(Spirit Lake)– A new non-profit organization is being formed that would bring affordable housing to low and medium-income residents of Dickinson county.
Jim Golden of Okoboji is heading up the effort, known as “The Lakes Community Land Trust”. Golden presented the concept to the Dickinson county board of supervisors at their meeting Thursday. He presented some concerns that led up to the organization being formed. Golden says increasing property values have lead to house prices also going up substantially, while wages have remained stagnant. He says that’s pricing many Dickinson county residents out of the local housing market. Golden says that has them seeking houses in other areas where the cost of living isn’t as high. He says there are two examples that clearly point out the problem. One is declining or steady enrollments in the local schools. Another, he says, is referred to in a recent study that shows Spirit Lake’s population is much higher in the day than at night due to the large number of people commuting into the city to work.
Golden is concerned that as the population shift continues and more and more low to moderate income young people and families leave the area due to a lack of affordable housing, local employers will be left scrambling to find workers. He says there’s still time to fix the problem before it gets much worse.
Golden says the Lakes Community Land Trust would be a non-profit organization that would acquire land and rehabilitate or develop housing on that land, putting them up for sale at a price that would be affordable by low to moderate income residents.
Golden Thursday requested the board of supervisors adopt a resolution supporting the formation of the Lakes Community Land Trust. They’ll take it up at their next meeting June 13th. Golden says the municipalities in the county will also be asked to adopt a similar resolution.
Golden says a similar housing trust is being organized in Clay county.
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