Is a lack of affordable housing causing homelessness?
Affordable housing is one of the most significant investments a community can make in urban development. Affordable housing will enhance the safety and well-being of our citizens and make housing available to all individuals regardless of their household income.
How does ensuring access to affordable housing serve as a crucial barrier against homelessness? Affordable housing offers a step of stability, offering a secure foundation from which to pursue opportunities and build brighter futures, ultimately transforming lives for the better.
During the last few years, the number of homeless individuals has increased, especially in areas with higher rent and home prices which have started pricing people out of once affordable market rate properties, resulting in families paying more than 50% of their income in rent.
Homelessness is a severe complex social issue and often is caused by the loss of employment, drug addiction, domestic abuse, mental illness, long term medical issues and physical disabilities. The lack of housing options and social services for people with low and even moderate incomes are leaving people homelessness as the costs of rents continually increase . There has been a significant rise in both home purchase prices across the country in the last few years along with higher interest rates which has stalled the housing sales market leaving more and more people in rentals which has caused the prices of rentals to keep rising as there are very low vacancy rates, and it is taking a toll on people’s ability to afford rent and causing more families being forced from their apartments.
There have been many state and federal housing programs to assist in the creation of more affordable housing available to not only low-income families but also moderate working-force households who are struggling to make ends meet due to increasing rental costs. The housing choice voucher program has been expanded in recent years in addition to increases in the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program, which incentivizesdevelopers to create at least some affordable housing in the market rate properties that they are developing.
The Public Housing Authorities offer mobile vouchers for low and very low-income families, but there is often a very long waitlist for these vouchers. There are different vouchers types that people can qualify for depending on their income; 75% have meager income, meaning they earn less than 30% or 50% of the area’s median income. The national average income of a voucher household is $14,454. A good percentage of households with a voucher are those with a physical or mental disability, and 25% are the elderly. The housing vouchers allow the tenant to only pay 30% of their income for rent and the section 8 voucher provider (using government funding) pays the landlord the remaining amount for the rent they are charging which is called subsidy.
Throughout the United States, housing and rent prices are at an all-time high. Half the renters nationwide spend 30% or more of their income on rent, and a quarter nationwide spend 50% or more of their income on rent. Some states have laws that a certain amount of market value for apartments must offer affordable prices. This should be widespread across the US, not only in certain states. The lack of housing options has been increasing recently with the rise in prices everywhere which puts the biggest strain on those with the lowest incomes.
Being accepted in affordable housing may not seem like a big deal, but to some families, it is everything and a chance to provide stability to their families. I have spoken to people whose lives have been affected by homelessness and being able to offer them an affordable housing option is very humbling as you see how appreciative they are to have a chance at having a place to call their own again.
Depending on your application status, there is generally a long wait list for affordable housing, ranging from 1 to 5 years. Each applicant must undergo a rigorous background check and go through a long process to get housing. Although this process takes a while, it is made to help those who need it, but many are not offered housing before they are forced onto the street because of how long it can take to get offered a housing voucher.
The sad truth is that these people don’t deserve to be homeless. Some are veterans; some had a drug addiction with no help or path to recovery, and some shut out their families and have no other place to go. Homelessness is a tremendous social issue that and in addition to providing affordable housing there needs to be an increased availability of social service programs to help support the social challenges that many low income individuals face. Providing more social service programs to the residents in low income housing will also prevent homelessness and prevent evictions.
Are you eligible for affordable housing?
The Public Housing Authority (PHA) determines eligibility for a housing voucher based on family size and total annual gross income. Eligibility is restricted to US citizens and specific non-citizen categories with eligible immigration status.
The family’s income is limited to 50% of the county or metropolitan area’s median income, depending on the area where the family decides to live. The PHA is required by law to give applicants whose incomes do not surpass 30% of the area median income 75% of its voucher.
This then goes through a whole bunch of steps with the PHA and apartment complex. This means everyone, including the tenant, landlord, and PHA, has obligations and responsibilities under the voucher program. This fantastic program can save and reshape the lives of people in need and those who need help.
If you want to apply for a voucher, contact the local PHA. For further assistance, please get in touch with the HUD Office nearest to you by visiting www.Hud.gov
