Today’s Pilot has two articles, following up on the saga of the 10 boarding houses that were shut down last month, which I wrote about here. The operator of the homes is pursuing state licensing, which will allow her to run the facilities as assisted living facilities. There will be additional costs, however, because there is a requirement to have staff 24 hours a day which are trained in first aid. She is hoping to get some state funding to help offset the costs, because currently her operation is not very profitable:
In the house she runs on Marietta Avenue, for example, the finances are as follows:
With six clients contributing an average of $500 apiece, that gives Hernandez $3,000 a month. Subtract $1000 for rent; $500 for food; $400 for electricity (including heat and air conditioning ); $200 for water; $60 for satellite television; and $50 for phone. This particular house also has a cook who comes in and prepares meals for $550 every four weeks. Hernandez nets $240.
In the meantime, the city is looking into other options. I applaud Mayor Fraim for recognizing that there is a problem with affordable housing in Norfolk.
Fraim said the fate of the 48 relocated residents tugs at his heart. City officials said 21 remain temporarily housed in motels, 13 are in residential facilities, four are with relatives and only three are in permanent housing. Two were placed in other cities, four could not be located and one refused placement .
Fraim said he wonders if the city’s rules are too restrictive.
Currently, the rules allow only two unrelated people to live in a home on separate leases. Fraim has asked that this number be raised to three.
This is a step in the right direction but does not fully address the problem. The lack of affordable housing is the problem. The city must include in its comprehensive plan some method of increasing the availability of affordable housing.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
First, Norfolk needs a comprehensive plan that isn’t as old as 1992.
Second, Norfolk needs a planning director. And last but not least, how do you define affordable housing?
I think the HUD definition says it best: no more than 30% of annual income.
When the housing crash comes (perhaps it won’t come to Norfolk, perhaps the bubble never happened) many homeowners will be looking for tenants. It makes sense to increase the number of unrelated people who can lease, it will enable many to make mortgage payments.