Benefits of Affordable Housing

In America, there is a myth that affordable housing brings down the value of a neighborhood. This myth is based in negative stereotypes, fear of reduced property values, and challenges that affordable housing bring to neighborhoods. 

However, the lack of affordable housing is what negatively impacts a community. High housing costs can limit opportunities for families to increase their earnings and in turn cause slower economic growth in a community. When affordable housing is available, people are more likely to spend money at local businesses because they can think beyond just meeting their necessities. 

Additionally, the construction of affordable housing can lead to fewer evictions and fewer unhoused persons in a community. Evictions cause a cycle of instability for families that harms a community’s social and economic well-being. 

Affordable housing is stable housing.

Housing also plays a significant role in a person’s social determinants of health because it greatly impacts a person’s physical and mental well-being. Poverty also limits people’s ability to obtain healthcare and poverty is linked to greater health problems for those who are experiencing it. Housing that is not adequately or safely maintained may also contribute to poor health in our communities. For example, families who are exposed to lead paint, mold, or other environmental issues may lead to chronic health issues that cost both the residents and their communities a great deal. 

Affordable housing can also lead to more jobs because constructing affordable housing creates jobs during the construction phase and through a new long-term housing opportunity. For example, developers, architects, and construction companies are needed to build affordable housing and property staff is needed for maintenance, operations, and leasing affordable housing to residents.

The reduction of childhood poverty is another substantial benefit to the construction of affordable housing. Children who have inconsistent, unsafe, or unstable housing are less likely to succeed in school. Providing these children with stable housing in a mixed-income community stimulates economic growth and cultivates healthier societies. 

The benefits of providing and constructing affordable housing in our communities is clear. It is also necessary for housing justice. 

Contact Us:

If you believe you have been discriminated against in violation of the Fair Housing Act or you just have questions about your fair housing rights, contact Idaho Legal Aid Services online and fill out our application for services at www.idaholegalaid.org or call us at: (208) 746-7541, Mondays – Thursdays, between 10:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. MST, for free legal advice.

Make a Fair Housing Complaint:

After you speak with one of our attorneys about your legal rights, we may recommend that you make a fair housing complaint. 

To report an act of discrimination based on a protected class under the Fair Housing Act, contact The Department of Housing and Urban Development. 

 

Disclaimer: The work that provided the basis for this ad is supported by funding under a grant with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The substance and findings of the work are dedicated to the public. The author and publisher are solely responsible for the accuracy of the statements and interpretations contained in this publication. Such interpretations do not necessarily reflect the views of the Federal Government.

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