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A place to call home
Kim Armstrong, Senior Planner
Affordable housing: A chance for a better life
Kim Armstrong thinks Washington County is a About 25 percent of Washington
beautiful, vibrant place to live, and she wants to County households earn less than half of the
make sure that everyone has an equal opportunity county’s Median Family Income. These financially
to live and be successful here. vulnerable people often spend more than half of
their earnings on housing, which can leave them
Armstrong is a Senior Planner focused on housing without enough for other needs.
in the Community Planning Work Group. She was
hired in September 2016 to help make sure that “Housing has a big impact on people’s lives,”
housing affordability is considered in long range Armstrong said. “People need homes to help
planning projects. them stay secure and become successful. It’s
important for Washington County, and to me,
“Washington County is a wonderful place, that everyone has a fair chance to succeed.”
and lots of people want to live here,” Armstrong
said. “However, more people mean more housing Stable, affordable housing is more than four
is needed — and as housing demand rises, so do walls and a roof. Where people live impacts
housing prices. As a result, many people struggle their access to transportation, food, jobs and
to afford housing in Washington County.” education. When people have affordable
housing in a good location, it can provide
security and stability, Armstrong said.
3 | Building Community LUT Annual Report FY 2016–17
