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Affordable Housing in Columbia: LIHTC Impact and Demographic Shifts
CATEGORY
Affordable Housing
DATA
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
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Affordable Housing
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
Columbia, Pennsylvania, maintains a small inventory of LIHTC-funded affordable housing units. The city has 24 affordable housing units, of which 6 are designated as low-income units. This represents approximately 0.61% of the city's estimated 3,909 housing units.
The LIHTC program has provided Columbia with $291,196 in project tax credits. With three approximate projects, this amounts to an average federal funding of $97,065 per project and $12,133 per unit. Columbia's LIHTC funding constitutes 0.05% of Pennsylvania's total LIHTC allocation.
The Water Tower project, completed in 1996, is a notable LIHTC-funded development in Columbia. It represents the earliest known LIHTC development in the city, indicating at least 26 years of affordable housing presence. The 1990s saw the most LIHTC activity in Columbia, with the Water Tower project being the primary development during this period.
The housing mix in LIHTC-funded projects includes 15 one-bedroom units, 4 two-bedroom units, and 5 three-bedroom units, accommodating various household sizes.
Columbia's population has shown slight fluctuations over the past decade, with a general downward trend from 10,425 in 2011 to 10,203 in 2022. The median income has varied, ranging from $39,886 in 2016 to $44,819 in 2021, and settling at $42,240 in 2022.
Racial demographics in Columbia have shifted significantly. The white population decreased from 84% in 2013 to 70% in 2022. The Hispanic population increased from 9% in 2013 to 23% in 2022. The Black population also increased from 3% in 2013 to 6% in 2022.
These demographic changes, particularly the growth in minority populations and fluctuations in median income, may indicate an evolving need for affordable housing options in Columbia.
Columbia's LIHTC-funded affordable housing inventory has been part of the community for over two decades. The city's demographic shifts, including increasing diversity and income fluctuations, suggest a potential need for continued focus on affordable housing options. The existing LIHTC projects, particularly the Water Tower development, have contributed to addressing some of these needs, but they represent a small fraction of the city's overall housing stock.
