Stable, affordable housing is an integral part of Delaware’s economy and every family’s quality of life. So the Delaware State Housing Authority needs assessment released this past week is critical to charting the best future for our state. It provides vital, in-depth information about Delaware’s housing market, housing demand and the housing needs of our population so that we can consider the impact of other policy decisions on our communities.

The state, our counties, and all of our cities and towns must effectively plan for the type of housing and land use that best serves Delawareans, while encouraging economic development across the state. That’s why the needs assessment provides a detailed look at questions like: Where do Delaware’s households – and those that might be moving to Delaware – want to live? What are the size of their families, their ages and their income levels? And what type of housing is in the highest demand? Our answers shape the future of neighborhoods and communities for decades to come. And they drive new initiatives, like our new Downtown Development Districts program, which will help selected cities and towns grow through financial incentives, along with a range of other benefits. You can see the Housing Authority’s full report along with interactive maps at www.DEStateHousing.com.

By having a long-term plan, we’ll continue our work to ensure Delaware is an attractive place to live for families of all types; we’ll make the most of our state’s housing resources; and we’ll provide our people with the economic opportunity to keep Delaware moving forward.

(Dover, DE) – In his weekly message, Governor Markell addresses the importance of the Delaware State Housing Authority’s (DSHA) just-released Housing Needs Assessment, which provides information to help determine housing priorities for DSHA and in communities throughout the State. The new report analyzes issues like the types of housing in highest demand, and will help shape policies to strengthen the economy.
“The state, our counties, and all of our cities and towns must effectively plan for the type of housing and land use that best serves Delawareans, while encouraging economic development across the state,” said Governor Markell. “By having a long-term plan, we’ll continue our work to ensure Delaware is an attractive place to live for families of all types; we’ll make the most of our state’s housing resources; and we’ll provide our people with the economic opportunity to keep Delaware moving forward.”
Every week, the Governor’s office releases a new Weekly Message in video, audio, and transcript form. The message is available on:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2W9f03YQP-4
Delaware.Gov: http://governor.delaware.gov/podcast_video.shtml
By email: Please contact our press team to subscribe to our press list
Facebook: www.facebook.com/governormarkell
Twitter: www.twitter.com/governormarkell

Transcript of the Governor’s Weekly Message: Growing the Economy by Meeting Delawareans’ Housing Needs

Press Contact: Christina M. Hardin-Dirksen Chief of Community Relations, DSHA Phone: (302) 739-4263 Email: Christina@destatehousing.com DELAWARE STATE HOUSING AUTHORITY RELEASES DELAWARE HOUSING NEEDS ASSESSMENT 2015-2020

Governor Jack Markell

September 8, 2014 (Dover) – Stakeholders, including government, nonprofit and for-profit partners and service providers, joined DSHA at Delaware Technical and Community College’s Terry Campus in Dover, Delaware to hear the key findings. Governor Jack Markell noted, “Housing is a critical part of our economy and our communities, and our homes and neighborhoods are also the center of family life. Affordable housing needs affect so many of the other outcomes we care about – in health, education, economic growth, land use, and downtown revitalization.”

DSHA Director Anas Ben Addi added, “While DSHA’s mission is affordable housing, it is inseparable from broader housing trends. We need to understand housing demand and the housing market as a whole in order to work within it to advance affordable housing and community development, which is exactly what this needs assessment and market value analysis help us do.”

DSHA Director Anas Ben Addi

Rebecca Rothenberg, Planning Manager at GCR Incorporated, which led the project team, stated, “This study illustrates the current housing climate in Delaware and the challenges many families face in finding quality housing that is affordable to them. Some of the bigger trends – including a drop in homeownership rates, an increased demand for rental housing, shrinking household sizes, and the needs of aging homeowners – reflect issues relevant today. It also discusses the persistent affordability challenges for low-income households, particularly the working poor and very low-income families, who have difficulty finding rental housing they can afford. Oftentimes, these families reside in distressed neighborhoods with high poverty rates.”

Affordable housing pressures have increased in recent years, with stresses on household incomes and increased demand for rental units both as a result of demographic changes and the foreclosure crisis. Statewide, 44,000 renters have housing challenges (paying more than 30% of their income for housing or living in overcrowded or deeply substandard living conditions), equal to 51% of renter households. Needs are most severe for those with very low incomes (50% of Area Median Income depending on location and household size; about $25,000/year), where 18,400 households are severely cost burdened, paying more than 50% of their income for housing costs.

Delaware has fared better than many of its neighbors in the recent recession and its economy remains strong for the region. Projected steady job growth will support household growth and subsequently new housing demand, although there remains some excess inventory in some areas. Home prices are also recovering, but slowly; on a positive note, this has made homeownership a more affordable option for many households who were priced out in the housing boom. The new construction market is responding to changing demand with smaller, more affordable units closer in to towns and cities.

