Workforce Housing Study Services

The vendor is required to provide workforce housing comprehensive study examining the state of workforce housing availability in the agency area.
- County and municipal level, prior to data collection, the firm will determine additional geographic levels of study areas, to be confirmed by the stakeholders, then identify where economic development growth areas are occurring.
- The consultant will establish additional study areas based on geographic and economic parameters.
- Complete a study that targets those with income between 80-150% AMI. 
- The study should:
•    Examine and quantify the existing housing stock of the determined geography.
•    Identify where units are available, or where future development or redevelopment can occur.
•    Report the price ranges of various types of housing units.
•    The gaps in the housing stock by both product availability and income affordability.
•    Analyze linkages between housing and other services critical for economic growth, such as transportation.
•    Provide data-based barriers to workforce housing, and possible ways to overcome those barriers, including examples from similar communities. 
- Housing market analysis established by the consultant
1. Population and household demographics
•    Basic demographic data for each area
•    Income by household type, age, race, etc.
2. Housing stock characteristics
•    Analyze housing stock by type, age, market value, vacancy, rent and own, second home, etc.
•    Benchmark analysis as appropriate with similarly sized regions as determined by the consultant, in consultation with stakeholders.
3. Housing market characteristics
•    Rental housing
o    Vacancy rates, construction, and absorption.
o    Rents vs. income at 80-150% area median income (AMI), including percentage of income used for rent.
o    Affordability of rents at local wages for certain occupations (first responders, educators, service industry, etc.).
o    Evaluation of housing cost burdens and barriers by housing type.
o    Housing needs of sub-populations, including seniors and younger, entry-level employees.
o    Identification of impact on the market by investment properties.
•    Owner occupied housing
o    Vacancy rates, construction and absorption.
o    Price points and average prices by housing type.
o    Mortgages vs. income at 80-150% area median income (AMI), including percentage of income used for monthly owner costs.
o    Affordability of mortgages at local wages for certain occupations (first responders, educators, service industry, etc.)
o    Evaluation of housing cost burdens and barriers by housing type.
o    Housing needs of sub-populations, including seniors and younger, entry-level employees.
o    Identification of impact on the market by investment properties.
4. Demographic trends that will influence housing trends
•    Population trends in the area, and the resulting changes over the study time period to be determined by consultant with assistance and projections from local planning staff.
•    How population and demographic changes will influence demand for types, cost, and location of housing.
5. National housing perspective
•    Evaluation of national housing trends as appropriate for benchmarking throughout the report.
•    Evaluation and recommendation of national trends that best apply to the area.
6. Commuting patterns
•    Analyze commuter and residential patterns to determine where people live and work in the area.
•    Discuss housing affordability as it relates to distance to work centers, as determined by the consultant and approved by the stakeholders.
7. Survey of employers (sample questions)
•    Sampling of major and small employers.
•    Employer’s perceived need for workforce housing.
•    Employer’s assets (land, building) that could be used to support housing.
•    Any ability to provide a financial incentive to support housing.
•    Ask employers the effect of housing stability on job performance and retention.
- Review data to identify characteristics, barriers, and potential solutions
1. Based on regional information, identify characteristics and trends that would indicate suitable areas and market demand for workforce housing development. examples include:
•    Unmet market demand or gap analysis for different types and rates of workforce housing identified by geographic units. 
•    Ideal geographic locations and features, i.e., readily available infrastructure including water, sewer, roads. 
•    Evaluation of amenities and their importance to various age populations (i.e., walkable neighborhoods, parks, etc.). 
•    Include housing types that could potentially be constructed on ideal site locations. 
•    Sites could reasonably be developed given current constraints. 
•    Identify trends in multi-family housing sector, to include unit production for those with incomes in the 80-150% AMI, and how those trends will impact affordability and the need for affordable workforce housing in the future. 
•    Strengths and opportunities in the area that can be leveraged to achieve goals to encourage housing opportunities.
2. Any opportunities to modify public policies to support increased expansion and supply of workforce housing, including:
•    Mixed-income rental housing and residential investment. 
•    Identify barriers to workforce housing development, such as land use policies, state policies, building or fire codes, development economics, lack of available infrastructure or lack of existing or planned higher density multi-family housing. 
•    Review land development codes. 
•    Identify moratoria and other local regulatory actions. 
•    Examine comprehensive plans, and the housing element included in the comprehensive plan, for identified jurisdictions.
- Budget: $250,000

- Questions/Inquires Deadline: September 15, 2025