The Realities of Affordable Housing

I want to share some common myths and realities surrounding affordable housing that need to be addressed in the hopes that Hamilton county can get behind supporting sustainable housing for its residents. 

Myth #1: Housing is important, but it’s not at the top of the list. Health care, education and jobs demand more attention and resources.

Reality: Health and education suffer and job opportunities diminish when affordable housing is not available. We can have the best education and job opportunities, but if we don’t have a safe and stable roof over our head, our ability to learn in the classroom and perform on the job is directly impacted. Study after study has concluded that poverty, inadequate housing and poor health are directly linked.  Furthermore, the lack of adequate housing directly undermines society’s massive investment of tens of billions of dollars in health and education. 

I believe we need to stop approaching affordable housing as an individual issue and start seeing affordable housing as an economical issue that has the power to improve the quality of life for all Hamilton County residents. 

Myth #2: Affordable housing is someone else’s problem. 

Reality: Housing is as important to community health as it is to individual health. Investing in affordable housing attracts new businesses, creates jobs and many times, makes communities safer. When these investments are absent, communities struggle and the ripple effect is devastating. We can clearly see this occurring in certain districts across Hamilton County. Eventually, those ripples affect everyone.

Improving the economic health of Hamilton County takes all sectors to get involved including the public and private sectors, government and non-profit sectors working openly and collaboratively.  Breaking this down a bit further, here’s how each sector can support:

The public sector creates the context and environment for private investment in housing. One of the critical roles of government is to regulate land use and establish infrastructure. The private sector provides the best community designs including mixed-income, mixed-use developments that include the foundation for future growth. It also involves addressing issues such as transportation, quality schools and ease of access to jobs and shopping. Nonprofits are the glue that bridges the divide allowing the communities voices to be heard especially for those who are directly affected. Nonprofits are crucial.

I truly believe it takes the collaboration of all sectors of the community to create a path forward and it can be done.

Myth #3: The final myth I want to address is that homeownership really isn’t for low-income people.

Reality:  That is absolutely not true. Homeownership was widely—and unwisely—encouraged. Many argue that purchasing a home is a bad idea for low- and even middle-income families. Renting was being touted as the better option. The reality is that we need the full spectrum of housing products and that people of many income levels can be successful homeowners. 

I believe we must be willing to look beyond the mask of homeownership because the reality is that today over 11 million families are behind on their rent or mortgage payments. 2.1 million families are behind at least three months on mortgage payments, while 8.8 million are behind on rent. Homeowners alone are estimated to owe almost $90 billion in missed payments. Families on both sides of the line cannot afford their rent and mortgage payments. We need better options. When the cost of living goes beyond a family's ability to keep a roof over their head, we have a problem. Affordable housing has the ability to ask the tough questions about mortgage loans and a family’s ability to afford their mortgage. 

We need to address the barriers to home ownership including mortgage loan discrimination, high inflated interest rates, red lining, gentrification and white flight.

We have to be open to hearing and willing to have difficult conversations around topics that have continued to keep us “separate, but equal”. Equality happens when we are willing to hear the ugly truth of what citizens of Hamilton County are experiencing today. We need to be ready to listen with open hearts and come together to create solutions that build trust and openness for all of Hamilton County residents. We are faced with an opportunity to create a Hamilton County that invests in diversity with mixed income housing developments that are safe, inclusive and affordable.

I want to hear from you.  Send me your comments and concerns by using this contact form.