Affordable Housing Crisis

1080 Words3 Pages

Affordable housing in the United States describes sheltering units with well-adjusted housing costs for those living on an average, median income. The phrase usually implies to applied rental or purchaser housing within the financial means of lower-income ranges specific to the demographics of any given area. However, affordable housing does not include those living in social housing owned by government and non-profit organizations. More specifically, the targeted range for housing affordability sets below 30 percent of a household's annual income, including all applicable taxes, utility costs and home owners insurance rates. If the mean income per household breaches the 30 percent mark, then the agreed status becomes labeled as "unaffordable" by most recognizable financial institutions.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): Affordable Housing

HUD User Publications Organization: Affordable Housing

Assisted Housing Alert: Section 8 Low-Income Housing

Alliance for Healthy Homes: Crisis in Affordable Housing

WATCH: Community Development Program: Affordable Housing Development

CommonBond Communities: Applying for CommonBond Affordable Housing

National Association of Realtors: A Field Guide to Low-Income Housing

Neighbor to Neighbor Organization: Affordable Housing Program

National Low-Income Housing Coalition: Affordable Housing Placement Program

U.S. Census Bureau: State Median Income Statistics

Alliance for the Betterment of Citizens with Disabilities: Housing Terms and Facts

Technical Assistance Collaborative, Inc.: Affordable Low-Income Housing for Disabled Persons

Homelessness Resource Center: Providing Affordable Low-Income Housing for Those in ...

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...cially since the beginning of the subprime mortgage crisis that sparked the Great Recession of 2008-2009. The ever-growing unemployment and foreclosure rates will further compound the affordable housing shortages that were already existent. The declining of the middle-class and increasing of the wealth gap continues to raise the question over income inequality and racial disparity. Bright minds have to wonder when the government will step in to curtail the problem currently spiraling out of control.

Homes and Community Renewal: Office of Rent Administration and Services

CBS News: Housing Crisis Getting Uglier in 2010

CATO Institute: Thinking Clearly About Economic Inequality

Harvard Business Review: Bridging America's Income Gap

U.S. Department of New Hampshire: WorkForce Housing Law

U.S. Department of Indiana: Why are People Homeless?

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