The preliminary goals established in the mission statement (Step 2) need to be somewhat skeletal or provisional until the community housing profile and housing needs assessment are completed. Each community must take the initiative in developing its own explicit housing goals and objectives (the "where you want to go"). For example, to bring about optimal conditions, the community may wish to influence private housing consumers', producers', and investors' decisions. To do so, officials may rely on specified public actions relative to local regulatory powers (e.g., land use controls), influence over housing resources (e.g., subdivision approvals), or use of city/county funds (U. S. DHUD, 1978). 

In Step 5, the community's housing goals and objectives are finalized and a specific goal statement is completed. Then, in Step 6, the housing strategies and action plans, which show "how to get there," will be prepared. While every community must develop its own unique goals, FIGURE 13 offers several sample goals and objectives. If the local decisionmaking group states the goals and objectives broadly, then the strategies or actions designed to achieve them should be written in specific, measurable terms. The latter will facilitate a future judgement of whether or not they have been met. 

If negative housing conditions were evident in the HNA, the Task Force may conclude that certain existing local or state policies need to be reformed to remove or reduce the negative effects. Or they may recommend that new policies be enacted to encourage the development and preservation of affordable housing. One example of needed reform may relate to post-World War II policies designed to reduce overcrowding by lowering residential densities Today, overhousing of older homeowners may suggest a need for policies that encourage the development of accessory dwellings to better utilize and conserve large, older homes in residential neighborhoods. 

The City of Shreveport (LA) Comprehensive Housing Program (1983) provides a good example of setting public policy goals and objectives. To address the housing needs and problems of the city's low and moderate income residents, local officials targeted five neighborhoods for private rehabilitation of substandard units, city code enforcement, low-interest loans, federal rental assistance, coordination of public-private interests, and other similar projects designed to promote neighborhood viability and stability. 

The number of goals and objectives that a community can achieve is limited. Thus, if more than five or six major goals are identified, the Housing Task Force or City Council may need to establish priorities and concentrate on the few most important goals. A further suggestion is to focus only on goals that are attainable, so that some success is "guaranteed." 

Finally, to assure that they (and their results) are mutually reinforcing, housing needs assessment authors must establish the (strength of) relationships of various goals to one another (U. S. DHUD 1978). The goal-setting group may face a challenge in that any goal that involves assisting one group to provide more or better housing in a given area may work in some way(s) to the detriment of other groups in other locations. Resolution of these conflicting goals may or may not be possible--or necessary. 

FIGURE 13. SAMPLE COMMUNITY HOUSING GOALS AND OBJECTIVES 

Communities may choose to adopt the broad goals of the 1990 National Affordable Housing Act (See Figure 12). In addition, specific, measurable objectives or strategies should be developed so that housing progress can be monitored and evaluated. The following examples provide model goals and objectives. Note that various sources use the terms, "goals, objectives, and strategies," interchangeably. 

1. Lieder (1988, p. 382-84) outlines (often implicit) general goal areas (with accompanying policy avenues or strategies) for a community housing agenda: 

*Community life: To provide and maintain safe, sanitary, and satisfactory housing together with efficiently and economically organized community facilities to support it. 

Policies/Strategies: Manage housing and its development via zoning, subdivision control, building and housing codes. Design and coordinate local facilities, including schools, fire and police stations, parks and roads, to meet housing needs. 

*Social and equity concerns: To provide safe, satisfactory housing opportunities to all households, at costs they can afford, without regard to income, race, religion, national origin, family structure, or disability. 

Policies/Strategies: Eliminate exclusionary zoning that prohibits multifamily housing, mobile homes, or other housing for lower income groups. Encourage affordable housing development for low income, minority, and other special population groups. Provide tax abatement programs to aid needy households. 

*Stability of production: To stabilize housing production or reduce fluctuations in construction, ensure a predictable supply of new units, provide steady employment, reduce inflationary trends, and direct a reliable flow of credit into the housing industry. 

Policies/Strategies: Housing production and investment are primarily determined by federal policies dealing with the money supply, interest rates, tax codes, and regulation of financial institutions. But local and state governments can offer financial incentives or deterrents (e.g., impact fees, moratoria, other slow-growth policies). 

*Design and environmental quality: Plan housing to accommodate household needs, optimize the quality of life, use land and resources efficiently, and create minimal adverse impact on the natural environment. 

Policies/Strategies: Design to meet specific human needs (e.g., wheelchair accessibility). Develop/evaluate local regulations to deal with stormwater runoff, flood management, wetlands preservation, protection of endangered species, and preservation of open space, agricultural land and forests. (State and federal regulations may override local policies, however.) 

2. Goals suggested by HUD (1978, p. 20) relate to: 

___ Changing negative development dynamics (e.g., disinvestment)
___ Eliminating affordable housing shortages
___ Encouraging location of additional employment opportunities in the area
___ Facilitating and controlling future growth
___ Increasing the supply of dispersed very low income housing near employment
___ Increasing homeownership rates and real estate tax revenues
___ Making neighborhoods attractive places to live
___ Rehabilitating deteriorating housing units
___ Replacing dilapidated housing with in-fill development
___ Revitalizing declining neighborhoods 

3. City of Portland City-wide Housing Policies (Portland City Council, 1985): 

Goal 4. Housing 

Provide for diversity in the type, density, and location of housing within the City in order to provide an adequate supply of safe, sanitary housing at price and rent levels appropriate to the varied financial capabilities of City residents. 

4.2 Fair Housing 

Encourage and support equal access to housing throughout the City for all people, regardless of race, color, sex, marital status, religion, national origin, or physical or mental handicap, and encourage the responsible state and federal agencies to enforce federal and state civil rights and fair housing laws. 

4.3 New Housing Production 

Assist the private sector in maintaining an adequate supply of single and multifamily housing units. This shall be accomplished by relying primarily on the homebuilding industry and private sector solutions, supported by the elimination of unnecessary government regulations. 

4.4 Housing Choice and Neighborhood Stability 

Support public and private actions that increase housing choices for city residents, with emphasis on housing and public improvement programs that 1) improve the balance in the city's population by attracting and keeping families with children; 2) maintain neighborhood schools; 3) increase the number of housing alternatives for both renter and owner; and 4) improve the physical and environmental conditions of all neighborhoods. 

4.5 Lower Income Assisted Housing 

Support and assist in planning for subsidized housing opportunities primary for households that cannot compete in the market for housing, utilizing all available federal and state aid. In addition, it is City policy that public housing be divided between elderly and non-elderly families proportionate to their representation in the City's total need for low income housing. 

4.6 Existing Housing Maintenance 

Encourage and assist the continuing maintenance of existing residential properties, both single and multifamily. This maintenance will be accomplished through a voluntary housing maintenance code program to include marketing, inspection, and financial assistance aimed primarily at safety, sanitation, structural integrity, and energy conservation. 

4.7 Existing Housing: Major Rehabilitation 

Provide assistance for rehabilitation of housing beyond maintenance code requirements 1) if the assistance is supportive of general community development activity; 2) on a voluntary basis; and 3) if the existing housing maintenance and new-housing policies are being fulfilled. 

   
Iowa State University | ISU Extension | Internet Resources | Search 

...and justice for all. The Iowa Cooperative Extension Service's programs and policies are consistent with pertinent federal and state laws and regulations on nondiscrimination regarding race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, and disability.