JACKSON Wyo. — An upcoming presentation and community discussion seeks to look at the buzzy topic of housing in the valley from a different perspective.
Five local organizations have teamed up to sponsor a community event regarding naturally occurring affordable housing (NOAH) on Monday, April 20. The event will take place at the Teton County Library from 4:30 to 7 p.m. The presentation will feature Jennie Rodgers from Enterprise Community Partners, a national nonprofit that works to address the shortage of rental homes across the country. Rodgers is the vice president and market leader for the Rocky Mountain, Tribal Nations, and Rural Communities division at Enterprise.
“Often, properties and units that have long been affordable in the market – either because they have been owned long-term and kept affordable, or due to their conditions, amenities, or location – are being purchased and lost as local housing,” the event announcement reads.
The Community Foundation of Jackson Hole (CFJH), one of the event sponsors, stated that about 20% of the national housing stock falls in the category of buildings with two to 49 units. These buildings are commonly referred to as NOAH or small to medium multifamily (SMMF) properties.
“NOAH/SMMF units disproportionately serve low and moderate-income households, making the preservation of their affordability and stability an urgent priority amid escalating prices and displacement,” CFJH said.
Rodgers will discuss strategies that communities can use to keep NOAH properties available to the local workforce. The conversation will also touch on successful efforts to keep these homes affordable across the Rocky Mountains. The event is being co-hosted by CFJH, ShelterJH, Jackson Hole Public Art, Teton Resilience Network and JH Working.
