HOUSING: We must provide affordable solutions

Affordable housing is the single most significant issue today. In prior times of high housing costs and high interest rates we created means to make affordable housing available. Providing financial assistance for a down payment helped but now the actual down payment requires a substantial amount. Various mortgage scenarios VA, FHA, Variable Rate and others were devised to reduce the monthly payment amount. Some of these actions were private and some public. What has government done recently?

Idahoans often claim government actions cause the problems. The Coeur d’Alene Press article expressed concern for more flexibility in zoning and reducing red tape as a means to reduce housing costs. Various zoning regulations and reviews have been minimized to both reduce the processing time and zoning requirements. These changes include reducing minimum lot sizes for housing, reduced set back requirements, allowing for increased density, allowing private roads rather than wider public streets and reducing the need for sidewalks on both sides of the street. The hope is that reducing these requirements provides flexibility by lowering overall land costs allowing builders to lower their costs. Government cannot change the cost of construction materials.  

Tax credits may help. Certain bonuses to developers can help. Some new innovative development concepts can help such as actions suggested by the Housing Solutions Partnership a public/private group initiated through the City of Coeur d’Alene. We must provide affordable housing to retain and attract better paying jobs. As a community we must recognize some solutions require more government involvement by making money available to help. This does not have to mean higher taxes if we use our heads. 

PHIL WARD

Coeur d’Alene