Unitarian
Universalist
Affordable
Housing
Partnership

According to the Mpls StarTribune, the Twin Cities metro area has a vacancy rate that varies from 1.1% in 1998 to 4.8% in 200. This is one of the worst housing markets of all the metropolitan areas in the nation while at the same time the Twin Cities has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation.

· *Affordable housing, as defined by HUD, should cost a family no more than 30% of their income
· *Workers earning $7 to $11 per hour can only afford $400 to $795 per month for rent under HUD guidelines
· *Here's the crisis: an average 2-bedroom apartment in the Twin Cities costs $840 per month! (Star Tribune, May 7, 2002)

Families earning $20,580, or less, are at 30%, or below, the Metropolitan Median Income of $68,600 are unable to find adequate affordable housing.

Families are affected:
· *Health issues (lead paints, sanitation, ventilation, nutrition, lack of sleep, etc.)
· *Crowded living conditions with family members
· *Students frequently changing schools and underachieving
· *Workers unable to live near employment
· *Transportation issues (lengthy commutes, cost, availability, dependability, etc.)

Metropolitan Council statistics show a shortage of 106,000 units of affordable housing today and the need is increasing faster than affordable units are being created. Lower wage workers like teacher's aides, bank tellers, administration assistants, health-care workers, and cleaning personnel are the fastest growing segment of our work force and provide needed community services. There is not enough affordable housing in the community to cover the needs of these workers.

Communities are affected:
· *Overcrowded Homeless Shelters
· *Truancy and Drop-out rates climbing
· *Strain on public assistance programs (medical assistance, child care, education costs, homeless shelters, etc.)
· *Shortage of lower wage workers in suburban commercial centers

Stable communities require adequate affordable housing to sustain a stable workforce and provide decent living conditions for families. Every city, every legislative representative, and every citizen must accept responsibility for increasing the supply of affordable housing to maintain the health and stability of our community.

The UUAHP is committed to action in promoting development and building of affordable housing through public policy advocacy, funding supportive housing development, and working with Habitat for Humanity.