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Emporia, Kansas: LIHTC-Funded Affordable Housing in a Gravel Cycling Hub
CATEGORY
Affordable Housing
DATA
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
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Affordable Housing
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
Emporia, Kansas, a city with an estimated population of 26,154 in 2022, has utilized the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program to provide affordable housing options. The LIHTC-funded affordable housing inventory in Emporia consists of 218 total units, with 148 designated as low-income units. These units represent approximately 2.17% of the city's estimated 10,021 housing units, indicating that while LIHTC has contributed to affordable housing, other programs may also address the city's needs.
Emporia has received $2,363,460 in project tax credits through the LIHTC program. With approximately 5 projects, this translates to an average of $472,692 in federal funding per project and about $10,841 per unit. The city's LIHTC funding represents 1.65% of the total state credits allocated to Kansas, indicating a notable portion of the state's affordable housing resources.
Affordable housing development in Emporia through LIHTC spans from 1997 to 2018. The first project, Westwood Village, was completed in 1997, while the most recent addition, Whittier Place, was finished in 2018. This demonstrates a sustained commitment to affordable housing development over time. The 2010s saw the most LIHTC project completions, with two projects: Kenyon Heights in 2013 and Whittier Place in 2018.
The LIHTC-funded housing inventory in Emporia includes 14 one-bedroom units, 46 two-bedroom units, and 18 three-bedroom units. This range of unit sizes accommodates various household compositions within the low-income population.
Over the past decade, Emporia's population has decreased slightly, from 27,340 in 2013 to 26,154 in 2022. Despite this decline, the median income has increased from $42,998 in 2013 to $50,408 in 2022. The racial composition has remained relatively stable, with a slight increase in diversity. The white population decreased from 68% in 2013 to 65% in 2022, while the Hispanic population increased from 24% to 26%. The percentage of residents identifying as two or more races increased from 2% to 4%.
Emporia's LIHTC-funded affordable housing inventory represents a small but significant portion of the city's housing stock. The program has provided consistent support for affordable housing development over two decades, with recent projects addressing contemporary housing needs. The slight population decrease, rising median incomes, and subtle shifts in racial demographics indicate evolving socioeconomic conditions that may influence future affordable housing requirements. The mix of unit types in LIHTC projects demonstrates an effort to accommodate diverse household sizes within the low-income population of Emporia.
