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Discussion and acceptance of the 2023 Housing Study and Needs Assessment
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Submitted by:
Jennifer Ferguson
Department:
Development Department
A. Issue
Discussion and acceptance of the 2023 Housing Study and Needs Assessment.
B. Background/Options
The City’s first Housing Study & Needs Analysis was completed and accepted by the Common Council at the beginning of 2016. Following Common Council approval of a new contract with SB Friedman in April, 2022 an update to the 2016 study has been undertaken. The consultant presented the findings to the Committee of the Whole on February 7, 2023, providing an overview of the data analysis, key findings and challenges, and tools to address housing needs. At this time, the 2023 draft document is ready for review and acceptance by the Common Council.
Wauwatosa and its housing market are continuously evolving and the 2023 study serves to understand how demographics and housing needs have changed since 2016 and identify additional strategic actions that could be undertaken to address housing-related issues. The 2023 study includes:
• Updated core analyses from the 2016 study with the most recent data available.
• Engagement with community groups, City commissions, developers, and other stakeholders to understand unmet needs.
• Collection of feedback from over 1,500 residents, community members, and stakeholders through a public input survey.
• Identified key challenges and offering recommendations to address these challenges.
The intention of the 2023 study is to provide the data and foundation to inform a revised or new housing policy and to craft and assemble program recommendations for consideration and adoption by the Council over the coming months.
C. Strategic Plan (Area of Focus)
Housing: Expand the availability of inclusionary housing; Foster a balanced approach to housing throughout the City.
D. Recommendation
Staff recommends acceptance of the 2023 Housing Study and Needs Assessment document.