FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is affordable housing?

Housing is considered affordable if a household is paying 30% or less of their income on it. Households paying more than 30% of their income on housing are considered “housing cost burdened” and may not have enough income to pay for necessities like healthcare, food, childcare, gas, etc. 

Households earning 80% or less of the Area Median Income (AMI) may qualify for dedicated affordable housing - housing that is supported by state and/or federal government funding and is income restricted. Nearly 40% of Kent households would qualify for affordable housing.  The 2023 upper limit for affordable housing is $64,240 for an individual, or $91,760 for a family of four.  

Support for households making 80% or less of the AMI is well supported by the current data - 57% of Kent households making 80% or less of the AMI are housing cost burdened, while only about 4% of Kent households making more than 80% of the AMI are housing cost burdened.

For more information, check out the article What does 'affordable' mean? Amid CT housing debates, a fight over definitions.

What are the benefits of affordable housing?

Affordable housing is an investment that benefits the Kent community in many ways. By allowing for a diversity of incomes in Kent, affordable housing helps preserve the local workforce, bolster school enrollments, and encourage volunteerism. Beyond strengthening the workforce, affordable housing benefits our town’s economy by increasing tax revenue and consumer spending. The operating budgets of the Kent complexes contribute real estate taxes (over $25,000 in 2023) and generate additional income for the town’s sewer system.

Thanks to the housing that KAH has built, the Town of Kent could apply for a moratorium on 8-30g if desired. Among other things, 8-30g allows developers to avoid most zoning regulations (but not those relating to the environment, health, or safety), if at least 30% of units in a development are dedicated affordable.

Affordable housing also has a profound impact on the lives of individuals and families who call Kent home. For many young families, living in an affordable home is a launching pad towards putting down roots and building personal savings. Affordable housing also frees up resources for seniors to spend on healthcare, without the stress of a tight budget.

Why do we need more affordable housing in Kent?

Recent data from 2023 shows that one-third of Kent households qualify as “cost burdened”, paying more than 30% of their income on housing. Within this group, 128 families pay a staggering 50% or more of their income on housing.

Potential new residents, including current employees at local businesses, are also deterred by the cost of housing in Kent. According to the Zillow Home Value Index, the average Kent ownership home costs $548,404. Rentals are also notoriously scarce. At the time of writing, there were only ten rentals less than 20 miles from Kent’s downtown, and the cheapest option cost $1,950/month. There are currently more than 60 families on the waitlist for affordable rentals in Kent.

Who lives in affordable housing?

Tenants of affordable housing are carefully vetted for income eligibility and for personal references and criminal records.  The majority of tenants come from Kent or nearby towns, or move to be near family or jobs. They may work in education, essential services or local businesses, or may be on pensions or Social Security. Some have owned houses that they lost to disability or illness.  Some may be downsizing from homes they can no longer manage physically or financially.

Who pays for affordable housing?

The state and federal government provides most of the funding for the construction of new affordable housing, and eventual rehabilitation as elements such as roofs and boilers need to be replaced. Ongoing operating expenses are covered entirely by the rent revenue of the developments.

There are two main areas that your donations and other KAH funds go - predevelopment expenses, and organizational overhead. While there is relatively abundant funding for affordable housing, the Department of Housing doesn’t provide funding for construction until a development is “shovel ready,” meaning site control and zoning approvals are secured. This process requires expensive engineering and architectural work, legal work and a host of other expenses.

Is affordable housing environmentally friendly?

Contemporary affordable housing is built to the most exacting standards, with superior insulation, Energy Star appliances, non-toxic finishes, and in some cases solar panels or other renewable energy sources.  The three developments that make up Stuart Farm use air source heat pumps for heating and air conditioning. Their design also demonstrates how other buildings in the community can lower their carbon footprints.  Some complexes replace derelict properties or fill neglected lots that do not otherwise contribute much to the town’s tax base.

Will affordable housing lower the property values of neighboring homes?

No. Studies have shown that affordable housing has a neutral or positive impact on neighborhood property values. Anecdotally, we have seen this to be true in Kent as well, with property values continuing to rise regardless of their proximity to South Commons and other affordable housing developments.

Will affordable housing change the fabric of our town? 

We believe affordable housing is critical to maintaining the diversity and vitality that Kent already enjoys. Many residents of affordable homes are people who already live and/or work in Kent, who would otherwise be extremely cost-burdened under market rental rates. Residents who are new to town add value to Kent by working at local businesses, contributing to the economy through taxes and consumer spending, and sending their children to our schools. 

Aesthetically, we make every effort to ensure our buildings fit in with existing architectural styles and scale. 

Why HERE? Why not somewhere else? 

KAH prioritizes properties that are town-owned and can be transferred to KAH at little to no cost. This allows us to use more of our funding to actually build houses! 

We sometimes receive community feedback saying, “I support affordable housing, just not here.” We would request that residents try not to let perfection become the enemy of the good. With more than 60 families on the waiting list for affordable rentals, we need to take advantage of sites that have been identified as advantageous. In the end, no site will be perfect for everyone, and we appreciate our neighbors’ support!

How can I apply for affordable housing?

Click here to apply! Units are designated for particular incomes and household sizes, so if a unit opens up that is a good fit for you, you might get housing much sooner than our long waiting list would suggest. In addition to giving you the chance at securing an affordable unit, your application provides important information as we plan our next developments.