This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
It is unfortunate that, among the many wonderful and well-deserved tributes to former Gov. Olene Walker upon her passing last month, her legacy of advocacy for affordable housing was not acknowledged, nor was it highlighted in comments made by the governor and the Tribune's editorial in her honor.
Olene Walker was a champion of affordable housing. Walker served as the Director of the Utah Department of Community and Economic Development, where she oversaw the expansion of programs and services for the homeless and for low-income housing. As lieutenant governor, she formed a Blue Ribbon Task Force to discuss affordable housing issues in the state, which led to the creation of the state low-income housing tax credit, planning for moderate-income housing by local governments and increased legislative funding for homeless and housing programs. She even has the state's primary affordable housing fund named after her: "The Olene Walker Housing Loan Fund." This fund has a portfolio of $137 million and has leveraged $9 for every OWHLF dollar to build housing over the last nine years.
But where has the leadership been since Walker left office? The OWHLF has not increased under the current or past governor, and no new programs have been created or established, even as the number of Utah households in need of affordable housing has exploded. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, Utah is short 46,036 units for extremely-low-income households (that is, households making $20,280 per year or $9.75 an hour). Seventy-eight percent of this population pays more than 50 percent of their income to housing.
The state has lacked leadership on the very thing that everyone needs the most, a foundation to call home. Housing that people can afford has not been on the forefront of anyone's agenda. The state could save millions if they only invested in a vision and a strategy for housing people could afford.
Our service workforce in tourist spots could be housed, children would be able to stay in the same school all year round, those being released from prison would have housing choices, seniors who worked all their lives could pay for both their housing and their medication and the mentally challenged could be stabilized. Decent, affordable housing is the linchpin to safety, health and economic opportunity.
We often hear the market will take care of meeting the need for affordable housing. Well it hasn't, and it won't. I challenge the governor and legislators to open their eyes and their hearts to those in need, and in memory of Walker's great leadership, to look at every problem this state faces through the lens of housing that people can afford while making budget and policy decisions. Let's see Olene Walker's passion for affordable housing grow and her legacy continue. Let's make her proud.
Tara Rollins is executive director of the Utah Housing Coalition.