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Taxpayers subsidizing 'luxury' housing in Fairfax - WTOP.com
Wednesday - 6/29/2011, 4:45am ET
Hank Silverberg, wtop.com
WASHINGTON - A renewed debate was sparked in Fairfax County recently after a report was released calling the county's subsidized housing program "subsidized luxury."
The report from the non-partisan Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy highlights what it calls a "gold-plated" program that helps people who make under $75,000 a year move into more expensive homes.
But county Board of Supervisors member Pat Herrity (R - Springfield) says the program costs the county $1.5 million per year, a portion of which goes to what he calls luxury units.
"I don't think we should be going out and buying units at the high end of the market," he says.
Lack of affordable housing has been a continuing problem in the county, which is why it purchased more than 3,000 units several years ago that are rented at reduced rates to those making less than $75,000 annually.
Some of the subsidized homes are worth more than $500,000, while others carry condominium fees up to $4,700 per year. That money, Herrity says, is being subsidized by taxpayers.
According to the report, there is no incentive for those in subsidized housing to move out because they would be unable to find something as nice and affordable.
In written response to the report, Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova says the affordable housing program has been successful because it helps keep entry and lower income workers in Fairfax County without concentrating subsidized housing into one part of the community.
She says the fees go toward basic services such as maintenance, snow removal and utilities. Added, some of the fees go toward shared amenities, such as swimming pools in 15 of the 41 county condominium developments.
Herrity says he would like some of the high end units to be sold.
Wednesday - 6/29/2011, 4:45am ET
Hank Silverberg, wtop.com
WASHINGTON - A renewed debate was sparked in Fairfax County recently after a report was released calling the county's subsidized housing program "subsidized luxury."
The report from the non-partisan Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy highlights what it calls a "gold-plated" program that helps people who make under $75,000 a year move into more expensive homes.
But county Board of Supervisors member Pat Herrity (R - Springfield) says the program costs the county $1.5 million per year, a portion of which goes to what he calls luxury units.
"I don't think we should be going out and buying units at the high end of the market," he says.
Lack of affordable housing has been a continuing problem in the county, which is why it purchased more than 3,000 units several years ago that are rented at reduced rates to those making less than $75,000 annually.
Some of the subsidized homes are worth more than $500,000, while others carry condominium fees up to $4,700 per year. That money, Herrity says, is being subsidized by taxpayers.
According to the report, there is no incentive for those in subsidized housing to move out because they would be unable to find something as nice and affordable.
In written response to the report, Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova says the affordable housing program has been successful because it helps keep entry and lower income workers in Fairfax County without concentrating subsidized housing into one part of the community.
She says the fees go toward basic services such as maintenance, snow removal and utilities. Added, some of the fees go toward shared amenities, such as swimming pools in 15 of the 41 county condominium developments.
Herrity says he would like some of the high end units to be sold.
