Countywide Housing Affordability Taskforce

Mission

The mission of the Countywide Housing Affordability Taskforce (CHAT) is to develop and present action strategies and programs to address the anticipated need for 11,000 additional housing units by the year 2022 that are affordable to household earning 80% or less of the county median income.

Charge to the Task Force

The Task Force is charged with the following responsibilities:
Review and comment on a prioritized list of consultants solicited to provide expertise, technical support and outreach in the area of local government affordable housing policies and practices. The list will be obtained using a Request for Qualifications process led jointly by the City and County, and prioritized based on a professional evaluation of respondent's credentials, experience, references and indicated capability to perform required tasks. Final decisions about consultant selection, scope of work and contract management will be made jointly by the Mayor and County Executive and will include specific deliverables and deadlines intended to assist the taskforce in achieving its charge.

Engage with the consultant in exploring a full range of possibilities for policies, procedures, financing options and other tools to achieve the targeted need.
Encourage the active involvement of other members of the community in this process.
Meet at a frequency determined by the taskforce to accomplish its responsibilities. Make at least two progress reports to the respective Councils between January and August, 2007.
By September 15, 2007, prepare for the Mayor, County Executive and respective councils: a list of strategies and programs that have been successful in other U.S. communities; a prioritized list of specific strategies and actions that could be used in the City and County to best address the need for at least 5,000 new housing units in Whatcom County and 6,000 new housing units in Bellingham, all affordable to households at or below 80% of the area median income.

These strategies must be realistic and effective based on the economic, geographic, and demographic circumstances faced by the Whatcom County community.

In accomplishing its work, the taskforce should not exclude out of hand any topic from consideration. Rather, measures employed elsewhere or proposed for consideration by the taskforce should receive a fair evaluation.

Countywide Housing Affordability Taskforce (CHAT)

Contact the Community Development Division for more information.