Definitions -
A
‘A’ffordable housing – housing that is truly affordable for residents who make the lowest income levels, usually 0-50% Annual Median Income. In Bellingham to be affordable, market rate housing is impossible. Cities must use inclusionary zoning (Affordable mandate), subsidies, and tax incentives to make housing for these residents Affordable.
Zoning Reform (see below) alone cannot achieve Affordable Housing.
a
‘a’ffordable housing – market rate proponents, often self described YIMBYs, call for affordable housing for all. When all win, some lose. ‘a’ffordability to buy a 1.3 million dollar home is not, Affordability to stay in ANY home.
affordable housing has been co-opted. Often pulling at the heart strings of residents, but in the end only helping the wealthy and developers.
Average Median Income
AMI – Average Median Income – midpoint of an area’s income distribution, half having an income above that amount, and half having an income below that amount. As of April 2024, Bellingham’s 100% MFI (Median Family Income-Family of 4) was $105,600. This means that a family of 4 making 50% MFI, would make $52,800.
AMI is able to drill down to a more average household number of 2, which at 100% is $84,400, and 50% is $42,200. Another way of saying this is, a family of 2, at 50% AMI, brings in $20 per hour between the two of them. They cannot afford a studio apartment in Bellingham.
Inclusionary zoning
Inclusionary Zoning – mandated percentage of Affordable housing within a development that is either required or incentivized through tax incentives or density bonuses. Requirements can be varied depending on the situation; % of units ‘set aside’ that are Affordable, income levels of residents who will live in the units, and length of time the units will be Affordable.
Inclusionary Zoning works well in tandem with zoning reform.
Missing Middle
Missing Middle – Many cities have a supply of single family homes, and apartments. Missing Middle, recognizes a need for housing in between these two disparities. Housing that is less expensive than a single family home, and more expensive than an apartment (because they can afford it). Missing Middle housing types are town homes, ADUs, tri and quadplexes and others.
Zoning reform
Zoning Reform – the changing of zoning within a municipality to help a housing crisis. This often includes “expanding permitted housing types, providing height and density bonuses, allowing accessory dwelling units (ADUs), reducing minimum lot sizes, and eliminating mandatory parking minimums”.
In most situations these reforms only help developers and the well off, unless, in return, Inclusionary Zoning is included with zoning reform.
https://www.urban.org/urban-wire/how-embed-racial-equity-zoning-code-reform