Affordable Housing?

Lack of affordable housing is not the problem. The problem has always been income!

Over the last 20 years the city of Charlotte has spent $215 million on 139 housing projects for low-income people. More recently, the mayor and other city leaders have raised an additional $200 million for “affordable housing.” The city council has approved many new parcels for development.

But the housing problem has not improved. The cost of land, construction materials, labor, taxes, utilities, etc. has increased. According to our local “fish wrap” after 20 years and mega $$$$$’s, the overall problem is worse.

The county’s medium income is $68,000. Using the rule of 30% of gross income for housing expense, the average family can afford rents of $1700/month. The average rental rate in Charlotte is $1400. So, what’s the problem?

Blacks earn an average of $40,000. That means they can only afford to pay $1,000 in rent. That is the problem! Only 1-2% of rental units in Charlotte have rents at $1,000 or below.

There is not a major city in the US. that can fund inner city housing to meet the demand! The problem is not “affordable housing.” The real problem is income!

If a dam is leaking water and flooding the city, you do not spend money building boats!

The city has too many single parent families with low incomes. It is not realistic to expect the local government to provide housing for all these families, especially when the number of low-income families is growing. The price of land and construction materials is high and not expected to decline. Lenders and investors cannot “make this happen.”

There is a better approach!

A large portion of $$$’s must go toward education. Income is the real problem. City apartments are not affordable to a single parent making $15/hour and never will be! The working parent(s) needs at least $50,000 in annual income. Education is the surest path to a higher income and multiple wage earners in a family also helps. There are plenty of job openings. Two wage earners in a family each making $20/hr. will have an income of $83,000 per year. That should be the goal!

Our city leaders must direct funds to better educate the adults in low-income families. That is the only sustainable solution to the “affordable housing” problem.

ONE FINAL THOUGHT: Illegal immigrants coming to Charlotte seeking housing also hurts low-income families. Illegals also need education. The average illegal has the equivalent of an 8th grade education. Education $$$$’s are spent on their education. And-illegals need low-income housing. I cannot understand why Black leaders do not speak out against illegal immigration!