Not gaining community support is key barrier to more affordable housing projects

In a recent survey, builders and planners cited difficulty in generating community support as a key challenge to getting more affordable housing projects built.

The survey by coUrbanize found that 94% of respondents tried to gain community input and support through public meetings, but many were frustrated by low attendance. Few respondents thought the process was productive.

One reason community engagement is lacking may be that even when feedback is received, only 55% of respondents said they modified their plans resulting from public responses. This may discourage the public from taking the time to comment.

Despite the difficulties, including challenges in obtaining financing and labor shortages, demand is high for affordable housing. Two-thirds of respondents in the July survey said that their most active projects in the next six months will be building affordable and supportive housing.

coUrbanize says that developers and planners should try to reach out to the community beyond scheduled public meetings. It’s worth the effort because generating public support for projects reduces risks, coUrbanize added.