FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is a Mixed Income Development?

A mixed income development is one where a percentage of the units are set aside as affordable housing. The rest are rented at market rates. There are several advantages to this model. First, no islands of poverty are created. Second, the market rate units significantly increase the financial viability of such a development.
 

Why Affordable Housing?

Affordable housing provides a solid foundation for a strong, diverse community. People who live in affordable housing have the funds to purchase food, health care and other living needs. Affordable housing helps create economic stability because people have the means to purchase goods and services in their communities.

In addition, the State of Connecticut statute section 8-30g dictates that 10% of total housing units in each town must be affordable. Mansfield is not currently in compliance. As of 2020, we were at 6.6%.  A provision of section 8-30g allows developers to override local zoning to create new affordable housing in this situation.
 

What Is considered Affordable?

According to HUD (US Department of Housing and Urban Development), an affordable home should cost no more than 30% of household income. The Partnership for Strong Communities 2020 Housing Data Profile for Mansfield shows the Mansfield average housing wage, which is the hourly rate a person must make to afford a two-bedroom apartment, is $23.65. The report shows 36% of Mansfield households spend over 30% of income on housing, and when only renters are considered, that number shoots up to 56%. The United Way 2020 ALICE Report says a survival budget for a family of 4 in Connecticut is close to $78,000 yet according to the 2019 US Census, median household income in Connecticut is $78,444 and per capital income is $44,496.
 

How does Affordable Housing improve neighborhoods?

Diversity improves and strengthens neighborhoods. It brings economic and social stability to an area by making it possible to live, work, shop, play and go to school within a community.  

Many people already in our community or who support our community are eligible and in need of affordable housing. A report from The Partnership for Strong Communities shows average salaries for jobs in CT.  Many of these jobs pay below the CT median income. Here are examples of people in our community who spend greater than 30% of their income on housing:

• Pre-school teachers

• Bank tellers

• Restaurant workers

• Hairdressers and salon workers

• Emergency medical technicians

• Healthcare support workers

Neighborhood stability is improved when rents remain stable. The affordable rents at MNHDC properties will be determined by annual Area or State Median Income and size of family as set forth by HUD. Tenants move less often as MHA’s experience at at other properties it manages, such as Holinko Estates, bear out.

The overwhelming majority of studies show that property values are maintained when affordable housing is established in a neighborhood. A well-designed, well-run development is key to maintaining surrounding property values. MNHDC brings an experienced architect, energy efficient passive house building standards and a very experienced management team to all its projects. One of the many reports on this topic is available on Trulia.

How Does Affordable Housing Fit In The Mansfield Tomorrow Vision For The Town?

The Mansfield Tomorrow: Plan of Conservation and Development created with input from many town residents and published in October, 2015, provides a “unified framework of values, goals, strategies and actions that will guide both the Planning and Zoning Commission and Town Council as they make decisions about the town’s physical, social and economic development over the next two decades.” Affordable Housing is mentioned in several parts of the document and discussed at length in Chapter 7 on Housing.

The plan promotes the federal livability principles which include the promotion of equitable, affordable housing.  It also contains four goals for Mansfield housing:  

• The first of four housing goals in Chapter 7 reads “Mansfield’s housing options include housing affordable to low and moderate income individuals and families” on page 7.22.

• The second goal, directly related to Affordable Housing in some cases reads “Mansfield’s senior citizen’s have housing options that allow them to continue to age in their community” on page 7.24

• Any new housing developments created by MNHDC and managed by MHA will contribute to goal three which states “Mansfield maintains high quality living conditions throughout the town” on page 7.26.

• Finally, Affordable Housing will be an important piece of meeting “the needs of residents at all ages of the life cycle, including singles, families, seniors and students” as discussed in goal four on page 7.29.