Comments on: Expanded H + T Index Most Comprehensive Snapshot of Neighborhood Affordability http://www.cnt.org/news/2010/04/02/expanded-h-t-index-most-comprehensive-snapshot-of-neighborhood-affordability-2/ Sustainable Communities. Attainable Results. Mon, 08 Apr 2013 13:33:13 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: annette http://www.cnt.org/news/2010/04/02/expanded-h-t-index-most-comprehensive-snapshot-of-neighborhood-affordability-2/comment-page-1/#comment-52699 annette Wed, 19 May 2010 18:22:12 +0000 http://www.cnt.org/news/?p=2954#comment-52699 Linda - HR 4690 as currently written directs the Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities at HUD to “conduct a study on the development of a housing location affordability index that includes housing and transportation costs” and the ways in which that index “could be made available to the public”, and that a report on this study will be made available to the relevant Committees in the House and Senate within a year. Here’s the excerpt from HR 4690 (see <a href="http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-4690" rel="nofollow">http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-4690</a>): <blockquote> (d) Report on Housing Location Affordability Index- (1) STUDY- The Director shall conduct a study on-- (A) the development of a housing location affordability index that includes housing and transportation costs; and (B) ways in which the affordability index described in subparagraph (A) could be made available to the public to inform consumers of the combined costs of housing and transportation. (2) REPORT- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall submit to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives a report on the study under paragraph (1).</blockquote> Also, refer to the following two press releases from HUD and DOT, which explain how the partnership will seek to redefine affordability (the press releases appear to be identical): <a href="http://www.dot.gov/affairs/dot3209.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.dot.gov/affairs/dot3209.htm</a> <a href="http://www.hud.gov/news/release.cfm?content=pr09-023.cfm" rel="nofollow">http://www.hud.gov/news/release.cfm?content=pr09-023.cfm</a> As Shawn Donovan announced - on the day that he and Ray LaHood announced the HUD/DOT Sustainable Communities Parnership last year (before EPA joined in) - “We will work to jointly develop, with the Department of Transportation, a housing and transportation affordability index. This index will serve to make transparent the costs of living in a given location, and inform consumers and businesses about their choices in real-time, so they can make intelligent decisions about how to combine transportation and housing choices to lower their cost burdens.” Linda – HR 4690 as currently written directs the Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities at HUD to “conduct a study on the development of a housing location affordability index that includes housing and transportation costs” and the ways in which that index “could be made available to the public”, and that a report on this study will be made available to the relevant Committees in the House and Senate within a year. Here’s the excerpt from HR 4690 (see http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-4690):

(d) Report on Housing Location Affordability Index-
(1) STUDY- The Director shall conduct a study on–
(A) the development of a housing location affordability index that includes housing and transportation costs; and
(B) ways in which the affordability index described in subparagraph (A) could be made available to the public to inform consumers of the combined costs of housing and transportation.

(2) REPORT- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall submit to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives a report on the study under paragraph (1).

Also, refer to the following two press releases from HUD and DOT, which explain how the partnership will seek to redefine affordability (the press releases appear to be identical):
http://www.dot.gov/affairs/dot3209.htm
http://www.hud.gov/news/release.cfm?content=pr09-023.cfm

As Shawn Donovan announced – on the day that he and Ray LaHood announced the HUD/DOT Sustainable Communities Parnership last year (before EPA joined in) – “We will work to jointly develop, with the Department of Transportation, a housing and transportation affordability index. This index will serve to make transparent the costs of living in a given location, and inform consumers and businesses about their choices in real-time, so they can make intelligent decisions about how to combine transportation and housing choices to lower their cost burdens.”

]]> By: Linda Wheaton http://www.cnt.org/news/2010/04/02/expanded-h-t-index-most-comprehensive-snapshot-of-neighborhood-affordability-2/comment-page-1/#comment-51675 Linda Wheaton Mon, 03 May 2010 18:17:46 +0000 http://www.cnt.org/news/?p=2954#comment-51675 Regarding the excerpted statement below and the hyperlink to HR 4690 Liveable Comm. Act of 2010... how does that bill change the federal def. of affordability (dont see it in the TOC)? " . . .Just as the federal Partnership for Sustainable Communities broadens the federal definition of affordability to include transportation, . . . " Regarding the excerpted statement below and the hyperlink to HR 4690 Liveable Comm. Act of 2010… how does that bill change the federal def. of affordability (dont see it in the TOC)?

” . . .Just as the federal Partnership for Sustainable Communities broadens the federal definition of affordability to include transportation, . . . “

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