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Affordable Housing in Uniontown, Alabama: 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
Uniontown, Alabama, a small town, has a distinct affordable housing landscape supported by the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program. The city's LIHTC-funded affordable housing inventory comprises 51 units, all designated as low-income units. These units represent approximately 7% of the city's estimated housing stock of 723 units.
Uniontown has received $274,478 in project tax credits through the LIHTC program. This funding is distributed across two projects, resulting in an average federal funding of $137,239 per project and $5,382 per unit. The city's LIHTC funding represents 0.15% of Alabama's total, indicating a small but notable contribution to the state's affordable housing efforts.
The first LIHTC project in Uniontown, Woodlawn Terrace, was completed in 1991, and the most recent project, Canebrake Apartments, was finished in 2005. This 14-year span demonstrates a sustained commitment to affordable housing in the city. The 1990s and 2000s were the primary decades for affordable housing project completion in Uniontown.
The city's LIHTC-funded housing stock includes a variety of unit types. There are 15 one-bedroom units, 6 two-bedroom units, and 12 three-bedroom units. This diverse range of unit sizes accommodates various household compositions within the low-income population.
Uniontown has experienced significant demographic changes over the past decade. The population decreased from 3,251 in 2015 to 1,888 in 2022, a decline of approximately 42%. During this period, the median income fluctuated, reaching a low of $14,752 in 2019 and increasing to $19,722 in 2022.
The racial composition of Uniontown has also shifted. The Black population increased from 84% in 2015 to 96% in 2022, while the White population decreased from 13% to 4% during the same period. This demographic trend indicates a growing need for affordable housing options that serve the predominantly Black community.
Despite these demographic changes, no new LIHTC projects have been constructed in Uniontown since 2005. The declining population may suggest a reduced demand for new housing units, but the fluctuating median income indicates a continued need for affordable options for the remaining residents.
Uniontown's LIHTC-funded affordable housing inventory serves a crucial role in providing low-income housing options for its residents. The city's two LIHTC projects offer 51 units that accommodate various household sizes. While no new projects have been developed in recent years, the existing units continue to meet the community's needs. The demographic trends, including population decline and changes in racial composition, emphasize the importance of maintaining and potentially adapting the current affordable housing stock to address the evolving needs of Uniontown's residents.
