1. Workforce Housing A Regional Action Plan for Palm Beach County

2. Workforce Housing: Problem Identification
What is Workforce Housing?
Definitions:
Affordable versus Workforce
Why don’t we have any?
Market Conditions
Limited land, Hot real estate market, Cost to build/renovate
Public Policy
No sense of urgency, NIMBY, No public policy
Other Contributing
Tax and homeowner fee escalations, Condo conversions
Why is that a problem?
Economic Development
Quality of Life

3. Workforce Housing: Proposed Solutions
Housing Leadership Council….
Defining the problem better
Bringing everyone to the table
Gathering better data
Studying what’s worked elsewhere
Educating the public
Creating a sense of urgency
Working towards a recommended strategy

4. Workforce Housing: Next Steps in the Strategy/Action Plan
Prioritized needs identified in research
Sought expert assistance in these areas
Set up quantifiable goals for 2007
Developed Solutions Workshops
National Housing Conference
Trying Commissions on Regulatory Barriers
Integrating Boards
Emphasized issue as election issue
Formalized the HLC
Hired Staff and Fund raising

5. Workforce Housing: Lessons Learned and How Can YOU Help
LIGHT BULB MOMENTS/LESSONS LEARNED:
Underestimated competition versus collaboration.
Can’t do ENOUGH public education on the topic at ALL levels.
Diversification of employer attitude to solutions.
Stick to what the numbers are telling you.
NO EASY OR QUICK SOLUTION.
HOW CAN YOU HELP:
Always looking for Best Practices especially in Public Policy.
How do you transition from social issue to business issue?
How do you collaborate with non-profits who see your sudden interest in their world as suspicious and compromising to their constituency group?
Once you get through to the elected officials, how do you deal with inadequate internal planning infrastructure that’s way behind in dealing with this issue as a smart growth issue?

6. Thank you for your time and consideration of this important issue!
Workforce Housing
Thank you for your time and consideration of this important issue!