Highlights from the year include:
Organizational Development:
§ Mission and Vision Statement and Strategic Plan in place
§ Funding in place for the full 3 years of operation plus some outreach for additional funds
§ Secured free legal services and low cost web design and hosting service
Data Collection
§ Department of Planning information shows that DC worker household income is at about 75% of the countywide median
§ WHC worked with EDC on an economic model assessing the impact of housing development on localities
Public Awareness
§ Contact with Town Governments – Worked with 7 Dutchess County Municipalities including individual meetings with Town Supervisors, making presentations to Town Boards, Housing Committees and at community meetings to address local housing needs, and encouraged participation by Town representatives in the Pace Land-Use program for housing
§ Media – TV and Radio Interviews and series of articles in the press
§ WHC^s Web-Site – 960 visitors, averaging about 8/day
§ Information for Towns – model documents and strategy to address housing
§ Participation in public events – WIB, Pattern for Progress EDC and Chamber events
§ Presentations to other entities – EDC, Builders Assoc. of the Hudson Valley
Employer Based Housing Assistance
§ Development of a program to match employer housing assistance benefit
§ Working with local the Chambers of Commerce to market program
§ Conducted an employee housing assessment survey with Health Care Council
§ Collected Employer recruitment/training/turnover cost information from several
HCC members to assess costs and benefits of a housing benefit program
§ Work with Fannie Mae to calculate EAH cost/benefit analysis
§ Identification of Fannie Mae models of Workforce housing applicable for Dutchess
County Employers
Housing Development
§ Ongoing discussion of possible opportunities to create partnerships and models
for development
§ Review alternative strategies: Community Land Trusts, Industrial Development
Agency funding of housing etc.
