Jessica Webb
editor@thesmokymountaintimes.com
When it comes to government, the stereotype is that things move at a snail’s pace. Not so with the Swain County committee on affordable housing. This group has been meeting weekly since it began this spring and provided a recent update to Swain County Board of Commissioners during the board’s work session meeting on Thursday, May 26. Next for the committee is an effort to learn more from residents with a survey.
Committee member Gina Wiggins was before the board Thursday and received approval to begin giving out the survey to learn more about what the local inventory is including rental properties.
A letter to the board answered the task of clarifying definitions related to the housing discussion. The following definitions were provided.
Workforce housing: housing commonly targeted at “essential workers” in a community, such as teachers, police officers, firemen, nurses, medical staff, county employees and those working in the tourism industry in Swain County.
Affordable housing: Housing that is priced at approximately 30% of the Area Median Income. In Swain County, the estimated price is $832-$900 a month for an average essential worker.
NC fair housing law defines affordable housing as housing offered at lower price point for households who earn less than 80% of an area median income (less than $31,136 in the county).
To demonstrate the current market, the committee provided that for a home costing about $250,000, the mortgage (including taxes and insurance) is about $1,300 a month— quite a bit more than what would be affordable for most workers.
Even so, there are few properties currently on the market that would be available at that price point.
The housing committee also provided recent data, with the county building inspections office having issued 105 building permits since Jan. 1, with 21 long-term housing. Approximately 55 homes will become second homes and/or overnight rentals.
“As we all look around the town and county, we all see properties that used to be available for long-term rentals that are now being used as overnight rentals,” the letter states.
The committee is researching grants and has identified a few properties that might qualify. They also note several business owners are well aware of the housing market issue, and some are in talks to help alleviate the issue by fixing up or building a few new apartments or duplexes in town.
The survey includes five questions to gather more information and seek more input for locals about how to resolve the housing crisis. Details on where to get the survey are not yet available.
The housing committee has its next meeting scheduled tomorrow (Friday, June 2) at 1 p.m. at the Swain County
Administration Building.