Housing affordability is a key component of community health. People who own their homes are more involved in their local community organizations, maintain their property, and interact with their neighbors. In recent years, skyrocketing housing prices created an ownership problem in Whatcom County. Housing prices rose due to a nationwide speculative bubble and easy credit, combined with a local boom as the rest of the world discovered our northwest paradise. At this time, it is very difficult for local wage earners to purchase a home, as wages did not keep pace with housing prices.

I do not believe we have a supply issue. The inventory in Whatcom County has tripled in the last year, and housing prices have still risen. I believe we need market-based incentives to affordable housing. No matter how many 5,000 square foot view homes we build on King Mountain, they will never be "affordable." We need smaller houses on smaller lots. We should award density bonuses to developers who build smaller houses.

No response as of October 14 - we will post late responses within one business day of receiving them.

Yes, because as housing prices increase, those with lower incomes move further from population and employment centers. That is the "drive til you qualify" effect, and it is not a sustainable solution. We want to encourage less driving and less conversion of our rural and resource lands - those are serious environmental issues. We have to provide affordable housing options within our existing urban areas, near employment, shopping, entertainment, and schools.

No response as of October 14 - we will post late responses within one business day of receiving them.

Bellingham has a difficult situation, as our border, coastline and mountainous regions collect a disproportionate share of people without roots, without jobs, and without housing. We need to recognize the ripple effects this can have on our community. I think we do a worthy job of supporting programs such as the Opportunity Council that do great work. I think we need dedicated facilities where substance abusers and/or the mentally ill can get treatment, transitional housing, and job-training skills. The most important thing we can do is give people hope and an opportunity to be self-sufficient.

No response as of October 14 - we will post late responses within one business day of receiving them.

Subsidized housing is a key component for people with disabilities - both mental and physical. However, I do not believe it is a long-term solution for the majority of the population. I will support more programs that allow market forces to provide housing, by easing permitting, increasing density, and improving profitability for the developers. Any affordable housing projects that receive priority treatment must adhere to strict design standards to fit in with neighborhoods and meet certain green-building targets.

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I would need to know more.

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Possibly, but it is not my first choice. I would need to know more. I am not sure it would be effective on a large scale.

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Absolutely.

No response as of October 14 - we will post late responses within one business day of receiving them.

I do not agree. We have seen the inventory in our area triple in the last year, and prices have increased 5%. Our developers are building mansions on view lots - those are never going to meet the criteria for "affordable."

No response as of October 14 - we will post late responses within one business day of receiving them.

I agree that higher-wage job creation is a vital component to the housing affordability solution. People can qualify for conventional loans at better rates when they have a proven income stream and can afford to make the payments. We need more living-wage jobs and we need to support our business community.

No response as of October 14 - we will post late responses within one business day of receiving them.