AFFORDABLE HOUSING POSITION STATEMENT

BACKGROUND:

Housing is a basic need of all people, and the availability of affordable housing for the workforce is

important in a community. While the benefits of an affordable mortgage or rent are many, the benefits

extend beyond the occupants, to the community at large. The development of affordable housing

increases spending and employment in the surrounding economy – and without a supply of affordable

housing, employers and entire regional economies, can be at a competitive disadvantage because of the

subsequent difficulty in attracting and retaining workers.

The ability for Lancaster County to maintain affordable housing has many economic impacts and effects

on the available workforce. Businesses looking to locate in the County determine where the workforce is

living and how they will get to their place of employment. While few studies have directly measured the

role of affordable housing on employee attraction and retention, formal and informal surveys

consistently demonstrate affordable housing’s role in a vibrant economy.

The Lancaster County Housing Market Analysis and Needs Study and information contained in The

Lancaster Chamber’s Prosperity Indicators report both suggest concerns at the number of households

that are cost-burdened. As is noted in the study, this issue will worsen if both an increase in multi-family

housing and efforts to ensure affordability in key locations around the County aren’t addressed.

The generally accepted definition of affordability is for a household to pay no more than 30 percent of

its annual income on housing. Families paying more than 30 percent of their income for housing are

considered cost burdened and may have difficulty affording necessities such as food, clothing,

transportation and medical care. (Refer to Prosperity Indicators for Percent of Income Spent on Housing

Costs data.)

The availability of housing that is within affordable reach of all citizens is a critical indicator of the

economic health of any metropolitan region. The effects of government regulation, buildable land, the

price of labor and materials, the cost of capital and the perceptions of affordable housing all impact the

ability to provide that in a community though. In order for Lancaster County to prosper, the Lancaster

community must rise to meet the challenges and provide the right type of decent, safe and affordable

housing.

POLICY POSITION:

The Board of Directors of The Lancaster Chamber of Commerce & Industry supports the development

of projects, zoning and regulation reform that provides affordable housing contributing to the overall

well-being of people and the County.

Approved by the Board of Directors on 02.10.14