Abstract This paper explains that affordablehousing poses a serious challenge to urban planners in Toronto. The author points out that, while a number of measures have been put in place to deal with the problem, the fact remains that thousands of people including families with young children are inadequately housed. The paper relates that, on any night in Toronto even the coldest, it is possible to find Toronto residents, from the youngest to the oldest, taking refuge from the elements in shelters.
Abstract The paper examines the current state of affordablehousing in Saskatoon, Canada and looks at the challenge of devising a strategy to help alleviate the shortage. The paper first explores the nature of the housing need that can be defined in three terms; adequacy, suitability and affordability. The paper then looks at the types of initiatives that are currently underway and explains where affordablehousing should ideally be located. Finally, the paper discusses ways for Saskatoon to provide incentives for the public and private sector to participate in the creation of affordablehousing.
Outline:
Introduction
The Current State of Housing in Saskatoon
Typology
What Types of Initiatives are Currently Underway?
Where Should AffordableHousing be Located?
What Other Tools are Available?
Conclusion
From the Paper "A critical component to both economic prosperity and quality of life in Canada is the need for an adequate supply of affordable housing. In Saskatoon there is evidence of increasing demand and a lingering supply of affordable places to live. This issue is not new; in fact there are several programs and initiatives that have been undertaken within Saskatoon to address the needs of low income wage earners, the elderly, people with disabilities, students, immigrants needing cultural supports, and the homeless. These circumstances should prompt policymakers towards a restructuring of the current affordable housing strategies employed by the city."
Abstract This paper discusses affordablehousing and what the involvement of the community and the black church should be on this issue. The writer looks at programs including Habitat for Humanity to define the ways that the community can become involved in providing affordablehousing to its residents who are in need.
From the paper:
"There is an ongoing effort to attract African Americans to the affordablehousing development industry. In Sacramento California an internship program was piloted that matched minority students to non-profit housing organizations. African American churches and communities could easily use this idea for their own memberships to encourage social understanding and involvement in the ongoing need for affordablehousing (Ware, 1998). "
Abstract This paper concerns a Canadian urban issue and looks at affordablehousing in Toronto. The writer firstly describes the problem and looks at the positions of political and corporate interests. The writer then suggests a solution. The writer concludes that the solution proposed is odd but practical.
From the Paper "Housing is one of humanities basic needs. However, in Canada suitable housing is not always available. In The Canadian Housing System, James McKellar et al state, 'Although, overall, Canadians are well housed, a minority of households are unable to obtain market housing that is suitable, adequate, and affordable without paying more than 30 percent of their income'. The fact that not everyone has access to suitable housing at affordable prices is very problematic. This is why governments, policy makers and social activists have made housing into a major issue."
Abstract The paper examines the reasons for the current crisis in the US of affordablehousing and discusses available federal and local assistance programs. The paper explores how these programs relate to the Chicano, Mexican-American population. The paper examines racial discrimination in the housing market and looks at differences in characteristics of renters and home owners. The paper highlights how the discrimination and bias within the housing market and the lack of affordablehousing is a severe problem for the Chicano population and maintains that the United States must provide equal opportunities for affordablehousing.
Outline:
Introduction
Crisis of AffordableHousing in U.S. Cities
Major Federal Housing Programs and Policies
Local Government AffordableHousing Programs
Impact of Racism on Housing Accessibility
Incentives for Owners to Provide Low Income Assistance
Conclusion
From the Paper "In the United States, there is a current crisis of housing for many different ethnic groups. Racial discrimination, homelessness, mental illness, substance abuse, poverty, and a lack of affordable housing makes obtaining a place of residence difficult for millions of Americans. Additionally, discrimination in banking procedures, real estate agencies, and housing prices makes home ownership a near impossibility. While both federal and local assistance is available, such programs often are difficult to obtain, and can be difficult to qualify for."
Abstract The paper discusses how the lack of affordablehousing in the United States is a severe and growing crisis with no solution in sight. The paper determines the legal bounds of the zoning power given to governments and municipalities and provides an explanation of the law behind exclusionary and inclusionary practices. The paper examines the legal issues raised by these zoning ordinances. The paper also discusses the state of the current law as it applies to affordablehousing and concludes with a discussion regarding the social and economic impacts raised by exclusionary and inclusionary zoning.