Ira Goldstein, President of Policy Solutions at The Reinvestment Fund, which completed the Market Value Analysis section of the research, stated, “TRF is gratified to have contributed to Delaware State Housing Authority’s understanding of the needs of its housing markets. We look forward to the state using this analysis to make impactful, evidence-based decisions about its housing programs and resources.”

The Governor added, “Successful community development, neighborhood revitalization, and downtown development initiatives must recognize and work in concert with their local housing market. This research helps us all to better understand those forces in order to shape the most effective responses.”

To view the Delaware Housing Needs Assessment, visit: http://www.destatehousing.com/FormsAndInformation/needs.php

About the Delaware State Housing Authority The Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA), formed in 1968, is dedicated to providing quality, affordable housing opportunities and appropriate supportive services to low- and moderate-income Delawareans. In addition to its role as the State’s Housing Finance Agency, DSHA is unique in that it is also serves as a Public Housing Authority and acts as a Community Development and Planning Agency. As a Public Housing Authority, DSHA receives funding from HUD to build, own and operate public housing in Kent and Sussex counties, two of Delaware’s three counties. For more information about the Delaware State Housing Authority, please call: (302) 739-4263 or visit our website at: www.destatehousing.com.

About The Reinvestment Fund (TRF) TRF is a national leader in rebuilding America’s distressed towns and cities and does this work through the innovative use of capital and information. TRF has made $1.3 billion in community investments since 1985. As a CDFI, TRF finances projects related to housing, community facilities, food access, commercial real estate, and energy efficiency. It also provides public-policy expertise by helping clients create practical solutions and by sharing data and analyses via www.PolicyMap.com. To learn more about TRF, visit trfund.com. Follow us on Twitter @trfund or Facebook at facebook.com/TRFund. To learn more about TRF, visit www.trfund.com.

About GCR GCR, a multi-disciplinary consulting firm with a focus on the aviation industry, has delivered solutions to airports for over 35 years. GCR’s staff uses an in-depth understanding of the aviation industry, coupled with technological expertise, to develop and implement comprehensive solutions that address operational complexities in airport and aviation organizations. GCR delivers consulting services and technology solutions in aviation, disaster assistance recovery, nuclear power, public safety, and urban planning. For more information, visit www.gcrincorporated.com.

Contact:
Christina M. Hardin-Dirksen
Chief of Community Relations, DSHA
Phone: (302) 739-4263
Email: Christina@destatehousing.com

Tax Credit Takes Center Stage During Homeownership Month Celebration

Governor Proclaims June Delaware Homeownership Month & Announces Program Extension

Tuesday, June 3, 2014 (DOVER, DE) – Governor Jack Markell today joined Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) Director Anas Ben Addi and other federal, state, and local officials to celebrate Delaware Homeownership Month and to announce the extension of a program that  allows first-time homebuyers to claim a credit on their federal income taxes.

Andrea MacCannell is one homebuyer who took advantage of DSHA’s Homeownership Loan Program and downpayment and closing cost assistance, and combined them with the Delaware First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit.  Because the Delaware First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit reduces federal income tax liabilities and increases net earnings, it can be of significant help in making homeownership more affordable.

“I wouldn’t be able to buy my home and invite my parents to celebrate my mom’s 70^th birthday here with me in the states.  Having a home–thanks to DSHA’s programs–means the world to me. The feeling of independence is priceless,” said Ms. MacCannell.

The Delaware First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit entitles first-time buyers who purchase a home in Delaware as their primary residence to take a federal income tax credit up to $2,000 each and every year as long as the homebuyer occupies the home and has the mortgage loan.

First offered in July 2013, the program has generated more than $8.4M in federal tax credits for more than 160 first-time Delaware homebuyers.  Due to the huge demand for the tax credit, DSHA is infusing an additional $62.8M which will fund the program through 2016 and is expected to assist another 1,200 homebuyers.

Governor Jack Markell said, “We continuously search for ways to leverage our resources so everyone has an opportunity to achieve the American Dream of homeownership.  The Delaware First-Time Tax Credit is another example of how a public/private partnership benefits the people of the First State.”

“June is Homeownership Month, a time to celebrate something that’s central to this thing we call ‘the American Dream’,” stated Jane C.W. Vincent, HUD’s Regional Administrator for the Mid-Atlantic Region. “We applaud Governor Markell for championing the Delaware First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit and Director Ben Addi for extending the program through 2016 so that more First State first-time homebuyers like Andrea MacCannell can pursue the dream of homeownership.”

