Section 8 density: how does Norwood compare?

In today’s blog entitled “Section 8 Density by Neighborhood,” the Cincinnati Beacon presents the facts about Section 8 housing density in Cincinnati neighborhoods and Hamilton County communities/cities, including Norwood. Using a spreadsheet he obtained from Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority, the Beacon’s Dean puts to rest the myth that Westwood is awash in Section 8. From time to time, we’ve heard community members state that Norwood, too, has too many Section 8 housing units/renters for our city’s size and financial health and welfare.

But how many is too many? Compared to other communities listed on this Assisted Housing by Neighborhood spreadsheet, Norwood’s Section 8 stats look relatively low. With regard to D. and F. in the figures below, the Dean asked Kelly Kramer from CHMA the following question: “Am I correct in thinking that columns D and F indicate the percentage of rentals and houses that are section 8 as compared to the neighborhood’s total stock of rental and housing units?” She replied, “Yes, your thinking on columns D and F is correct.” She also said: “We only update our list of assisted housing divided by neighborhood twice a year. The last one was completed in February.”

A. Norwood:
B. Total Assisted Units in Neighborhood: 242
C. Rental Units in Norwood: 4,499
D. Assisted Units as %of Total Rentals: 5.38%
E. Housing Units in Norwood: 10,044
F. Assisted Units as % of Total Units: 2.41%
G. Housing Choice Voucher: 212
H. Project-Based Section 8: 8
I. MOD: 0
J. CMHA Public Housing: 18
K. Affording Housing: 4

Using data the Dean pulled from the spreadsheet and some we collected, too, here’s how Norwood’s D. and F. figures compare with the following communities:

Norwood:
Assisted Units as %of Total Rentals: 5.38%
Assisted Units as % of Total Units: 2.41%

Evanston:
Assisted Units as % of Total Rentals: 34.08%
Assisted Units as % of Total Units: 13.82

Golf Manor:
Assisted Units as % of Total Rentals: 26.83%
Assisted Units as % of Total Units: 11.14%

Oakley:
Assisted Units as % of Total Rentals: 9.84%
Assisted Units as % of total Units: 5.19%

Westwood:
Assisted Units as % of Total Rentals: 11.10%
Assisted Units as % of Total Units: 6.27%

Mt. Airy:
Assisted Units as % of Total Rentals: 24.45%
Assisted Units as % of Total Units: 14.36%

Kennedy Heights:
Assisted Units as % of Total Rentals: 18.13%
Assisted Units as % of Total Units: 6.59%

Northside:
Assisted Units as % of Total Rentals: 14.77%
Assisted Units as % of Total Units: 6.60%

College Hill:
Assisted Units as % of Total Rentals: 22.78%
Assisted Units as % of total Units: 9.08%