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Housing Affordability Just like the remainder of the metropolitan region, the need for affordable housing will continue to be present in New Brighton. The Metropolitan Council identified 137 units of new affordable housing as New Brighton’s share of the affordable housing need in the Metropolitan Area during the decade 2011 – 2020 2 . This new model of determining housing needs attempts to create affordable housing near transit opportunities and employment opportunity centers. The City of New Brighton recognizes the need for affordable housing and will continue to use the tools available to create its share when appropriate opportunities arise, as it has been doing since 1996 when it became a participant in the Livable Communities program and negotiated housing goals. According to the Metropolitan Council New Brighton meets nearly all affordable housing goals as illustrated in Table 6-4 below. Livable Communities Program The Livable Communities Act was enacted by the state legislature to encourage communities to invest in local economic revitalization and affordable housing initiatives. The City of New Brighton has continually renewed participation in the Livable Communities Program. Livable Communities goals were established by comparing city numbers to benchmarks set by the Metropolitan Council. The benchmarks are based on numbers compared with surrounding communities with similar issues and profiles. Table 6-4 shows the benchmarks in effect through 2010, 2007 city numbers, and negotiated goals for New Brighton. As noted below, the City has exceeded its goals for affordable ownership and rental units by adding more than the negotiated number of units. Table 6 - 4 Negotiated Livable Communities Act Goals for Affordable & Life-Cycle Housing CITY INDEX BENCHMARK (sector average) GOAL (city negotiated) Affordability Ownership 69% 77-87% 71% Rental 56% 45-50% 50% Life-Cycle Hsg. Type (Non-Single-Family Detached) 45% 33-41% 45% Owner/renter mix 62/38% (64-75)/(25-36)% 64/36% Density Single-Family Detached 2.8/acre 2.3-2.9/acre 2.8/acre Multi-Family 15/acre 13-15/acre 15/acre Source: “Report to the Legislature on Affordable and Life-Cycle Housing, in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, 2005”, December 2006. As determined by the Metropolitan Council, 69 percent of New Brighton’s owner-occupied housing and 56 percent of its rental units are considered affordable. This means that monthly housing costs for these units would be 30 percent or less of a household’s income. 2 Summary Report: Determining Affordable Housing Need in the Twin Cities 2011-2020, A Report by an Advisory Panel to the Metropolitan Council Staff, January 2006. 6-9