Housing Affordability
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Housing Affordability
Affordable Housing has been a topic of regional concern in the Thomas Jefferson Planning District for the past decade. The cost of housing affects the Senior population several ways. First, the cost of housing is a major portion of any household's budget. More so with Seniors who may have more of a fixed income. Increases in housing costs (property taxes, utilities, maintenance, etc.) directly affect the amount of income they may be able to spend on other items. Secondly, the cost of housing affects those who are in the health services or personal service sector of the economy. If housing costs forces these people and their families to move to less expensive jurisdictions, they become less accessible to the Senior Population who may want their services.
Home ownership Costs
The information on selected monthly owner costs as a percentage of household income in 1999 is the computed ratio of selected monthly owner costs to monthly household income in 1999. The ratio was computed separately for each housing unit and rounded to the nearest whole percentage. It is based on questions asked of a sample of households.
Selected monthly owner costs are the sum of payments for
mortgages, deeds of trust, contracts to purchase, or similar debts on the property (including
payments for the first mortgage, second mortgage, home equity loans, and other junior
mortgages); real estate taxes; fire, hazard, and flood insurance on the property; utilities
(electricity, gas, and water and sewer); and fuels (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). It also includes,
where appropriate, the monthly condominium fees or mobile home costs (installment loan
payments, personal property taxes, site rent, registration fees, and license fees). Selected monthly
owner costs were tabulated separately for all owner-occupied units, specified owner-occupied
units, and owner-occupied mobile homes and, usually, are shown separately for units ‘‘with a
mortgage’’ and for units ‘‘not mortgaged.’’ *
The map shows the percentage of households headed by persons 65 and older who are paying more than 30% of their household income on ownership costs. The darkest census block groups have 44% or more of those households are above the 30% threshold.
Renter Costs
Gross rent as a percentage of household income in 1999 is a computed ratio of monthly gross
rent to monthly household income (total household income in 1999 divided by 12). The ratio is
computed separately for each unit and is rounded to the nearest tenth. Units for which no cash
rent is paid and units occupied by households that reported no income or a net loss in 1999
comprise the category ‘‘Not computed.’’
The data on gross rent were obtained from answers to long-form questionnaire Items 45a-d which
were asked on a sample basis. Gross rent is the contract rent plus the estimated average monthly
cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water and sewer) and fuels (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.) if these
are paid by the renter (or paid for the renter by someone else). Gross rent is intended to eliminate
differentials that result from varying practices with respect to the inclusion of utilities and fuels as
part of the rental payment. The estimated costs of utilities and fuels are reported on an annual
basis but are converted to monthly figures for the tabulations. Renter units occupied without
payment of cash rent are shown separately as ‘‘No cash rent’’ in the tabulations. *
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Some block groups in the city and in the rural portions of outlying counties have as many as 80% or more of their renting senior household heads paying more than 30% of their income for rental costs.
*TECHNICAL DOCUMENTATION:
Census 2000 Summary File 3
Technical Documentation/prepared by
the U.S. Census Bureau, 2002
** Image Citations:
www.sbrd.org/images/ richmond_affordable_01.jpg
Copyright © 2005 Virginia Sustainable Building Network.
www.tjpdc.org/images/ im_housing/pha_success.jpg
