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9 Recent research by the Urban Land Institute and the Regional Council of Mayors (RCM), that ULI staffs, found: ● Cities that are more accepting and intentional in supporting affordable housing as part of a full range of housing choices ensure their competitive ability by accommodating income diversity in their communities. ● Communities are adopting housing policies and modifying zoning codes to support mixed use, mixed income and walkable places. ● 51 percent of affordable housing units in suburban areas were built or preserved in Regional Council of Mayors (RCM) cities participating in the Urban Land Institute’s services from 2008-2014. A Word of Caution Though progress has been made in increasing affordable housing for Minnesota’s low and moderate income families, the future remains uncertain, given an expected rise in interest rates and a potential decline in public housing funding under President Donald Trump. Minnesota’s Housing Fund is depleted pending Legislative action this year. Analysis of Affordable Housing In Our Five Cities On November 1st, 2016, The Roseville Area League of Women Voters Affordable Housing Study Committee sent Falcon Heights, Lauderdale, Little Canada, Maplewood and Roseville City Managers a survey to determine the present affordable housing situation in their cities. The cities had just begun to update their comprehensive plans. In some situations answers were still unknown. City figures are accurate as of December 1, 2016. The MN Housing Finance Agency defines affordability based on the Area Median Income (AMI). The agency publishes the AMI adjusted by county and by individuals per household. In Ramsey County the AMI is $60,100 for an individual, $85,800 for a family of four. Need for assistance is broken into three categories: those with incomes up to 30% AMI, incomes between 31 and 50% and incomes that are 51-80% of the AMI. Survey questions were based on information members of the Study Committee gathered in interviews with individuals with expertise in regional affordable housing. The survey was organized into three areas based on the Metropolitan Council Housing Plan: Assessing Existing Housing/Needs/Priorities; Implementing Housing Planning; Projecting Future Affordable Housing Needs.