Affordable Housing

Almost every day in our local paper there is an article about “the affordable housing crisis.” County and city leaders are wrestling with zoning laws and proposed development plans for all types of housing, usually in the city. According to the local “fish wrap” the demand for rental housing is higher than the supply and the rental fees are not affordable for lower income families.

For the last 3-5 years that issue has been presented as a supply and/or affordability problem. And-our local leaders have tried everything to resolve.

However, I believe that income is the major problem. That side of the equation is never cited in the articles. If families want to live in the city where rents are always higher than the outer areas, than those families need better incomes. The pathway to higher incomes in this area is training and education. The area needs electricians, HV/AC techs, medical technicians, mechanics, welders, nurses of all types and office staff.

If a family of 4 has two incomes, each making $20/hour that would make their annual income at least $80,000. At that income, rental property would be available, leaving some saving amount for the purchase of a home.

Family income is the answer.