Capacity Building
Community Housing Assessment Team (CHAT)
The most often heard comment in communities served by KCP&L in recent years is "We have a housing problem". But what kind of housing problem is it - specifically? Lack of rental housing? Affordability of entry-level housing for sale? Low appraisals? No lots?
And what is causing the housing problem? Until a community can answer these questions and until an action plan is devised and implemented addressing the root causes, nothing can be expected to change. And lack of housing will continue to be one of the major constraints to further community development.
To assist communities in responding to this housing challenge, KCP&L sponsors the Community Housing Assessment Team (CHAT) process. This process consists of two stages:
Preliminary Analysis
This stage includes information collection and analysis that is completed before the community visit. The results of this analysis will be presented at a community briefing session.
Statistical Analysis- Population change from 1990 to 2009 (updated when possible)
- Analysis of in-migration/out-migration by age group - comparing forecasts based on cohort-survival methods with actual population behavior
- Housing characteristics and trends, including sales, rents, vacancy and overall supply information
20-year population forecasts
Demand Analysis
- Affordability analysis, matching income distributions with pricing of housing stock
- Mailed about four weeks before the community visit to a select list of participants in the community's housing market. Its primary purpose is to assess perceptions and to consider common themes that emerge.
- 10-year construction statistics/ permit activity
- Comprehensive plan and zoning ordinances
- Recent housing sales information
- Mailing list for attitude survey
Intensive Three-Day Community Visit
The community visit is planned over a three-day period with a possible extension to four days, depending upon the needs of the community.
The draft plan will be completed on-site in the community. The implementation element will provide a step-by-step program to address the community's key housing challenges.
Community Selection and Cost
The cost of the Community Housing Assessment Team averages $7,000 plus expenses. Group meeting meals and refreshments are the responsibility of the local partner. Multi-jurisdictional communities and counties may be addressed at an additional cost and may require more time. Participation is limited. The following factors will be considered:
- Population between 2,500 and 20,000 preferred
- Community with city and development corporation capacity to:
- Provide needed information
- Follow up on recommendations