Allocation of Future Affordable Housing Need
Planning for the growing need for affordable housing
The Met Council forecasts future affordable housing needs using a regional economic model, then allocates a share of the overall need to all communities expecting sewer-serviced household growth over the next decade. Cities aren’t required to create enough units to meet their share of the Future Need, but they must plan for the possibility of these units by guiding sufficient land at higher residential densities.
The Future Need number is calculated every 10 years in preparation of a community's comprehensive plan update — therefore, it only applies to the upcoming decade, not the full 30-year scope of their comprehensive plan.
The methodology for calculating a community's share of the regional need is revisited and updated every 10-year cycle. The 2021-2030 Future Need is proportional to a city's
- overall forecasted growth;
- its existing affordable housing stock; and
- the ratio of low-wage jobs to low-wage earning residents.
Changes in a community's forecasted growth may result in changes to their Future Need number.
The Imagine 2050 Regional Development Guide allocates a Future Need for the 2031-2040 decade to local governments to plan for the affordable housing the region will need to add to accommodate new households in that decade. In order to prioritize the greatest needs of future residents and greatest gaps in production, the 2031-2040 Future Need calculation will focus on housing affordable to households with incomes at or below 60% AMI, 50% AMI, and 30% AMI.
Local governments with an allocation of Future Need for the 2021-2030 decade will be required to report their allocation in their 2050 comprehensive plans. View the Community Pages to view each community’s allocation of Future Need for the 2031-2040 decade.
The Met Council will report on progress toward meeting 2031-2040 Need, beginning when data is available for 2031.