Paying for affordable housing in Fall River remains a concern for many city residents. But how many housing units across the city are considered affordable? A statewide non-profit housing equity organization has released the data it has collected.
Housing Navigator Massachusetts provides “technology that promotes housing equity and develops data that brings transparency to the affordable housing market”. They host a portal for residents to explore affordable housing options in their community.
This week the organization released an online dashboard detailing the number of affordable housing units statewide and within the state’s 351 cities and towns. The data was collected via available public information and meetings directly with local municipalities.
The affordable housing data collected is identified as units that are income-based (such as public housing) and those that have fixed rents that are below market rate. The data is up to date as of December 31. There is also a breakdown of affordable units that are restricted by age, primarily for seniors.
The organization estimates that there are 41,113 households in Fall River, with 64% being renters. 3,863 housing units are identified as affordable. 1,837 units are age-restricted properties while 1,994 are not.
A breakdown of the types of affordable units shows that Fall River has more two and three-bedroom units than one-bedroom units.
The data also included accompanying income demographic information for each city. 46% of Fall River renters are considered “Low-Income Renter Households”, identified as households making less than $75,000 a year. 56% of workers in Fall River (based on US Census data) earn less than $40,000 a year and could benefit from affordable housing.
So how does Fall River compare with similar-sized cities such as New Bedford and Brockton?
New Bedford is estimated to have 41,722 households with 60% renting. It has 4,810 housing units identified as affordable. 43% of renters in New Bedford are considered “Low-Income Renter Households”. 56% of workers in the city earn less than $40,000 a year and could benefit from affordable housing.
Brockton is estimated to have 35,489 households with 44% being renters. It has 4,353 housing units identified as affordable. 29% of renters in Brockton are considered “Low-Income Renter Households”. 51% of workers in Brockton earn less than $40,000 a year and could benefit from affordable housing.
Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan says the city continues to seek out more affordable housing options and concedes that the housing problem persists.
Housing Navigator Massachusetts is hoping to update the affordable housing data yearly.
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