There is a major short-fall in the availability of rental housing people can afford. This is not a new problem. It’s been a growing one for at least a couple of decades, if not longer. It wasn’t caused by today’s recession, but the country’s economic decline has made it far worse. As job-loss continues, so does the rise of foreclosure and the ability for households to pay market rents. Many who are lucky enough to keep their jobs are experiencing pay freezes and salary cuts. Incomes are rapidly decreasing as the rental market tightens, causing rents to increase. All is happening at a time when public and political pressures are pushing to cut programs that assist households with rent—programs that were already overwhelmed with need before the recession hit. Now is when the pressure mounts to cut them back even further. Households with low and shrinking incomes are demonized in their communities whether they are at fault for their situations or not. The problem is widespread.
A couple of recent articles shed a glimmer of hope on the subject of affordable housing and homelessness prevention. These articles from the Star Tribune and The Line highlight some non-profit developers whose mission it is to preserve and provide housing that meets people where they are financially, and to provide the tools that individuals need to get and stay on their feet and lead productive, healthy lives. These developers work in partnership with other private corporations and with federal programs to keep this housing going. More of these partnerships are going to be needed to keep our communities adequately housed.
