Long-term Goal:
To create 1000 additional housing units by the year 2010 with the stipulation that 33% of these units be classified as affordable. Housing is considered affordable when total housing costs (including utilities) do not exceed 30% of a family's income.

What We Do:
The primary tasks of Duluth Housing 1000 are to gain support for affordable housing throughout Duluth and to monitor the progress of the development of affordable housing. Gaining support involves educating the Duluth community about the necessity and benefits of affordable housing and gaining endorsements of the initiative by influential organizations and political bodies such as the Chamber of Commerce, the City Council and the Neighborhood Districts throughout the city. Numerous initiatives exist in Duluth to develop affordable housing, however there is no systematic initiative to monitor this development. Housing 1000 fills this gap.

Housing 1000’s vision is to reduce a number of housing problems in Duluth including:

Construction & Home Ownership Gap- Duluth has averaged a mere net gain of approximately 100 new units of housing per year from 1997-2002, with only 13 net units gained in the first six months of 2004. Limited construction of new units has subsequently hindered affordable home ownership options. The median home sales price has increased 50% since 1995, while two-thirds of the workforce is employed in industries where the average salary is below median.

Critical Housing Needs- About 41.5% of Duluth renters spend over 30% of their income on rent. And of that proportion, 46% spend over half of their income on rent. Moreover, 1 out of every 4 households is spending over 30% of their income for housing.

Aging Housing Stock- In Duluth, 48.4% of housing units are part of
structures over 60 years old. According to the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the average life span of a house is 40-50 years without significant maintenance. Duluth has a significant need for housing preservation and replacement.