Town of Mansfield Affordable Housing Plan
Project Update: Draft Plan and Strategies Survey
On May 18, 2021, the Mansfield Ad Hoc Committee on Affordable and Workforce Housing released a Draft of the Affordable Housing Plan for public review and comment. The Committee wants to hear feedback from the community on potential affordable housing strategies. If you have questions or comments on the Draft Plan or survey, you can email the Town of Mansfield at PlanZoneDept@mansfieldct.gov. Thank you for your continued interest in this project!
Introduction
We encourage you to scroll through this webpage and learn a little more about affordable housing in Mansfield. Please click on the link below to take a brief survey on affordable housing and share your perspective on local housing needs and community values. Thank you for your interest and participation!
Connecticut is an expensive place to live and the lack of housing affordability in many communities means that young people can’t afford to live in the towns where they grew up, older residents can’t afford to downsize from single-family homes to an apartment in their community, and people employed in lower paying jobs can’t afford to live where they work. In addition, the lack of affordable housing and housing diversity in many communities has exacerbated racial and socioeconomic segregation.
The 2015 Mansfield Tomorrow Plan of Conservation and Development recommends that the Town direct growth to designated areas of compact development such as Downtown Storrs, North Eagleville/ King Hill Roads, Four Corners, and Southern Mansfield. These areas have infrastructure such as public water and sewer that can support higher density and are close to public amenities. Developing in these areas can assist in avoiding sprawl and protecting rural neighborhoods.
Mansfield has made significant progress towards achieving the housing vision outlined in the Plan of Conservation and Development. Since 2015, new housing units have been built in Downtown Storrs. New zoning regulations were adopted for the Four Corners area and utility service was extended there, enabling higher density and affordable development. In addition, the Town established committees to study rental housing regulations and enforcement, and changes to residential zoning. The Town of Mansfield is now developing an Affordable Housing Plan that builds off of these previous efforts to identify ways to increase the number of affordable housing units in a manner that supports community housing needs and aligns with community values.
What is Affordable Housing?
A commonly accepted definition of affordable housing is housing that costs no more than 30% of a household’s income. Housing costs include mortgage or rent payments as well as utilities, property taxes, and condominium fees; therefore, affordable housing can be naturally occurring or can result from assistance. The State defines Affordable Housing as housing that costs 30% or less of household income for households making less than 80% of state or Area Median Income (AMI), whichever is lower. Per this definition, in Mansfield, a family of four making less than $78,500 per year or an individual making less than $54,950 per year could qualify for affordable housing.
Who needs affordable housing in Mansfield?
Access to affordable housing is a need in every Connecticut town, including Mansfield. In Mansfield, 2,760 households (50% of total) make less than 80% of the area median income. Compared to our neighboring communities, Mansfield has a higher percentage of households making less than 80% of area median income due to our large student population. However, these households also include senior citizens, young adults, and people who work in lower-wage jobs. Over two-thirds of these households are cost-burdened, meaning that they spend greater than 30% of their income on housing and may have difficulty affording other necessities such as food, education, transportation, and medical care.
How much affordable housing does Mansfield have?
Affordable housing, as the State defines it, typically only includes protected units that are reserved for low and moderate-income households through government subsidies or deed restrictions. As of 2019, 407 units, or 6.8% of Mansfield's total housing units were Protected Affordable Units.
Housing can also be affordable due to prevailing market conditions. These "naturally-occurring" affordable units are privately owned and operated and are affordable to low and moderate-income households based on the market-determined price rather than any subsidy or deed restrictions. While these units are needed for a healthy and diverse housing market, "naturally-occurring" affordable housing is not recognized as "affordable" by State statute because people of all incomes compete to live in these units, and market forces can cause price fluctuations.
What does affordable housing look like?
A common myth around affordable housing is that it consists only of higher density apartments. This is not true. Affordable housing is just like any other type of housing and comes in many shapes and sizes ranging from single-family homes to duplexes and from townhomes to apartments. It can be privately owned or rented. It can house seniors, families with children, single individuals, or persons with disabilities. It can come in a range of architectural styles. Scroll down to view some examples of what affordable housing can look like.
Single-Family Homes
Smaller single-family homes, commonly referred to as "starter homes" are an important part of the town's housing stock and provide options for families looking to move to Mansfield for the first time as well as older residents looking to downsize. While most single-family homes in Mansfield are owner-occupied, there are a sizable number of single-family homes that are rented.
The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) has several programs that encourage home ownership for low-income families, including financing and down payment assistance available to first time homebuyers throughout the state who meet certain income requirements. One of the benefits of these programs is that it allows low and moderate-income households to build equity.
Public Housing Developments
Publicly owned and operated affordable housing developments are arguably the most recognizable type of affordable housing. Many municipalities in Connecticut, including Mansfield, have a Housing Authority that owns and operates housing for moderate-income residents, including those who are elderly and/or disabled. This housing can be provided at a range of densities or styles ranging from apartments to duplexes, or even single-family homes.
Mixed-Income Housing Developments
Some affordable housing developments contain a mix of affordable and market-rate units. Mixed-income developments come in a range of densities and housing types, ranging from apartments to townhomes, to single-family subdivisions. Most of these developments are privately owned and operated. This mixed-income development in Fairfield County contains 11 market-rate apartments and 5 affordable apartments that are reserved for low-income households.
Accessory Dwelling Units
Accessory dwelling units, sometimes referred to as "in-law apartments," are small dwellings that are on the same property as a regular single-family home. These can be attached to the main home, or built as a separate building in the backyard, depending on local regulations. Mansfield allows Accessory Dwelling Units in certain residential zones, subject to owner-occupancy, household size, and design requirements. Accessory dwelling units can provide affordable housing options for residents, family members, or students and can also provide the homeowner with an additional income stream, which can reduce their overall housing costs.
Private Rental Housing
Many low-income families rent private units and receive housing assistance through the federal Tenant Based Rental Assistance program. Rental units that are at or below "fair market rent" may be eligible for this program. In Mansfield, the fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $1,460 per month. Eligible low-income households are required to pay 30 percent of their household income towards rent, while subsidies cover the remaining costs. Private rental housing comes in a range of styles including single-family homes, duplexes, triplexes, townhomes, and apartments. Student demand has resulted in additional housing pressures for affordable rental units.
Community Survey
The Town of Mansfield conducted a community survey from March 19, 2021 to April 14, 2021. The community survey was a great success, with 888 community members sharing their thoughts and ideas on community values, affordable housing, and housing diversity. The key takeaways that we learned from the survey are:
To view the full survey results, please click the link below:
