Affordable Housing's Effect on Property Values

Affordable housing's effect on surrounding property values is minimal. Various factors, even ones that don't involve affordable housing, can influence positive or negative effects on property values.

What Research Suggests

Affordable housing can increase property values in low-income neighborhoods. 

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Affordable housing's impact on property values are typically minor.

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Various factors play into affordable housing's effect on property values.

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Affordable Housing's Effect on Crime

Affordable Housing's Effect on Crime

Affordable housing either has little-to-no impact on crime or can even mitigate and reduce crime in neighborhoods.

What Research Suggests

Proximity to affordable housing isn't linked to increased crime.​

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Affordable housing's impact on neighborhood crime is typically small. 

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Affordable housing can prevent or reduce crime in host neighborhoods.

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Affordable Housing's Effect on Community Character

Since there is no objective understanding of what community/neighborhood character means, the impact that affordable housing can have on character is hard to define.

What Research Suggests

Community character is vague, subjective, and typically indicates bias. 

"Character" is often used to keep equitable changes out of privileged neighborhoods.​

Community character should be objectively defined to be applicable to all neighborhoods. ​

The Physical Impact of Affordable Housing in Neighborhoods​

Any new development will impact its surrounding environment, and it is up to municipal officials to reduce or prevent any harmful impacts that a development can cause.

​Therefore, the potential negative physical impacts that an affordable development might cause are problems to be solved, not reasons why affordable housing shouldn't be built.

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