Board maintains current project categories for housing funds

Trust funds will continue supporting supportive housing projects

Board to review new trust fund revenue proposals in May

Board caps rental housing funding at 60 percent area median income

Homeownership funding eligibility increased to 120 percent area median income

30-year affordability minimum set for new construction

Universal design mandate rejected after debate; board favors incentive approach

Board declines pre-packaged tax credit developer incentives

Board maintains current project categories for housing funds

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Despite a push to narrow funding focus, the Affordable Housing Advisory Board voted 5-1 to maintain all current eligible project categories for its upcoming notice of funding opportunity. Some members argued that restricting funds strictly to community land trusts would eliminate private investors from supplying affordable housing in the area. Ultimately, the board agreed that maintaining a broader range of eligible projects would best serve the community.

Trust funds will continue supporting supportive housing projects

LAWRENCE, Kan. — The Affordable Housing Advisory Board clarified that supportive housing projects will remain eligible for Affordable Housing Trust Fund dollars, despite an unwritten local agreement that Douglas County prioritizes supportive housing while the City of Lawrence handles general affordable housing. Members reached a consensus that trust funds should remain available for the property type, emphasizing that serving the City of Lawrence's most vulnerable and hard-to-house populations is a core component of the board's mission.

Board to review new trust fund revenue proposals in May

LAWRENCE, Kan. — The Affordable Housing Advisory Board Revenue Subcommittee expects to present new funding recommendations at the board's May 14 meeting. Members have been researching state statute preemptions to ensure any proposed local funding mechanisms are legally sound. The upcoming proposals aim to inject new revenue streams into the trust fund to help meet the growing demand for affordable housing.

Board caps rental housing funding at 60 percent area median income

LAWRENCE, Kan. — In an effort to prioritize the City of Lawrence's lowest-income residents, the Affordable Housing Advisory Board voted to cap trust fund eligibility for rental housing to projects averaging 60 percent of the area median income. Members debated the restriction, noting that heavily subsidizing lower-income units stretches trust fund dollars thinner and reduces the total number of units that can be built. However, the board ultimately agreed that the community has a more pressing need for deeply affordable rentals rather than units priced closer to market rates.

Homeownership funding eligibility increased to 120 percent area median income

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Recognizing the rising cost of local real estate, the Affordable Housing Advisory Board voted to increase the funding eligibility target for homeownership projects to 120 percent of the area median income. City of Lawrence staff noted the trust fund has not received homeownership applications in several years, and current market data shows even households at 80 percent of the median income struggle to afford an average home. The adjustment aims to make homeownership subsidies viable for middle-income residents being priced out of the local market.

30-year affordability minimum set for new construction

LAWRENCE, Kan. — New housing developments receiving public trust funds will now be required to maintain affordability for a minimum of 30 years. The Affordable Housing Advisory Board unanimously approved the policy, which also includes a scoring preference for projects that guarantee affordability for 50 years or more. Rehabilitation and accessibility modification projects are exempt from the 30-year minimum, as the board concluded that smaller financial investments do not warrant long-term property restrictions.

Universal design mandate rejected after debate; board favors incentive approach

LAWRENCE, Kan. — The Affordable Housing Advisory Board rejected proposals to require universal design standards on new affordable housing projects funded by the trust fund. A motion to apply the standards to 40 percent of newly funded units was withdrawn following pushback from board members with building industry experience, who argued the requirements could introduce costly unknowns for developers and shrink the pool of applicants. A subsequent motion to require all new trust fund-supported projects to meet universal design standards also failed. Members expressed concern that forcing developers to adopt stringent accessibility standards — rather than adhering to the standard 5 percent federal requirement — would deter private developers from building affordable units in Lawrence. Proponents countered that building accessible features from the start prevents the need for expensive taxpayer-funded modifications later. The board indicated it prefers to incentivize universal design through an application scoring matrix rather than enacting a mandate.

Board declines pre-packaged tax credit developer incentives

LAWRENCE, Kan. — The Affordable Housing Advisory Board unanimously rejected a request to establish a standardized local support package for Low-Income Housing Tax Credit applications. The proposed package would have guaranteed a substantial per-unit subsidy up to a half-million dollars, plus significant fee waivers for one tax credit project per year to help developers secure state funding. Board members argued the blanket policy would eliminate the competitive process and force the city to fund projects without negotiating deeper local benefits.

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