Regardless of the impetus (e.g., a pressing local housing issue or legislative requirement), the first step in Community Housing Needs Assessment and Strategy Planning is to initiate the process. Step 1 involves a Housing Task Force, public hearings, resource allocation--and perhaps convincing people that housing problems exist. FIGURE 3 lists questions that advocates may use to establish the existence of a specific local housing problem (affordability) or to "advertise" its symptoms. 

Because housing problems are never exactly the same in any two places, each community will approach Step 1 in its own way. The startup actions necessary may vary if planning processes instigated "from above" (e.g., CHAS requirements administered by HUD) are unpopular with the local power structure. If so, individual housing advocates or a steering group may assume primary responsibility for the CHNA/SP process until the reluctant parties are convinced of the value of new (or revised) local housing policies. 

The Housing Task Force 

Whether instigated by local government or as a result of grass roots efforts, a broad-based, representative organization should be formed and involved throughout the process. FIGURE 4 lists individuals and groups that the steering committee or housing advocates should invite to join a local Housing Task Force. The people in the best position to facilitate change may be local elected officials, housing industry personnel, and municipal or county staff. Yet broad involvement--including representation from special populations, neighborhood and community groups, nonprofit organizations, social service providers, and concerned citizens--is critical to success in later steps. 

Early public involvement can help shape the content and direction of the process. Public participation can also result in community acceptance of any strategies developed, and reduce the need for extensive revisions later in the process (Low Income Housing...[LIHIS], July 1991). At the outset, the Housing Task Force should make housing and needs data publicly available. Community involvement should begin before any preliminary reports are released for public comment and hearings. While local staff or consultants may be delegated to compose the final report, it should represent the combined efforts of all community groups. 

Public Hearings 

A key part of Step 1 is the plan for advertising public hearings, soliciting public comment, publishing the preliminary summary, and making the report available for public inspection (e.g., at the public library). CHAS guidelines require that at least one public hearing be held and that public comments be summarized and addressed in the final report. Housing advocates suggest at least two public hearings: one to receive input before the initial draft, and a second hearing during the public comment period. 

The Housing Task Force may wish to prepare members of the target populations and neighborhood organizations to testify at hearings and to provide written input at the appropriate times. Evening hearings at convenient, wheelchair-accessible locations are more likely to result in participation by the potential beneficiaries of housing strategies. Other useful methods of setting the stage include media releases and housing tours, which can help to develop local awareness and motivate involvement by both citizens and policymakers. 

Resource Allocation 

The final and very necessary startup task is to assure that resources are allocated to cover the costs of the process. These resources include not only local leadership and staff help (time and technical assistance), but especially funds to prepare the housing needs assessment and develop the strategies. 

Funds or volunteer labor may be sought from elected officials (the city or county budget), mortgage lending institutions whose activities are evaluated under the federal Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 (as amended by the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989, which mandated that CRA evaluations be made public), other housing industry groups, and local business/service clubs. These groups all have vested interests in the local housing situation. Their contributions may serve to promote "ownership" in the CHNA/SP process and its outcomes. Later, these and other contributors may be encouraged to pledge funds for specific strategies or projects proposed in the final report. 

FIGURE 3. HOW TO ESTABLISH THE PROBLEM 

To convince people that a housing affordability problem exists in the community, find and distribute answers to the following questions that can indicate housing trends in your area. You may also prepare questions that relate to other local housing issues. 

_____ Do available data and informed opinion indicate that local housing prices or rents are higher than those in comparable towns? 

_____ Are local vacancy rates for rental and owner-occupied housing unusually low? Are enough new affordable housing units being built to meet near-term demands? 

_____ Do employers report problems finding qualified personnel partly because of high housing costs? Have economic development efforts been stalled by concern about housing costs or inadequate housing for workers? 

_____ Have employees of the local government and public schools chosen not to live in the community where they are employed because of housing shortages or high costs? 

_____ Have local families found that their young adult children are unable to live in the community or are forced to continue living at home because housing costs are too high? 

_____ Do local social service organizations report increased challenges in finding housing for lower-income people and those with disabilities? 

_____ What are the ratios of local median household and family incomes to average new or used home sale prices? 

_____ How many homeless people are evident on local streets, in cars, or rumored to be doubled up with friends and relatives? 

_____ What is the condition of the older rental housing stock? 

_____ How much have land and site improvement costs risen in the past two decades? Who pays for the infrastructures in new housing developments? 

_____ Is affordable financing available for first-time homebuyers and rental housing investors? 

Methods or sources for obtaining the data and completing the calculations necessary to answer these questions are described in CHNA/SP Steps 2 - 4. 

Source: Adapted from Hoben (1987) and Weitz (1987). 

FIGURE 4. SUGGESTED HOUSING TASK FORCE MEMBERSHIP, VESTED INTERESTS AND ACTION IMPLICATIONS 

Those who tackle the community housing needs assessment and strategy development process should include the appropriate individuals and groups. They also need to take into account--in advance--the vested interests of these parties. Ask, "Who will want to be involved, how, and why?" 

___ Interest groups are often the first to recognize an emerging problem and bring it to the public forum for action. In your community, who are the interest groups? Identify and list housing-related community development, social welfare, business, advocacy, and other groups: 

___ Public officials: The extent to which a problem is viewed as a public issue will be tempered by personal and political concerns. Support from elected and appointed officials (e.g., City Council, Housing Authority members, legislators) can be critical. Identify sympathetic public officials and bring them into the process as early and as much as possible. Who really influences housing in your community? 

___ Media responses will be based on the news value of the problem(s). Which newspapers, television and radio stations, etc. will you contact? Identify and list the local housing concerns that are newsworthy or that can become human interest items. 

___"Underdog partisans": Those affected by the problem may blame their difficulties on a failure of existing housing and social systems rather than on personal inadequacies. Therefore, they may advocate public action as a remedy. In your community, which special needs' populations (e.g., low income people, minorities, persons with disabilities, the homeless) might be considered "underdog partisans"? 

___"Privileged partisans" have a stake in the status quo, thus may identify the cause of housing problems to be the personal inadequacies of those who report them. Or they may declare the issue(s) unsuitable for public intervention (e.g., regulations may inhibit individual freedoms). Who might be considered "privileged partisans" in your area? 

___ Professionals (e.g., homebuilders, developers, real estate agents, mortgage lenders, nonprofit housing providers, housing educators, etc.) can provide insight and expertise. Some may also be interested in expanding their services or protecting their domain. Identify these local groups (including the Chamber of Commerce) and their vested interests. 

Source: Adapted from York (1982). 

   
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