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Affordable Housing in Columbus, Kansas: Three Decades of LIHTC Implementation
CATEGORY
Affordable Housing
DATA
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
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Affordable Housing
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
Columbus, Kansas, has implemented Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funded affordable housing. The city's LIHTC inventory comprises 56 affordable units, all designated as low-income. This represents approximately 4.2% of the city's estimated 1,348 housing units.
Columbus has received $148,282 in project tax credits for affordable housing through the LIHTC program. With approximately 3 projects, this amounts to an average of $49,427 in federal funding per project. The average federal funding per unit is about $2,648. Columbus accounts for 0.1% of the total state LIHTC funding.
The first LIHTC project in Columbus, Columbus Seniors, was constructed in 1992, while the most recent project, Apple Glen Apts, was completed in 2014. This indicates over two decades of affordable housing presence in the city. The 2000s experienced the most affordable housing development activity, with projects such as Cherry Creek Townhomes completed in 2007.
Columbus's LIHTC funded housing inventory includes a variety of unit types. There are 20 one-bedroom units, 30 two-bedroom units, and 6 three-bedroom units. This range of unit sizes suggests an effort to accommodate various household compositions within the affordable housing sector.
Columbus has experienced a slight population decline over the past decade, from 3,998 in 2013 to 3,518 in 2022. The median income has fluctuated, reaching a peak of $54,372 in 2015 before decreasing to $41,443 in 2022. These economic changes may have influenced the demand for affordable housing in the city.
The racial distribution in Columbus has remained predominantly white, with a slight increase in diversity. The percentage of residents identifying as two or more races has increased from 5% in 2013 to 8% in 2022, while the white population has decreased slightly from 86% to 88% during the same period.
Columbus's LIHTC funded affordable housing represents a small but significant portion of the city's housing stock. The city has maintained a consistent presence of affordable housing projects over the past few decades, with a mix of unit types to serve different household sizes. Economic fluctuations and subtle changes in racial diversity may continue to influence the city's affordable housing needs in the future.
