BELLEFONTE — The results of a survey, which began in early 2022, have finally been compiled and presented to the Centre County Board of Commissioners during this week’s meeting.

“First and foremost I’d like to thank the commissioners for helping us along with this housing needs assessment through the allocation of American Rescue Plan funds. We also utilized community development block grant admin funds as well to help this study along,” began Ray Stolinas, Director of Planning and Community Development.

The study began in March and April 2022 and was done successfully, according to Stolinas. The study updates the 2005 Housing Needs Assessment and analyzes current trends and conditions within Centre County’s housing market.

“Housing people can afford is not just a problem locally, in the Commonwealth but nationally. In Centre County we have the issue of desirability. This is a great place to live, work and play,” said Chairman Mark Higgins.

“We heard a lot of individual agencies clamor for the need for an update to the needs assessment — there was a lot of use out there and they wanted to see, with the upcoming census, an update to that study. That’s one of the main reasons we pursued this,” said Stolinas.

“The stakeholder sessions were definitely something that we valued with the agencies and individuals that work with housing every day. They helped advocate for, develop and build, preserve, acquire, finance and diligently work to ensure housing for those with the greatest need within the county.”

According to Stolinas, the assessment will be utilized in numerous ways. The first of which is to add a “face” to residents in need of affordable housing.

“Inside the needs assessment you’ll see statistics on age, income, race and employment and you’ll also look at some of the individual categories of where people work and what hourly rate they receive,” said Stolinas.

On top of providing this data, the assessment also showcases rising housing and rental costs, the low affordable housing inventory in the county and high land price in some areas.

They had 175 participants from 150 agencies who engaged in 11 virtual sessions; the comments during those sessions helped to compile experiences of living in the county as well as experiences of clients they represent.

The stakeholders who gave information during the virtual sessions highlighted the various impacts the pandemic had on the housing market, including: supply chain delays, increased costs of building material and land, rising sale prices, low sales inventory, mortgage rates, student rental market, zoning and land use regulations and a lack of supporting infrastructure along with utility costs.

“The cost of development is through the roof for a variety of different reasons. Whatever we can do as a county to relieve some of that, if (the Planning and Community Development Office) can monitor that closely and let us know we would greatly appreciate it,” said Commissioner Steven Dershem.

“Looking at price points in housing which were maybe $350,000 for a single family home are now double that. Building material and land costs are a part of that, but also the supply chain became part of the reality of the pandemic,” said Stolinas.

“I think one of the biggest challenges right now, obviously, is that we are probably at an all time record low for housing inventory. The number of transactions through the recorder of deeds office is historically as low as it’s ever been,” said Dershem. “I don’t think in the near term we’re going to see any relief in the cost of housing or ability to make housing more affordable for our residents. Stay tuned, but it’s going to be tough for a little while.”

There are five distinct market types defined by demographics, housing inventory and access to opportunities. The data goes through homeownership, rental data, age and income.

“This is all based on community development, these are census block groups. When you move out from the urbanized area — the center region around the university — you get out into the rural areas… The data that is tied to each one of those regions is identified within the study,” said Stolinas.

The items that come out of the census regarding housing costs, median income and cost burden are all considered as the findings are sorted through.

One of the things identified in the housing needs assessment is the lack of diverse housing types, known as “missing middle housing.”

According to missingmiddlehousing.com, this is considered a range of house-scale buildings with multiple units — compatible in scale and form with detached single-family homes — located in a walkable neighborhood. Some of these “middle housing” options include duplexes, fourplexes, cottage courts and multiplexes which are intended to seamlessly fit into existing residential areas.

“We have close to 78% of single family housing within Centre County, and an increase of the multi-high rise development within State College Borough. But what about the missing middle?” asked Stolinas.

“My hope is that this will be really useful to our municipalities as they’re working on their own planning,” said Commissioner Amber Concepcion. “Potentially also for major employers to have awareness as they’re trying to recruit employees to the area of what some of the challenges could be. That missing middle is a really important piece.”

Elizabeth “Liz” Lose, Assistant Director of Planning and Community Development, pointed out that there was well over 100 pages of information in the survey that will be released for public view.

“When it is released we encourage people to take a look at it when they have a chance,” said Lose.

“We look forward to everyone looking at it and making their own determinations of how that helps their particular areas — whether it’s the Centre region, Penns Valley or Nittany Valley. We tried to not only cover the younger populations and working families but also 65 and over. Its a comprehensive study that looks across all profiles,” said Stolinas.

The information is planned to be sent out to stakeholders this week before being made available through their website.