The City of Champaign, Illinois is pleased to release a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to conduct a Housing Needs Analysis and Strategy.

The Housing Needs Analysis will consist of studying Champaign's existing conditions, including housing stock, affordability levels, and resident demographics. The purpose of this analysis is to measure and understand the housing needs of current and future residents.

The purpose of the Housing Needs Strategy is to provide a clear pathway toward meeting the identified housing needs, including implementation strategies and policy solutions matched with possible funding sources.

Housing Needs Analysis

The Housing Needs Analysis will consist of four sections:

1. An examination of the existing housing stock
2. A study of resident demographics
3. A demand and affordability analysis
4. A collection of Community and Stakeholder Input

The housing stock section will provide a data inventory of the existing housing stock in the city and report on characteristics such as ownership, age and type of housing, and price. The housing stock section will distinguish the stock provided as student housing and non-student, or community housing. This section will also illustrate the geographic disposition of the housing stock to better understand the breakdown of greenfield and infill housing and availability of "missing middle" housing.

Resident demographics will include population statistics, such as employment, income, race, and household size.

Bringing these two sections together, the demand and affordability analysis will identify where resident demographics and the housing stock are mismatched, quantifying the number of housing units needed and discussing barriers to housing for residents. Special attention will be paid to understanding affordability and where residents are cost burdened. Differentiation will be provided for the student and community housing markets.

Community and Stakeholder input will provide feedback from residents, developers, property managers and business owners on the ability of residents to attain and afford housing as well as the market decisions in building and offering housing for purchase or rent.

At minimum, the Housing Needs Analysis will answer the following questions:

• What are typical market rates for rental and ownership?
• What are the primary demographics of the community pertinent to attaining and affording housing in the community?
• How many housing units are available at each income level (e.g. 30% AMI, 50% AMI, etc.)? Is there a deficit or surplus of housing units at each income level, and if so, by how many housing units?
• Generally, how many units are available at different rental and purchase price points?
• How many residents are cost burdened and at what levels?
• What is the inventory and demand for voucher-based units within the community?
• How much demand is there for different housing typologies (e.g. single family, multifamily, condominiums, missing middle housing such as triplexes and quadplexes, etc.)?
• What does the distribution of Champaign's housing units look like geographically? What are rental and ownership costs across different areas of the city?
• What are the major barriers to attaining and/or providing housing for residents, housing providers, and developers?
• How does the student housing market differentiate from the non-student housing market?
• What is the supply of short-term rentals in the community and where are they located?

It is expected that the Housing Needs Analysis will include maps and graphics to illustrate the findings. It will also result in a set of Findings Statements that lead to the proposed actions of the Housing Needs Strategy.

Housing Needs Strategy

The Housing Needs Strategy will respond to the Findings Statements and identify a realistic pathway toward meeting the identified housing needs with concrete policies, programs, and initiatives. It will be guided by the findings of the Housing Needs Analysis and consider best practices from comparable cities, and the takeaways from the community and stakeholder input.

At minimum, the Housing Needs Strategy will provide the following:

• A succinct set of goals that derive from the Findings Statements in the Housing Needs Analysis
• A description of individual strategies to achieve the goals, including the priority and complexity level of each strategy, suggested timeline, relevant actors (e.g. City departments, private sector, other units of government, etc.), and possible funding sources (if applicable)
• The identification of areas of the city where housing development would fit both resident needs and demand
• Maps and graphics to illustrate the strategies, where applicable

The consultant will compile the Housing Needs Analysis and Strategy into a final report for review from staff and the general public and eventual adoption by the City Council.

The RFQ packet can be requested at https://champaignil.gov/request-for-qualifications-housing-needs-analysis-and-strategy/