Demonstrate an economically diverse housing mix

Rationale: An economically diverse housing mix that includes below-market rental and owned units supports increased housing opportunity and stability for those with low incomes and supports more equitable access to health-promoting amenities — contributing to enhanced social inclusion and reduced health risks associated with housing instability including obesity, anxiety, depression, and childhood malnutrition.

Requirements

Demonstrate compliance with one of the options below:

Option 1 - 15% Affordable Housing (Full Credit):

To achieve full credit, demonstrate compliance with the following requirements:

1. Ensure a minimum of 15% of the project's overall housing, including rental and/or privately-owned units, is assigned as below-market rate*.
2. Ensure the below-market rate rental units implement a minimum of one or a combination of the following practices:
   • rent-controlled units
   • rent-stabilized units
   • units allocated for households with incomes below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI)* through implementing one of the following practices:
     • allocating units for rental vouchers, certificates, and rent supplements
     • designating affordable units with rents based on 30% of 80% of AMI or below
     • income-based units that charge ≤ 30% of the adjusted gross income (AGI)* for the household.
3. Ensure the below-market rate privately owned units are priced below 80% of the median home value of the district, city, county, or region where the development is located.
4. Ensure the below-market-rate privately owned units are allocated for households with incomes below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI)*.

Option 2 - Privately-Owned Units Only (Full Credit):

For buildings with privately-owned residential units only, demonstrate compliance with the following requirement:

1. Ensure a minimum of 15% of the project's overall residential units are assigned as below-market rate*.
2. Ensure the below-market-rate units are priced below 80% of the median home value of the district, city, county, or region where the development is located.
3. Ensure the below-market-rate units are allocated for households with incomes below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI)*.
   • When AMI is not available, use the median household income of the district, city, or county where the development is located.
   • When AGI is not available, use the household’s taxable income.
   • The income for which a unit is affordable is expressed as a percentage of AMI and is calculated by the following equation: Percent AMI = ((Annual Rent + Utilities) / .3 / AMI) * 100.
   • Available and allocated below-market-rate units may not be occupied by a higher-income household that could afford a higher-cost unit.
   • A combination of methods to assign units as below-market-rate that meet the requirements may qualify for the strategy.

Option 3 - Rental Units Only (Full Credit):

For buildings with residential rental units only, demonstrate compliance with the following requirement:

1. Ensure a minimum of 15% of the project's overall residential units are assigned as below market rate*.
2. Ensure the below-market-rate units implement a minimum of one or a combination of the following practices:
   • rent-controlled units
   • rent-stabilized units
   • units allocated for households with incomes below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI)* through one of the following:
     • allocating units for rental vouchers, certificates, and rent supplements
     • designating affordable units with rents based on 30% of 80% of AMI or below
     • income-based units that charge ≤ 30% of the adjusted gross income (AGI)* for the household.

Option 4 - 10% Affordable Housing (Partial Credit):

1. Ensure a minimum of 10% of the project's overall residential units, including rental and/or privately-owned units, is assigned as below-market rate*.
2. Ensure the below-market-rate rental units implement a minimum of one or a combination of the following practices:
   • rent-controlled units
   • rent-stabilized units
   • units allocated for households with incomes below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI)* through one of the following practices:
     • allocating units for rental vouchers, certificates, and rent supplements
     • designating affordable units with rents based on 30% of 80% of AMI or below
     • income-based units that charge ≤ 30% of the adjusted gross income (AGI)* for the household.
3. Ensure the below-market-rate privately owned units are priced below 80% of the median home value of the district, city, county, or region where the development is located.
4. Ensure the below-market-rate privately owned units are reserved only for households with incomes below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI)*.

   • When AMI is not available, use the median household income of the district, city, or county where the development is located.

   • When AGI is not available, use the household’s taxable income.

   • The income for which a unit is affordable is expressed as a percentage of AMI and is calculated by the following equation: Percent AMI = ((Annual Rent + Utilities) / .3 / AMI) * 100.

   • Available and allocated below-market-rate units may not be occupied by a higher-income household that could afford a higher-cost unit.

   • A combination of methods to assign units as below market rate that meet the requirements may qualify for the strategy.

Option 5 - 10% Affordable Housing Privately-Owned Units Only (Partial Credit):

For buildings with privately-owned residential units only, demonstrate compliance with the following requirement:

1. Ensure a minimum of 10% of the project's overall residential units are assigned as below market rate*.
2. Ensure the below-market-rate units are priced below 80% of the median home value of the district, city, county, or region where the development is located.
3. Ensure the below-market-rate units are allocated for households with incomes below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI)*.

   • When AMI is not available, use the median household income of the district, city, or county where the development is located.

   • When AGI is not available, use the household’s taxable income.

   • The income for which a unit is affordable is expressed as a percentage of AMI and is calculated by the following equation: Percent AMI = ((Annual Rent + Utilities) / .3 / AMI) * 100.

   • Available and allocated below-market-rate units may not be occupied by a higher-income household that could afford a higher-cost unit.

   • A combination of methods to assign units as below market rate that meet the requirements may qualify for the strategy.

Option 6 - 10% Affordable Housing Rental Units Only (Partial Credit):

For buildings with residential rental units only, demonstrate compliance with the following requirement:

1. Ensure a minimum of 10% of the project's overall residential units are assigned as below market rate*.
2. Ensure the below-market-rate units implement a minimum of one or a combination of the following practices:
   • rent-controlled units
   • rent-stabilized units
   • units allocated for households with incomes below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI)* through one of the following practices:
     • allocating units for rental vouchers, certificates, and rent supplements
     • designating affordable units with rents based on 30% of 80% of AMI or below
     • income-based units that charge ≤ 30% of the adjusted gross income (AGI)* for the household.

Compliance Documentation

Types of compliance documentation required:

• Annotated maps/plans
• Official records/land use records
• Site identification history
• Certified statements
• Annotated photographs
• Uploaded copy of materials