HC Housing Collaborative

The Hamilton County Housing Collaborative is a group of individuals and organizations committed to improving the inventory of housing in every category along the continuum of housing options.

We believe that housing should be attainable for those who desire to call Hamilton County home during every stage of their lives to uphold the economic well-being of Hamilton County.

To ensure housing for all, we will:

  • Prioritize diversity in housing product types and prices, prioritizing households earning up to 120% AMI.
  • Encourage and advocate for lower-cost housing options near jobs and services.
  • Explore public-private-philanthropic partnerships to expand resources and dollars aimed at removing barriers to attainable housing.
  • Communicate the importance of attainable housing in the County’s economy.

This collective impact initiative is funded by the Hamilton County Trustees Association, and staffed by HAND, Inc., a leader in promoting prosperity and diversity by providing quality housing opportunities in Hamilton County and beyond.

The Need

Hamilton County is becoming less affordable to more people. Stagnant incomes and growing home values create affordability problems for most income groups, but especially for those households earning less than $98,000 (120% of Area Median Income).

Hamilton County’s housing inventory lacks diversity; homogeneous new construction is unlikely to support the current housing needs of the workforce.

Given current funding and construction trends, it will take approximately 286 years to meet the current demand for income-based housing. Land costs and development regulations hamper the ability to quickly increase housing inventory at all price points, but especially at attainable prices.

THE MEDIAN SALES PRICE OF A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME INCREASED 46% FROM $290,538 IN 2018 TO $425,000 IN 2022. IN JUNE OF 2023, IT WAS $460,000.

73% OF RENTERS EARNING BELOW 80% OF THE AMI ARE COST-BURDENED, SPENDING MORE THAN 30% OF THEIR INCOME ON HOUSING COMPARED TO 55% OF HOMEOWNERS WITH THE SAME INCOME.

A RENTER WOULD NEED TO EARN $20.48 AN HOUR ($42,600 A YEAR) TO AFFORD THE FAIR MARKET RENT ($1,065) OF A 2-BEDROOM APARTMENT IN HAMILTON COUNTY.

ONLY 36 AFFORDABLE AND AVAILABLE UNITS EXIST PER 100 EXTREMELY LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS.

What We Do

The 2022 Hamilton County Housing Study revealed that to sustain economic well-being, Hamilton County must make diverse housing a priority. In addition to addressing projects with immediate impact, the Collaborative is working in a coordinated way within and across all sectors. We have identified several initiatives that could generate new or expand existing funding sources critical to the long-term implementation and sustainability of attainable housing across the county.

Public-Private-Philanthropic Partnerships: Enhance financing, expand services, and create more projects that meet the needs of residents

Community Land Trust: Acquire property and maintain attainability through the CLT by separating the value of land and the improvements like a house.

Housing Trust Fund: Establish a fund to support the preservation, production, and access to attainable housing.

Land Use & Development: Make modest adjustments to local regulations that would ease the development of diverse housing.