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  2. Health through housing equity

Health through housing equity

Features>Mind>P5. Health through housing equity

P5. Health through housing equity

The physical condition and location of a home have profound impacts on the health of its occupants, as well as on neighborhood-level measures of health. Accessibility to quality housing limits exposure to harmful toxins and the intrusion of disease vectors, and better enables safe drinking water, hot water for cleanliness, and proper food storage.

The World Health Organization states that housing quality most affects the health of the poorest of our communities, encompassing millions of children and adults. Most directly, a lack of affordable housing can divert already constrained resources away from other fundamental healthcare expenditures, but housing affects health in myriad ways. A growing body of research shows that housing quality is associated with morbidity from both chronic and infectious diseases, physical injuries, and mental disorders. Creating safe and affordable housing can not only improve the health of specific individuals, but catalyze a movement towards healthier communities.

Part 1: Classroom Space Allocation

The following minimum space allocations are met:

a.134 Early education, elementary, middle and high school; classroom: 13.7 m [45 ft²] per student overall.
b.138 Adult education; seminar classroom: 7.6 m [25 ft²] per student overall.
c.138 Adult education; lecture hall: 5.5 m [18 ft²] per student overall.
Part 2: Housing Cost Limits

The following requirement is met:

a.130 Monthly housing costs (including any utility allowances) paid by the tenant are in accordance with those set under the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Program based on Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code.
Part 3: Affordability Period

The limits on monthly housing costs are honored for the time period that is greater out of the following options:

a.130 The minimum number of years outlined by the LIHTC Program.
b.130 The minimum number of years outlined by the state for LIHTC properties.

Applicability Matrix

Core & Shell Tenant Improvement New Construction
Part 1: Classroom Space Allocation - - -
Part 2: Housing Cost Limits - - -
Part 3: Affordability Period - - -
Commercial Kitchen Schools Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
Part 1: Classroom Space Allocation - O - - -
Part 2: Housing Cost Limits - - O - -
Part 3: Affordability Period - - O - -

Verification Methods Matrix

Letters of Assurance Annotated Documents On-Site Checks
PART 1 (Design)
Classroom Space Allocation 		Architect
PART 2 (Design)
Housing Cost Limits 		Policy Document
PART 3 (Protocol)
Affordability Period 		Policy Document

130

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Eligibility. http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/comm_planning/affordablehousing/training/web/lihtc/basics/eligi.... Washington, D.C. Accessed December 9, 2014.
205.1.a

Eligibility criteria set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's LIHTC Program requires meeting one of two options, one of which is that at least 20% of units are rent-restricted and occupied by households at or below 50% of HUD-AMI.
205.1.b

Eligibility criteria set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's LIHTC Program requires meeting one of two options, one of which is that at least 40% of units are rent-restricted and occupied by households at or below 60% of HUD-AMI.
205.2.a

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's LIHTC Program sets limits on rent (including utility) paid by the tenant based on area median income.
205.3.a

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's LIHTC Program currently requires a minimum affordability period of 30 years, but notes that states may set different affordability periods for LIHTC properties, which may be longer than 30 years.
205.3.b

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's LIHTC Program currently requires a minimum affordability period of 30 years, but notes that states may set different affordability periods for LIHTC properties, which may be longer than 30 years.
Features>Mind>P5. Health through housing equity