Affordable housing has a couple different forms. Affordable Housing sometimes refers to subsidized housing, where individuals pay 1/3 of their income towards rent where a nonprofit organization will pay for the rest of the rent. Affordable Housing can also take the form of having a specific amount due for rent that is based on the a 1/3 of the median income of the area. Affordable Housing is becoming ever more crucial as housing rates increase and employment pay as well as government income (SSI/SSDI/etc.) remain close to the same. Discussing affordable housing involves the benefits of having affordable housing, the barriers to bringing about more affordable housing, and outreach to those experiencing homelessness.
The benefits and necessity of affordable housing can be very intuitive and also backed by studies. Affordable housing is necessary to foster the health and recovery of individuals by creating a stable environment where recovery needs can be met. There are also barriers to both obtaining more affordable housing as well as individuals being able to access affordable housing. One of the primary barriers to building more affordable housing, is zoning laws which restrict the building of affordable housing. One of the barriers to obtaining affordable housing is the scarcity of affordable housing available compared to the number of those who need it. Outreach is also involved in the discussion of affordable housing, as many of those who could most benefit from it, such as those experiencing homelessness. Outreach is essential as it is the way to both let people know about the opportunities available, as well as getting help with service connection. Affordable Housing often involves waitlists, periodically checking up on the waitlists to check spot in the que, complicated paperwork, and even advocacy for appeals for situations such as property debt exceptions. Due to these barriers, outreach becomes an essential tool to be able to connect individuals with the resources they need in order to obtain stability through affordable housing. This outreach can even extend to getting help paying rent, obtaining furniture, or service connections to discounted services such as utilities, and phone bills.
Without affordable housing, those who cannot afford to pay at least $1200 in rent will continue to be forced to live outside or other in inhumane conditions. Shelters are plentiful full of individuals waiting to come up on housing waitlists for affordable housing. By having more availability for affordable housing, it would lead to people getting housed quicker and get them out of any inhumane living situations they are forced to be in while waiting for a spot in affordable housing. Most people waiting for affordable housing are unable to work, and are bound by the amount of government income they receive which is often below $800 a month. The amount of people on SSI/SSDI vastly out ways the amount of affordable housing available in Portland. Thus, leaving people living off of SSI/SSDI no choice but to live in these inhumane conditions prior to finding a spot in an affordable housing facility. This impacts the overall community as it leaves our most vulnerable community to be out in the open, where their struggles are in view of everyone in the community.
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APA Citing:
1. Adams, H., & Adams, H. (n.d.). Addressing Challenges to Affordable Housing in Land Use Law: Recognizing Affordable Housing as a Right. Harvard Law Review. Retrieved October 19, 2022, from https://harvardlawreview.org/2022/02/addressing-challenges-to-affordable-housing-in-land-use-law/
2. Web Login Service. (n.d.). Retrieved October 19, 2022, from https://www-proquest-com.proxy.lib.pdx.edu/idp/profile/cas/login;jsessionid=9CE0DC22778C1C2125EFF5191FC5DD7C?execution=e1s1
3. Just a moment. . . (n.d.). Retrieved October 19, 2022, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1212411718300096









