Glossary
Affordable Housing - The U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defines "affordable" as housing that costs
no more than 30 percent of a household's monthly income. That means rent and
utilities in an apartment or the monthly mortgage payment and housing expenses
for a homeowner should be less than 30 percent of a household's monthly income
to be considered affordable.
AMI – Area Median Income. The Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issues a listing of the area median
incomes by Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) and by county each year. These
income levels are used in connection with loans that are made to low- and
moderate-income home buyers. They are based on HUD estimates of median family
income with adjustments for family size.
Low-income Families - Families whose incomes do
not exceed 80 percent of the AMI.
Sustainable Community – A human settlement that
is designed built and operated in an efficient, effective and environmentally
friendly way. The community’s current needs are met without compromising
other species and future generations. The community prospers as people work
together, using resources efficiently and equitably, to produce a high quality
of life.
Sustainable Indicators – Aspects of the
community’s environment that can be used to monitor progress toward
sustainability. For example: per capita water consumption, high school
graduation rate, bird populations, land use, crime rate, air quality,
unemployment rate, business investment, etc.
Very low-income Families - Families whose incomes
do not exceed 50 percent of the AMI.
