Clark County seeks applicants for housing advisory group

Clark County is forming an advisory group to identify challenges and opportunities to develop affordable housing within the unincorporated area.

The group would look at what barriers exist to providing additional housing types and make recommendations that would be considered by the public, Clark County Planning Commission and Clark County Council. Starting in early 2021, the group of about 20 people will meet up to 10 times.

The county is looking to find representatives throughout the community including advocates for communities of color, youth, older adults, schools, people with disabilities and people without homes, and representatives from the city of Vancouver, county council, real estate, community or neighborhood groups, large employers, for-profit housing development, innovative home building, housing feasibility and financing, as well as nonprofit and public housing development.

Meetings are expected to be remote due to COVID-19, so members will need access to a computer with internet and the ability to use web meeting software.

County residents can submit a letter of interest, no longer than two pages, to michelle.pfenning@clark.wa.gov by 5 p.m. Nov. 30. Details about the group and the application are online at clark.wa.gov/housingoptions.

In 2015, Vancouver convened a similar 21-member group in response to low vacancy rates, rising rents and displaced renters. The Affordable Housing Task Force met for eight months and made recommendations leading to the creation of the Affordable Housing Fund, zoning changes, tax incentives and renter protections within city limits.