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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Affordable Housing Requires Hard Work, Cooperation, Taxes

Doug Floyd Interactive Editor

Lonnie Wheeler, now with the Spokane Housing Authority, has spent 18 years developing affordable housing.

She says success requires a combination of political vision and support, a united community, media attention to housing issues, a commitment from local government and “a willingness for everyone to lobby for housing issues and funding resources - housing bond or levy.”

Wheeler was responding to a request from “Bagpipes” on Thursday for suggestions about how to meet the need for affordable housing.

Helen Stevenson, housing administrator for Northwest Regional Facilitators, estimates that this year, 2,995 Spokane County families will be homeless, will live with others or in substandard housing or will pay more than 30 percent of their income for housing.

Filling some of the gap will require communities to assume responsibility. That includes a tax levy similar to one recently passed in Seattle, she said.

“We must also educate renters to understand how to be good tenants,” she said.

“But providing dollars isn’t the only thing that needs to happen. If we don’t combine a levy with some restriction on rents, we will only be lining the pockets of some developers.”

Habitat for Humanity offers an opportunity to get directly involved in constructing low-income homes.

“Habitat-Spokane has completed permanent homes for more than 30 Spokane families and plans 13 units in 1996,” said Dia Hadley, executive director. “Habitat uses private donations and volunteer labor to build simple, decent and affordable homes with low-income families who are willing to work for this opportunity; 500 hours of ‘sweat equity’ is required.”

Volunteers can call 534-2552.

Landlord Jim Shamp of Cheney estimates that construction and other expenses associated with 172 low-income rental units the Spokane Housing Authority plans to build in the Hillyard area will come to nearly $60,000 per unit.

“This is significant because the going price for newer apartment houses of this size is less than $35,000 per unit,” he said. “Why doesn’t the Spokane Housing Authority simply buy an existing building at a much cheaper price?”

, DataTimes MEMO: “Bagpipes” appears Tuesdays and Thursdays. To respond, call Cityline at 458-8800, category 9881, from a Touch-Tone phone, or send a fax to 459-5098 or e-mail to dougf@spokesman.com. You also can leave Doug Floyd a message at 459-5577, extension 5466.

“Bagpipes” appears Tuesdays and Thursdays. To respond, call Cityline at 458-8800, category 9881, from a Touch-Tone phone, or send a fax to 459-5098 or e-mail to dougf@spokesman.com. You also can leave Doug Floyd a message at 459-5577, extension 5466.