan. 73% Inclusionary zoning 8  45% Training & equipping community navigators 5  Attachment: AHTF Questionnaire Results 060322 (7620 : Review of Task Force Work Plan Questionnaire Results) 45% Financing a housing trust fund 5  36% Adopting universal accessibility and design standards 4  36% Tax modernization/reform 4  27% Mitigating evictions 3  9% Accessible housing for individuals exiting prison. 1  9% Homebuilder education 1  9% Vertical development 1  0% Implementing Storyteller's Bureau 0  11 Respondents Which of the following committees have a role in the continuation of this task force? 86% Financing 12  79% Public Education & Awareness 11  79% Zoning 11  57% Accessibility 8  43% Partnerships 6  36% Legal 5  14 Respondents Packet Pg. 10  2.a Who is missing from this task force? For Profit Developers 21 hours ago N/A 2 days ago N/A Attachment: AHTF Questionnaire Results 060322 (7620 : Review of Task Force Work Plan Questionnaire Results) 2 days ago maybe representatives from the development community 2 days ago State Senators and/or Representatives 2 days ago someone to discuss rent change 2 days ago No one. We may have too many people! 6 days ago funders and those who can actually make the changes to zoning, design standards, etc. 6 days ago for profit developer; we are heavy with those who do not deal in AH development or who are more about tenant rights or systemic issues that effect renters' ability to stay housed (important, but not sure how you bifurcate the two so you don't get sidetracked by the primary issue of developing the needed AH units to stop this crisis) 6 days ago I couldn't get the comment section to work but I think the city could add fair housing training for members of city boards that affect housing development (DDRC, BOZA). 7 days ago As noted, affordable housing developers would provide helpful input. 7 days ago A major private developer 7 days ago Packet Pg. 11  2.a * How much time are you able to dedicate to the task force work plan outside of attending monthly meetings? 87% 1 to 2 hours a month (committee meetings, research, etc.) 13% I have all the time in the world for the city!! 0% None Attachment: AHTF Questionnaire Results 060322 (7620 : Review of Task Force Work Plan Questionnaire Results) 15 respondents Packet Pg. 12