DSHA Director Anas Ben Addi added, “The demand for the Delaware First-Time Homebuyer Credit exceeded our initial expectations.  We are extremely pleased that we are able to extend the program for years to come, which will permit even more families to obtain a home of their own.”

DSHA offers low-rate mortgages to both first-time and repeat buyers.  To qualify, applicants will meet area income and purchase price requirements.  Income limits and maximum purchase prices vary by county location and family size. DSHA can also assist homebuyers with downpayment and closing cost assistance. Homebuyers should apply to a participating lender, a list of which can be found on the website at www.destatehousing.com or by calling (888) 363- 8808.

(Left to Right:  Anas Ben Addi, Andrea MacCannell, Jane Vincent, Joe Myer,
Governor Jack Markell)

About the Delaware State Housing Authority

The Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA), formed in 1968, is dedicated to providing quality, affordable housing opportunities and appropriate supportive services to low- and moderate-income Delawareans. In addition to its role as the State’s Housing Finance Agency,

DSHA is unique in that it also serves as a Public Housing Authority and acts as a Community Development and Planning Agency. As a Public Housing Authority, DSHA receives funding from HUD to build, own, and operate public housing in Kent and Sussex counties, two of Delaware’s three counties. For more information about the Delaware State Housing Authority, please call (888) 363-8808 or visit our website at www.destatehousing.com.

###

Contact:

Christina M. Hardin

Chief of Community Relations, DSHA

Phone: (302) 739-4263

Email: Christina@destatehousing.com

DELAWARE STATE HOUSING AUTHORITY
HOMEBUYER FAIR IS GREAT SUCCESS

April 8, 2014 – (Wilmington, DE) – The Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA), in partnership with The Money School and the Delaware Federation of Housing Counselors, held its annual Homebuyer Fair on Saturday, April 5, 2014, at the Chase Center on the Riverfront in Wilmington, Delaware.  The Fair – geared toward providing prospective homebuyers with the opportunity to learn about the steps in purchasing a home – was a great success for the fourth year in a row.

Approximately 400 Delawareans turned out to the event to hear a variety of homeownership topics to help them attain the dream of owning their own home.  Mini seminars were held through the Delaware Federation of Housing Counseling Agencies on topics such as budgeting and personal finance, financial and tax planning, strategies for finding and negotiating on a property, DSHA’s Homeownership Programs, and preparing for loan closing.

DSHA Director Anas Ben Addi noted, “Thanks to all of our sponsors and exhibitors for participating in our 4^th annual homebuyer fair.  This event was by far the biggest and most well attended fair we have hosted. I would like to express our sincerest thanks to DSHA staff, our generous partners, sponsors, and exhibitors – and especially to U.S. Senator Chris Coons, U.S. Congressman John Carney, and State Representative Stephanie Bolden – for coming out and supporting the event.  We exceeded our expectations for the number of attendees spending their Saturday learning about the many home buying related products and services available to them.”

DSHA Staff and Senator Coons
L to R:  Jatoya Garnett, Deb Whidden, Gary Hecker, Senator Chris Coons, Pamela Spencer,

Brian Rossello, Cynthia Karnai, DSHA Director Anas Ben Addi

Nate Paustian, of Wilmington, attended Saturday’s event along with his wife, Kelly. Nate commented, “This is such a great event filled with lots of information. I would recommend it for anyone looking to buy their first home. We feel better prepared and are looking forward to getting the process started.”

More than 50 exhibitors were on hand to answer questions on mortgages, insurance, home repair, inspections, and budgeting.  They also gave attendees a chance to win giveaways including a 37-inch LED TV, iPad Mini, iPod Nano, gift baskets, and gift cards.

Keeping with the spirit of DSHA’s mission, surplus food was donated to the Sunday Breakfast Mission to support their efforts in feeding the homeless.

Staff from DSHA and the Sunday Breakfast Mission

load surplus lunches to distribute to the homeless.

For photos from the event, please visit DSHA’s website at www.destatehousing.com and check out the DSHA Flickr photo stream: https://www.flickr.com/photos/destatehousing/sets/72157643587342475/.

About the Delaware State Housing Authority

The Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA), formed in 1968, is dedicated to providing quality, affordable housing opportunities and appropriate supportive services to low- and moderate-income Delawareans.  In addition to its role as the State’s Housing Finance Agency, DSHA is unique in that it is also serves as a Public Housing Authority and acts as a Community Development and Planning Agency.  As a Public Housing Authority, DSHA receives funding from HUD to build, own and operate public housing in Kent and Sussex counties, two of Delaware’s three counties.  For more information about the Delaware State Housing Authority, please call: (888) 363-8808 or visit our website at www.destatehousing.com.