County adjusts general relief amounts

Union County Board of Supervisors Monday unanimously approved revisions to its general relief ordinance specific to housing assistance.

The portion of the ordinance in question is the amount allowed for housing. For years, the amount has been $300. That amount was increased to $750. Those eligible for the payment can only use the assistance once in a 12-month timespan.

Supervisors increased the amount knowing the extremely few places to rent for housing at $300 a month, if there are any at all. Another portion of the ordinance was changed to annual income amounts for those using the program. Income amounts were based on federal guidelines.

County officials said the times the housing assistance is used is very few during a year. Officials said other organizations in the county and state are usually asked and provide before the county.

Affordable housing is becoming an issue across the country. Brendan O’Brien, who grew up in Davenport, but lives in Arizona, has a new book “Why Housing is Unaffordable and How we can Change it” describing his research on affordable housing.

Those monitoring the issue note a lack of affordable housing in certain areas and for people with lower incomes. The Quad-Cities Housing Council has estimated its area is more than 6,000 units short of affordable, rental housing for low-income people (those making 30% of the area’s median income.)

O’Brien proposes some solutions to affordability. Among them are community land trusts.

These CLTs, as they’re called, are often run by non-profits. The idea is people buy a house but lease the land underneath from the trust. Because they’re not buying the land, this lowers the home price and, when it comes time to sell, the homeowner agrees to do so at a lower price, thus keeping costs more reasonable over the long term.

Iowa Capital Dispatch contributed to this story.