(Housing Study) Completion and Adoption: The study was finalized and adopted by the Topeka Governing Body via motion on July 21, 2020.

 The Topeka Housing Needs Analysis (often referred to as the Citywide Housing Market Study & Strategy) is the primary comprehensive assessment guiding the city's housing policies, including programs like Reinvestment Housing Incentive Districts (RHID). It was conducted by the consulting firm Development Strategies (based in St. Louis) in partnership with the City of Topeka.

Key Details on the Study

• Completion and Adoption: The study was finalized and adopted by the Topeka Governing Body via motion on July 21, 2020. It marked the first comprehensive analysis of the city's affordable housing needs in about 30 years (since the early 1990s).
• Purpose: It evaluates the overall housing market, identifies gaps in supply and quality across various price ranges (affordable to market-rate), and provides data-driven strategies to address shortages. The study emphasizes that housing is tied to economic development—insufficient quality housing hinders workforce attraction, business growth, and overall community vitality.
• Main Findings:
  • There is a shortage of quality housing at all levels of the market, from the least expensive to higher-end options.
  • Existing affordable housing often lacks quality (e.g., needs renovation to meet safety and livability standards).
  • The city faces challenges with aging housing stock, cost burdens for low-income households, and limited new construction relative to demand.
  • Housing shortages act as a barrier to economic growth, as companies and workers need adequate places to live.
  • There are specific needs for affordable rental units, supportive housing, and options for various demographics (e.g., low-income, elderly, or those at risk of homelessness).
• Follow-Up Actions:
  • An Implementation Plan 2021 was developed with input from a steering committee (including affordable housing providers, neighborhood leaders, and officials) and approved by the Governing Body on December 8, 2020. It outlines initial steps to kickstart recommendations from the study.
  • The findings support ongoing efforts like the Consolidated Plan (a HUD-required 5-year strategy for federal housing/community development funds), which incorporates citizen input, market conditions, and needs for specific populations.
  • More recent references (e.g., in 2023 news and RHID discussions) confirm the study's conclusions remain relevant: Topeka has a persistent lack of quality, available housing, justifying incentives like RHID to encourage development.

Where to Access It

• The full Citywide Housing Market Study & Strategy is referenced on the City of Topeka's official website under Housing Services: https://www.topeka.org/housing-services/81-2.
• A related document, the Topeka RHID Housing Needs Analysis (likely a summary or excerpt tailored for RHID applications), is available as a PDF: https://cot-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/finance/RHID/Topeka+RHID+Housing+Needs+Analysis.pdf. This supports RHID findings on housing shortages per K.S.A. 12-5244.
• The city's Consolidated Action Plan (updated annually, with the latest for 2024) builds on this analysis and is also on the site under Housing Services.

This study directly informs RHID eligibility, as applications must demonstrate alignment with its identified needs (e.g., addressing shortages that wouldn't be resolved without incentives—the "but-for" test). For the most current details or to discuss how it applies to a specific project, contact Rhiannon Friedman in the City of Topeka's Planning and Development Office at 785-368-3007, as noted in the RHID packet.