HOUSING

Over the years, SNHPC has conducted several housing related projects including studies of affordability and current home costs, tabulations of existing stock, and guideline preparation for open space developments, among others. Below is a selection of SNHPC's larger and more recent housing related projects.

Housing Needs Assessment
The Housing Needs Assessment, per State Statute, is updated by SNHPC every five years. The Commission approved the most recent update in January 2005. The assessment analyzes the region's housing supply, demand, and affordability; presents mechanisms for promoting affordable housing creation; and allocates the region's fair share distribution of low-income housing.

Real Estate Tracking Report
The SNHPC collects and analyzes real estate transaction data for its thirteen-community region. Research is conducted at the community level and at the U.S. Census Block Group level and analyzes aggregate housing sales, sales by housing type, average sales price and sales activity on a quarterly and annual basis. This information allows for identifying and tracking trends within communities down to the neighborhood-level. This report is updated annually and is typically released in December.

A Handbook on Open Space Development Through Residential Clustering
The Handbook on Open Space Development was created in 2001 through a Target Block Grant from the NH Office of Energy and Planning. The primary goal of open space subdivision is to preserve and protect tracts of undeveloped land in order to help maintain the character of a community. This handbook outlines the basic methodology for creating open space development and provides many examples from within New Hampshire. This handbook is intended to be useful for both planning board members and developers.

Housing Forums
During February and April 2006 SNHPC has hosted a two part open forum to address the barriers, challenges, and potential solutions to the affordable and workforce housing crisis in the region.  The first forum, held on February 3, 2006, had presentations from local builders, planners, and housing advocacy groups and attempted to define the barriers and challenges perceived by the various sectors of the housing market.  The session concluded by identifying what solutions all parties felt could help bridge these challenges and make affordable housing production a realistic and viable opportunity in the region.  The April 5, 2006 session pulled together a similar panel of housing experts to present a variety of existing opportunities for planners, builders, and housing advocate to utilize.

Summary of the February 3, 2006 Housing Forum
Summary of the April 5, 2006 Housing Forum

Summary of Age-Restricted Housing

HOUSING RESOURCES
What is Workforce Housing?[1]
“Workforce housing” means housing which is intended for sale and which is affordable to a household with an income of no more than 100 percent of the median income for a 4-person household for the metropolitan area or county in which the housing is located as published annually by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. “Workforce housing” also means rental housing, which is affordable to a household with an income of no more than 60 percent of the median income for a 3-person household for the metropolitan area or county in which the housing is located as published annually by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.

New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority[2]
The New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority (NHHFA) is a Statewide Housing Resource. NHHFA promotes finances and supports affordable housing opportunities and related services for New Hampshire families and individuals, and serves as the primary source for housing data.

The Inclusionary Zoning Implementation Program (IZIP)[3] is a new funding program offered to municipalities through NHHFA.   The program will provide funds to towns to obtain technical assistance to prepare Inclusionary Zoning Ordinances with the goal of having ordinances adopted by local legislative bodies in 2008 and 2009.  Through IZIP, NH Housing will award approximately ten grants of up to $9,000 each. No matching funds are required.  The submittal deadline for the first round of grants is May 15, 2008.

NeighborWorks Greater Manchester[4]
NeighborWorks^® Greater Manchester is a non-profit organization dedicated to the improvement of the lives of individuals and families living in the Greater Manchester region by providing access to quality housing services, revitalizing neighborhoods and supporting opportunities for personal empowerment. NeighborWorks^® Greater Manchester has helped thousands of people break the cycle of poverty and improve their financial stability through either home ownership or providing quality affordable rental housing. NeighborWorks^® Greater Manchester helps families realize a stable housing cost so they may build economic self-sufficiency.

New Hampshire Office of Energy and Planning (OEP) Housing and Conservation Planning Program[5]
The HCPP is a new and voluntary grant program offered to municipalities through the Office of Energy and Planning (OEP).  The HCPP will provide grant funds to municipalities to obtain technical assistance related to planning for future housing growth needs, including the need for affordable and workforce housing, while preserving quality of life, using land efficiently, and identifying key natural and historic areas to conserve.  Through the HCPP, the OEP will award $400,000 in grants over the next two years.  The first round of applications for this program occurred in for Spring 2008.

[1] SB 342, May 1, 2008