A new idea on housing in the community

(This piece is the fourth in a series to address the issue of housing availability and affordability in the greater Sandpoint region.)

In response to the growing cost and shortage of housing available in the greater Sandpoint area, the city of Sandpoint posted a survey on Engage Sandpoint. All business owners in Sandpoint and Bonner County were invited to participate. We received responses from 127 businesses, which represents about 10% of total businesses in Sandpoint. The businesses that responded represent 3,600 employees, about 11% of our local workforce.

The results were dramatic and affirm the need for immediate action toward affordable workforce housing. 75% of respondents reported the current lack of available, local housing to be a significant factor in the ability for employers to retain or hire new employees. 10% of employees represented were reported to leave their employment due to housing. Of employers surveyed, 26% expressed their willingness to work together to do something to address the problem. This demonstrates both the severity of the problem and the grit of local employers who take to solve the problem themselves. In this article I will share the next steps to mobilize local talent and resources to increase workforce housing.

While there are some traditional resources like subsidized HUD housing, Idaho Housing and Finance sponsored housing programs run by Bonner Community Housing Agency, Bonner County Homeless Transitions, these resources are underfunded and not enough to address the shortage of affordable housing for the full spectrum of Sandpoint’s workforce.

What is needed now is a locally driven solution. I am initiating the Sandpoint Workforce Housing Task Force for this purpose. This is a working group of community members who are experts in their fields and are volunteering their efforts to collaborate on solving this problem. The SWHTF will organize community partnerships and resources to facilitate creation of new workforce housing solutions for Sandpoint. The SWFHTF is an advisory body to the mayor. As such, it will not make any decisions or direct any city resources, but can make policy recommendations and identify opportunities for collaboration with other entities both public and private.

The WFHTF may also be purposed to evaluate and propose to the mayor changes to the Comprehensive Land Use Plan that will be under revision within the next year.  Subsequent to that process are potential zoning code changes that could incentivize workforce and missing middle housing. Recommendations can be brought to and vetted by the appropriate decision making bodies, the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee, the Planning and Zoning Commission or the City Council.

Sandpoint’s workforce is the lifeblood of our economy and our community. If we lose the ability to meet the housing needs of the missing middle, it will be disastrous for local business and quality of life that we have come to appreciate and expect here in Bonner County. 

The SWHTF is comprised of approximately 25 community leaders across stakeholder groups. Represented are teachers, workers in manufacturing, healthcare, hospitality, food service, construction, retail, non-profits, government and small business. I’m very excited and confident that this group is representative of Sandpoint’s workforce and can help local business and government ensure Bonner County remains a place where working people can afford to live.

Lack of access to housing is a problem that affects families, businesses and the overall health and wealth of our county. When workers can’t access housing locally, workers are forced to commute long distances which reduces quality of life as more valuable time is spent behind the wheel. This erodes the character of our community. Quality of life and community character are what makes Sandpoint a special place to live. It further increases cost of living as commuters pay more for fuel and vehicle maintenance. Longer commutes have a long term impact on climate as well. Businesses suffer when they lose workers who choose to relocate closer to where they can afford to live. All of these problems can be resolved by increasing access to local housing.

I have heard from many concerned citizens that are ready for solutions. The SWHTF is an important next step to mobilize our local strengths to improve access to housing for Sandpoint’s workforce.

You can view the results of the Workforce Housing Needs Assessment Survey here: https://www.opentownhall.com/portals/287/Issue_10864/survey_responses

There is no Mayor’s Roundtable in July. The Mayor’s Roundtable will continue in August. I hope you can join us then at the new, larger venue that will be announced next month. Stay tuned.

Shelby Rognstad is the mayor of Sandpoint. He can be reached at mayor@sandpointidaho.gov.