MONROE - The city of Monroe faces challenges with the lack of affordable housing and a population that is aging.
That's the premise of a community meeting Monday at the University of Wisconsin-Extension office to discuss challenges for the future of housing in Monroe. The discussion is the first in a series of community meetings hosted by the Southwestern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission on issues facing the city.
Victoria Solomon, Community Resource Development educator for Green County's University of Wisconsin-Extension, said Monroe's population is getting older and young adults are moving elsewhere.
Furthermore, she said, the economy still plays a role in Monroe's housing problems.
"The middle class has been struggling since the recession," Solomon said.
As of 2013, 32 percent of the city's population earns $25,000 or less per year, compared to only 24 percent in 1990, she said.
Monroe today has a lack of affordable housing available to rent or own, Solomon said.
The number of building permits approved for single-family homes in the city has stayed under three permits per year since 2011, but the price of building went up from $135,000 in 2012 to more than $450,000 in 2013, according to statistics gathered by the commission.
Furthermore, the number of newer homes is much lower than homes built before World War II: The commission reports 30 percent of homes in Monroe were built before 1940 while only 4 percent were built between 2000 and 2009.
Since the housing crash in 2008, the number of homes sold in Monroe has increased but the average value continues to stay in the between $90,000 and just over $100,000.
Another area Monroe struggles with is the growth of low-paying jobs including fast food, office clerks, retail and customer service. This poses a problem for people trying to pay off their mortgages, Solomon said.
Currently, the average salary is at roughly $39,000 as compared to $49,000 in 1990, she said. Others at the meeting disputed that figure, saying average wages are actually lower.
The city is also seeing a growth in minority population. According to Solomon, the Hispanic population has grown more than 200 percent while the Asian population has grown more than 120 percent in the last few years.
"The minority population is growing at a much faster rate than any other segment of the population," Solomon said.
But with that growth, minorities still account for only 5 percent of the city's overall population, she said.
Household size and a disproportionate number of older people pose a challenge for the city.
Currently, a third of Monroe homes are headed by someone 65 and older and only 24 percent are occupied by residents 44 or younger, Solomon said.
She added that the younger segments of the population are choosing to rent rather than buy which accounts for the decline in home sales.
The commission will meet next Monday at 5 p.m. to discuss possible solutions to address the issues.
That's the premise of a community meeting Monday at the University of Wisconsin-Extension office to discuss challenges for the future of housing in Monroe. The discussion is the first in a series of community meetings hosted by the Southwestern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission on issues facing the city.
Victoria Solomon, Community Resource Development educator for Green County's University of Wisconsin-Extension, said Monroe's population is getting older and young adults are moving elsewhere.
Furthermore, she said, the economy still plays a role in Monroe's housing problems.
"The middle class has been struggling since the recession," Solomon said.
As of 2013, 32 percent of the city's population earns $25,000 or less per year, compared to only 24 percent in 1990, she said.
Monroe today has a lack of affordable housing available to rent or own, Solomon said.
The number of building permits approved for single-family homes in the city has stayed under three permits per year since 2011, but the price of building went up from $135,000 in 2012 to more than $450,000 in 2013, according to statistics gathered by the commission.
Furthermore, the number of newer homes is much lower than homes built before World War II: The commission reports 30 percent of homes in Monroe were built before 1940 while only 4 percent were built between 2000 and 2009.
Since the housing crash in 2008, the number of homes sold in Monroe has increased but the average value continues to stay in the between $90,000 and just over $100,000.
Another area Monroe struggles with is the growth of low-paying jobs including fast food, office clerks, retail and customer service. This poses a problem for people trying to pay off their mortgages, Solomon said.
Currently, the average salary is at roughly $39,000 as compared to $49,000 in 1990, she said. Others at the meeting disputed that figure, saying average wages are actually lower.
The city is also seeing a growth in minority population. According to Solomon, the Hispanic population has grown more than 200 percent while the Asian population has grown more than 120 percent in the last few years.
"The minority population is growing at a much faster rate than any other segment of the population," Solomon said.
But with that growth, minorities still account for only 5 percent of the city's overall population, she said.
Household size and a disproportionate number of older people pose a challenge for the city.
Currently, a third of Monroe homes are headed by someone 65 and older and only 24 percent are occupied by residents 44 or younger, Solomon said.
She added that the younger segments of the population are choosing to rent rather than buy which accounts for the decline in home sales.
The commission will meet next Monday at 5 p.m. to discuss possible solutions to address the issues.