County nets 'D' on housing report

SANDPOINT — The affordable housing market in Bonner County is among the worst in the Rocky Mountain region, according to a comprehensive report released Monday.

Compiled by the College of Colorado, the report, titled “State of the Rockies Report Card,” used data from the Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development to grade the affordability of housing markets in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.

While Idaho generally received high marks — more than half the homes are considered affordable — Bonner County was given a D, which is the lowest grade the report gives.

Kootenai Country was given a C grade, Ada County earned a B-, and Boundary County was given a D+.

Affordability was determined as the difference between the fair-market rent for a two-bedroom unit and the rental rate that is affordable at the median household income.

Teton County faired the best in Idaho with an A grade. According the report, fair market rent for a two-bedroom unit in Teton is $551, while median income allows $1,062 for rent.

Bonner County’s poor showing is due to higher-than-average rent and lower-than-average median income, according to the report. Fair market rent for a two-bedroom unit in Bonner County is judged to be $634, while renters can only afford to pay $598 for housing.

The report gives several explanations for the poor affordability rates, including a lack of federal money for housing help, an influx of population, and stagnant income growth in comparison to growth in the housing market.

In its fifth year, the State of the Rockies report was designed to provide an objective analysis of regional issues by offering credible research on problems facing the Rocky Mountain west.

To view the report in its entirety, go online at http://www.coloradocollege.edu/stateoftherockies/08ReportCard/AffordableHousing.pdf