In a move reflecting a growing trend across the nation, the city of San Bernardino, CA is partnering with Neighborhood Partnership Housing Services “to ensure that persons of all walks of life have opportunities to find suitable and affordable housing in San Bernardino,” according to a report from the city’s housing consultant, Edward Flores.
The report continues, “The Infill Housing Program will allow the city to take blighted and/or underutilized residential properties within the city and turn them into quality and energy efficient housing for qualified low- and moderate-income households.”
The city council voted to approve the partnership using $650,000 of HOME funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to build up to three more modular homes on lots owned by the city and sold to first-time homebuyers. This brings the commitment to $1,275,000 following s similar vote in September, according to what SBSun tells MHProNews.
SC Town Adding to Affordable Housing Stock
As MHProNews reported June 9, 2014, the town of Bluffton, South Carolina is promoting 22 Small Home Series modular units under an Affordable Housing Initiative to Bluffton residents who earn no more than 120 percent of the area’s annual median income.
The units will range from a 600 square-foot unit to a four-bedroom model with 2,000 square feet, priced from $58,000 to $84,000. In this case the city owns the land but will sell it to residents private developers. Buyers will be responsible for 60 percent of the expenses and for demolishing dilapidated pre HUD Code homes now on the sites.
Residence in New Housing Based on Income
In San Bernardino, the modular homes will be sold to first-time homebuyers whose annual income is below $50,560—under 80 percent of the area median income with an adjustment for family size.
According to the agreement the modular homes will include solar panels, energy efficient appliances and drought tolerant landscaping in keeping with insuring the costs of ownership remain low.
What’s Missing From Such Projects?
What is missing from several such projects are a willingness to consider what HUD’s PDR research revealed, in a report linked here.
There are projects – such as high-rises – that are better suited to modular or prefab construction. By using HUD Code homes, more housing could be created for the same dollar. ##
(Image credits are as show above, and when provided by third parties, are shared under fair use guidelines.)
