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Affordable Housing Inventory and Demographic Trends in Portland, Indiana: A Decade of Stagnation
CATEGORY
Affordable Housing
DATA
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
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Affordable Housing
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
Portland, Indiana, a small city with 8,620 residents as of 2022, has utilized the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program to fund four affordable housing projects. These projects have resulted in 80 total units, with 53 designated as low-income units. The LIHTC-funded affordable housing comprises approximately 2.4% of the city's estimated housing inventory of 3,303 units.
The LIHTC program has supported affordable housing in Portland for over a decade. The first project, Maple Heights Apartments, was completed in 1992, while the most recent project, Portland Place Senior Housing, was finished in 2004. This indicates a 12-year span of LIHTC-funded affordable housing development in the city.
The 1990s saw the most activity in LIHTC-funded projects, with three out of the four projects completed during this decade. These include Maple Heights Apartments, Portland II-Country Place (both completed in 1992), and Canterbury Apartments (completed in 1994). Of the 80 total units in LIHTC-funded projects, 55 are one-bedroom units and 25 are two-bedroom units. This distribution suggests a focus on accommodating smaller households or individuals.
Over the past decade, Portland's population has remained relatively stable, fluctuating between 8,300 and 8,800 residents. The median income has shown a general upward trend, increasing from $37,031 in 2013 to $47,267 in 2022, with a peak of $51,897 in 2021. This rise in median income could potentially impact the demand for affordable housing in the city.
Regarding racial demographics, Portland has maintained a predominantly white population, consistently around 92% throughout the past decade. There has been a slight increase in diversity, with the Hispanic population growing from 3% to 5% between 2013 and 2022, and the introduction of a small Asian population (1-2%) in recent years.
Portland, Indiana has utilized the LIHTC program to develop four affordable housing projects, providing 80 units to the community. While this represents a small percentage of the city's estimated housing stock, it contributes to addressing affordable housing needs. The majority of LIHTC-funded development occurred in the 1990s, with a focus on one and two-bedroom units. The city's stable population, increasing median income, and slight diversification in recent years may influence future affordable housing needs and development strategies.
