Strategic Planning Affordable Housing

STRATEGIC POVERTY REDUCTION PLAN

Washington Horizons Community: Trout Lake

Topic or focus area: Affordable Housing for workers and professionals employed in Trout Lake.

Why is this a focus area? Trout Lake has always been an established dairy and agricultural community with well-established, and successful, farms. In recent years the focus has gone to organic dairy and organic farming with fewer farmers and dairies but larger organizations requiring many hired hands. The residential portion of the community growth has been professionals with a successful career who come to this peaceful valley to establish a substantial home and live a retired life. Before the real estate fall-off in the Fall of 2007, the price of land and homes in the valley had risen to the $400,000-$800,000 level, beyond the reach of most work-a-day people. Even many of the teachers at the outstanding Trout Lake School were commuting in to work here!

Why did our community believe this focus area would lead to the reduction of poverty? Being able to live where you work is a great boon to reduction of poverty. Commuting costs are eliminated, people will develop a “shop at home” attitude. A sense of pride in, and belonging to, the community will be enhanced.

WHAT WILL WE DO?
We have found, as we study what “Affordable Housing” is, that it is a very large project. The Planning Commission of our Community Council has just finished a 3-year Comprehensive Plan for land use in our valley. Included in the plan is a large portion of the valley will remain in 20-acre plots for dairy, farming, and forest. A portion to the south and west of the community center is being considered for “smaller parcels” of 1-5 acre sub-divisions and even some quarter-acre plots which could be used for “Affordable Housing.” The Planning Commission next needs to make a survey of the land use, especially as it pertains to a septic/sewer system that can accommodate smaller homes. There is no sewer system in Trout Lake; each home is on a separate septic system. The survey will include a study of the feasibility of communal septic systems shared by up to six small dwellings.

WHO IS OUR TARGET AUDIENCE?
Our audience for this survey will include the current land owners of the proposed subdivisions, the people who now dwell close to these land plots, and those who would consider living there if such an opportunity to do so would present itself.

WHY ARE WE DOING IT?
Poverty will be reduced by allowing the workers of the valley to be able to afford living where they are working. We have often heard, “Oh, Trout Lake!! I would move there in a heartbeat if I could afford to live and work in that beautiful community!” The entire economical health of our community would strengthen with an Affordable Housing Program.

INDICATORS OF SUCCESS
The indicators would include identifying land owners who would be willing to use their land in this manner, even through a CLT program perhaps. Another indicator would be the discovery of methods of waste disposal that would be agreeable to the inhabitants. And, lastly, identifying a group of people who would move to Trout Lake to enjoy affordable housing here.

TIMELINE
The Comprehensive Study is complete. The Planning Commission is eager to take the next step, perhaps in the Summer and Fall of 2008, to do the study and prepare the survey which will help to guide them in the development of the Affordable Housing Project for Trout Lake.
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