Outline:
Introduction
History of "AffordableHousing"
Background of Zoning Laws and Zoning Power
Exclusionary Housing Inclusionary Housing Legal Issues Raised by Zoning
Economic and Social Implications of Exclusionary and Inclusionary Housing Conclusion
From the Paper "In the past few decades, the lack of affordable housing in the United States has emerged as a crisis effecting low-income residents, government agencies and municipalities, and real estate developers alike. The lack of available affordable housing has increased in the past few years, as a result of zoning ordinances and governmental zoning powers that are supported and upheld by the courts. While there are no immediate solutions to this problem, a number of legal scholars have examined the relevant cases and have written extensively on the subject."
This paper looks at the Smart Growth initiative, an initiative started to increase the quality, distribution and supply of affordablehousing for low-income earners.
Abstract This paper is an analysis of the Smart Growth Initiative and its affect on the population that is searching for affordablehousing. The author details the initiative including its goals, target audience, environmental concerns and successes and failures. The paper also includes the discussion of economic, social and environmental costs of current development patterns and how smart growth provides alternatives to current development patterns, in addition to investigating what it means for affordablehousing quality and supply. Land use and planning strategies are also discussed in detail. The author also presents and analyzes a case study of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU?s) in Cary, North Carolina as a means for the reader to see an actual example of how smart growth can affect affordablehousing.
From the Paper "Current development patterns were driven mainly by public policy. The development patterns are characterized by a separation of uses, dependency on automobiles and the consumption of space in suburban and ex-urban areas. This pattern is supported by strict zoning regulations, transportation systems and a lack of coordination in planning. This is important, because these factors are also obstacles to making changes.
The booming economy of the 1990's has seen housing and rental costs increase at more than twice the rate of inflation. This has meant that many low-income owners are now unable to find affordable housing. Low-income earners are forced into substandard housing, forced to live in areas where affordable housing is available but at the expense of good security or good schooling, or forced to be homeless."
Abstract This paper examines the issue of the dramatic increase in housing prices in Orange County and throughout the state and local residents' growing concerns about their ability to continue to afford to live and work in Orange County. The paper first looks at the pros and cons to affordablehousing development. It then presents potential solutions to the problem, corresponding costs and benefits along with recommendations.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Problem Under Study: AffordableHousing Overview of the Present Situation
Resources and Constraints
Alternative Courses of Action
Recommendations
From the Paper "While all of these policies are tools that jurisdictions can utilize in order to improve their ability to motivate much-needed affordable housing development within their communities, when considered individually, each is only a partial solution to a complex problem. Prior to adopting any of these policy solutions, it is important for communities to consider their unique characteristics (i.e. political, economic, social conditions), for these should be taken into account when developing its policy/ordinance. Essentially, local jurisdictions require local solutions. Although this paper's emphasis has been on motivating the development of affordable housing, it is necessary to recognize that both market rate and affordable housing provide the community with benefits. Market rate housing benefits the community by supporting revitalization and lifting neighborhood property values, while affordable housing benefits the community by allowing for a diverse community (e.g. workforce, seniors). While the benefits of each clearly differ, each can be perceived as complementing the other. We would like to note, that in considering alternative solutions, we opted to de-emphasize the federally funded Section 8 program after reviewing budget analysis, which revealed that funding for this particular program has been consistently cut over the course of the past several years."
Abstract This paper uses both federal and state (Michigan) publications to show the holes in the affordablehousing industry. It focuses on the lack of units available, who resides in the current units, and funding cuts for housing programs. The author offers realistic solutions to the problems outlined in the paper.
From the Paper "Although there are many causes for the crisis in affordable housing, some are more prevalent sources than others. These causes have multiple solutions - some easier to fix than others, but seem to be ignored or disregarded completely by the government and general public. The three top contributing causes of homeless endangerment are housing cost burden, rent increase compared to funding cuts of affordable housing organizations, and higher-income populations utilizing affordable units."
Abstract In this article, the writer discusses that as one begins to examine the issues facing Chicano communities, the importance of housing issues and a sense of community cannot be ignored. The writer points out that the problem of inadequate housing for low-income families is a wide-spread problem. Communities in Southern California are particularly susceptible due to the high Chicano population. The writer notes that the crisis is different depending on the community. However, the writer maintains that one thing is certain, a greater effort needs to be undertaken if this issues is to be solved for now and for the future. After reviewing different articles relating to the housing crisis, this paper addresses several facets of the housing issue in the U.S. Summaries of the articles discussed are included at the beginning of the paper.
