![]() Since community opinions can strongly influence new affordable housing efforts, Joining Forces’ YIMBY Committee is developing a campaign to educate community members and their stakeholders about the benefits of affordable housing. Our previous blog about the YIMBY Committee focused on how we can address common concerns about affordable housing (click here to read that post). This follow-up post focuses on how housing affordability benefits people and their communities. Focusing on the Positive While countering negative assertions about affordable housing is sometimes necessary, highlighting the benefits of housing that’s affordable is critical for advocates. Not only do the benefits show that affordable housing isn’t the bad thing that some might frame it to be, but they show that the addition of affordability is actually an improvement that benefits the community as a whole. Armed with this knowledge, community members and stakeholders will be more likely to support measures that increase housing affordability. To support advocates, the YIMBY Committee has compiled and organized research on the benefits of affordable housing. This blog post provides a summary of what we found, with footnotes to the relevant studies. The categories of benefits from affordable housing described below include:
Stronger, Safer, More Cohesive Communities The stability that affordable housing provides creates loyalty to the community among residents, supports diverse populations, and creates safer environments. Resident Commitment to the Community When families aren’t concerned about finding an affordable place to live or affording rent, they're more likely to focus on:
Safer Neighborhoods Resident commitment to the neighborhood creates a sense of belonging and unity (1), which encourages residents to stay in their communities (3) and reduce crime rates, leading to greater safety for all neighbors (1). Increased Diversity A variety of housing options attracts a more diverse workforce (1), which:
Reduced Need for Commuting When affordable housing is built in neighborhoods with access to transportation, grocery stores, jobs, and other amenities, low-income residents:
Improved Infrastructure Increasing housing options that are accessible to households with diverse income levels can be an impetus to improving the infrastructure, look, and overall well-being of a neighborhood by:
Healthier Local Economies Housing options for people with different income levels creates financial opportunities for neighborhoods. Increased Spending, More Jobs People who can afford where they live can save (5) and then spend (1) more money on local goods and services--both for basic needs and for extras. This supports local businesses by providing customers--as well as workers. This can:
More Stable Local Economies Increasing the supply of housing to meet surging demand helps to prevent rent and real estate prices from inflating (6). It can save cities thousands of dollars by reducing the use of expensive systems of care (7) such as:
When most people can’t afford where they live, it decreases individual earnings and can cost taxpayers trillions of dollars in social services, while investing in more housing affordability creates economic growth.
Better Outcomes for Kids The stability that housing affordability provides increases the prospects of children who live in that housing.
When parents’ finances aren’t burdened by housing costs, children live healthier lives, which creates better outcomes for adulthood.
More Workers, More Jobs Housing that accommodates more people with a variety of incomes creates more opportunities for employment and supports workers. New Jobs with New Developments The construction and maintenance of housing developments creates jobs related those particular projects. Since living in areas with more housing affordability can support local businesses, it also creates the need for employees.
Increased Stability for Workers Workers that can live close to their places of employment--without housing cost burden--are better workers, which is good for employers and their communities.
Improvements in Health Outcomes Affordable housing improves residents' physical and mental health. Better Access to Healthcare and Healthy Foods When people can afford where they live, they have more access to healthcare and restaurants and grocery stores that sell healthier food.
Healthier Living Conditions Housing that is affordable can ensure that low-income residents are less exposed to hazardous living conditions and face less stress from not being able to afford rent.
Decreased Stress When people are cost-burdened, they are likely under a lot of stress (10) (11), which can lead to:
Reductions in Housing Instability Housing options for people with lower income levels reduces and even prevents housing instability. While some might believe that being unhoused is a consequence of individual shortcomings, the truth is that homelessness is a housing issue. A lack of housing affordability is the greatest cause of housing instability because it limits housing options for low-income people. When there is more access to affordable housing, it influences stability and decreases the possibility that lower income people would become unhoused.
The YIMBY Committee’s Next Steps With this information, the YIMBY Committee is working on a YIMBY campaign, which will involve messaging strategies to publicize the benefits that affordable housing offers communities and an FAQ to address common concerns about affordable housing. There will be pages on the Joining Forces website with the information in this blog post, as well as information about common concerns. The committee will also work on materials that can be printed on flyers and handed out at community events, as well as road shows and talks with community groups. For more information about the YIMBY Committee, visit the YIMBY Committee webpage and contact Nathaniel Hagemaster. References
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