Springfield City Council currently has outlined five priorities that guide their work and the goals they have for the city. While housing-related objectives appear under three of these priorities — public safety, quality of place and economic vitality — none focus on housing exclusively.
Tuesday afternoon, Councilwoman Monica Horton lead council in a discussion and activity that considered housing as its own standalone priority, along with the details that might be included in council policies. Mayor Ken McClure noted that the priority itself should be broad rather than too detailed to be effective and applicable.
The meeting drew a large audience with stakeholders from the housing sector, including multiple representatives from Springfield Tenants Unite, a local tenants union. Following the meeting, STUN members spoke to individual council members and shared information about housing.
What is Horton proposing?
Horton’s proposed priority description calls on council to be guided by “A dedication to improving all existing housing stock by closing the gaps in code enforcement and expanding property reinvestment incentives offered by the City of Springfield, while also increasing housing options and access.”