Affordable Housing: What’s the problem with it?
Affordable housing is an issue that 88% of Americans will most likely never have to face. For the other 12% of Americans living in poverty, it is an issue that separates them from uncertainty and the comfort of a home that we all take for granted. Affordable housing is a hot topic right now and it can mean different things to different people.
For some, it could mean being unable to purchase a home in a nice area, to others it might mean not having to struggle to pay the bills and keep a roof over their head. For the very low-income population, it can mean just being able to secure and keep a stable housing situation. Regardless of definition, affordable housing is nearly impossible to find. For those who are lucky enough to find it, it feels like only a matter of time before it’s stripped away, forcing them repeat this endless cycle of feeling stuck and powerless, at the mercy of public services.
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), housing is affordable if the cost is no more than 30% of the household income. This measure was created as a guide to ensure that households are able to have enough funds to cover necessities like food and clothing. Neighborhood Allies helps Cincinnati’s very low-income population that suffers from poverty and housing insecurity; they face many challenges and barriers that other populations do not.
This population is often made up of people who are disabled and rely on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) as a way to make ends meet. People who receive SSI only get around $800 per month. If we followed the 30% rule, a monthly housing payment should only cost $240 and there are no housing options available for that price. Often, their only affordable housing option is income-based housing, and it can be very difficult just to make it through the application process. They often do not have the required documents such as a birth certificates, social security cards or a valid ID, and obtaining those things is a complex process within itself.
Neighborhood Allies recently helped a 59-year-old woman with manual dialysis find affordable housing. She was disabled and only had SSI as a source of income, leaving her to rely on benefits to cover her cost of living. We provided her transportation and support throughout the entire application process to help her find income-based housing. She had her ID, birth certificate and a proof of benefits paper from the social security office. In our initial appointment, we were told we needed the actual social security card and an updated ID in order to apply. Due to her lack of disposable income, we had to go to the Freestore Foodbank to get a voucher to cover the cost of her new ID. We then had to mail the ID and the social security replacement card application to the social security office and wait for it to be sent back. In the meantime, she learned that most income-based housing programs do not accept felons, which automatically disqualified her for most applications as she had 3 felonies on her record. They were very old and occurred at a time when she was struggling with addiction. She had been sober for many years at this point, an accomplishment she was rightfully proud of. We were determined to get her a stable and affordable place to stay, so we went to the courthouse to begin the process of getting the felonies expunged. We took her to all 3 court hearings and were by her side the entire time. We were finally able to get all 3 charges off of her record, so we went back to filling out housing applications. Even after all of that work, however, we were still placed on a 3 – 6 month waiting list.
This story is an example of how complex and time consuming these processes can be. People do not know about the places to go or how to utilize the above-mentioned resources and often do not have the transportation to get there. Going somewhere new for the first time can be intimidating and often provokes anxiety. Sometimes people have difficulty communicating or understanding directions and social service agencies do not strive to have good customer service. Facing barrier after barrier can be defeating and causes many of these people to give up and stop trying.
Whether someone is seeking income-based or market-rent affordable housing, there are seemingly endless barriers. Availability is the largest issue this initiative faces. There is always a lack of safe, healthy, and affordable options. Some people also have difficulty finding available places due to technology barriers. They may not have access to or know how to use the technology required to search for available options. Contacting a potential landlord can also be hard. Some people have difficulty communicating effectively, have a fear of discrimination, or do not have a phone to leave a call back number. If they do get an appointment to look at properties, they often have no way of getting there. After they pass a credit and background check, they face the problem of coming up with the deposit, which is usually equivalent to one month’s rent.
Neighborhood Allies helps people gain access to affordable housing by bridging the gap to the systems and resources that are designed to provide a solution. The worst problem in all of this, however, would have to be the lack of awareness surrounding this issue. Sometimes people either fail to recognize the issue or fail to see it from a different perspective. We serve as an advocate for our Allies and for our community as a whole. We are involved in a number of public housing initiatives and actively participate in several collations and civic groups. We present things from the tenant’s perspective - a group that is almost always under-represented. By bringing effort and awareness to this issue, we hope help change the process and make income-based housing more affordable and available to those who need it.
You can help by volunteering or donating to Neighborhood Allies so that we may help more people and fight for equality.