Outline:
Part I: Article Summary
Article 1: Supporting the Latino Community
Article 2: Street Dreams Are made of These
Article 3: SHA Battles to Save County AffordableHousing Program
Article 4: Withering Heights
Article 5: Time to Remove the Rose Colored Glasses
Part II: Analysis of the Housing Issue
The Crisis of AffordableHousing Federal Housing Programs and Policies
Local Government AffordableHousing Programs
From the Paper "As one found in the articles, there are several key issues facing Chicano communities. The high number of homeless school children, only tells part of the story. The number of homeless in Chicano communities is on the rise. The costs of housing have risen disproportionate to the rises in income. This means that even those that could afford housing before now face eviction and potential homelessness. This creates a rise in the number of working poor. As we found in the articles, there is an insufficient number of housing units available to medium and low income families. This number is decreasing instead of increasing, despite new government programs to provide more."
Abstract The paper explains how Miami has experienced an explosive population growth, resulting in soaring numbers of new construction projects and developments in every area of the city. This report presents the current social, political and economic situation and trends faced by the city. The paper studies the housing market and indicates the magnitude of the lack of affordablehousing vis-a-vis the transformation of the Miami/Dade metropolitan area. The paper also identifies the driving factors of the growth that influences the rise of housing costs. The paper concludes that we must prevent politicians from destroying the good intentions of affordablehousing legislation and funding.
Contents:
Introduction
Purpose and Approach
Factors Militating Against AffordableHousing in Miami
Literature Review
Discussion and Conclusions
From the Paper "For wealthy immigrants, foreign or domestic, the rapid growth of the city couldn't be a better investment. However, for those immigrants who are fleeing from their countries because the economy does not support enough employment for them to make a living, the skyrocketing housing prices in Miami-Dade are as daunting as were conditions in their native lands. Lack of urban planning sufficient to sustain a viable housing market at all levels has become obvious, and government officials and citizens are calling for a smarter growth plan, and are looking for some way to create affordable housing."
A discussion about affordablehousing and whether the community and the black church should be involved in the issue of affordablehousing in the United States.
Abstract The following paper looks at the issue of affordablehousing focusing on programs such as "Habitat for Humanity" to define the ways that the community can become involved in providing affordablehousing to its residents who are in need.
From the Paper ?Around the country, housing costs are at a premium. Single mothers, as well as in tact families, are faced with the daunting task of locating housing in safe areas that are affordable to their budget. Whether they are renting or buying, the same problem exists. The only housing that can be afforded in the lower income areas, are not the type of areas one wants their children to play in.?
Tags: urban, development, house, legislative, poverty, government, social
Abstract Discusses problems of lack of affordablehousing and poverty. The historical social, economic and cultural background. Role of capitalism. Inadequate social services. Homelessness. Exodus of jobs and housing from cities to the suburbs. The mass media as part of the problem. Contends that human values must be placed above money values to solve inner-city problems.
From the Paper "The housing situation that faces inhabitants of the inner cities of the United States cannot be understood without a consideration of the social, economic, and cultural history of the country. The North American colonies were founded by European immigrants who conquered, killed, and marginalized the indigenous inhabitants, and eventually herded them into reservations on worthless rural land. Tens of millions of African slaves were imported to labor on the southern cotton, sugar, and tobacco plantations, with at least as many dying in the terribly inhumane conditions of the trans-Atlantic passage as reached our shores.
The North began to industrialize with construction of a cotton mill in Pawtucket, Rhode Island in 1793. During the next century, an unprecedented influx ..."
Abstract There are about between 700,000 and 3,000,000 homeless Americans, depending on the factors used to define "homeless". This paper examines the factors that contribute to homelessness and develops a road map for providing affordablehousing as an alternative. A summary of the research is provided in the conclusion.
From the Paper "Nevertheless, negative community reactions to the homeless continue to increase. Police in Seattle, Washington, actually bulldozed an encampment of homeless people thereby destroying their temporary homes and their few meager possessions. In Atlanta, Georgia, residents opposed building a homeless shelter (despite the fact that it was scheduled for an industrial area). Other cities have passed "quality of life" types of laws that impose restrictions on activities such as panhandling, camping, and sleeping on sidewalks. Further, police in many communities across the country are increasingly concentrating on enforcing these laws on the homeless, even though there are an estimated 500,000 more homeless people than there are beds in shelters on any given night (Forte, 1997, p. 151)."
Abstract The objective of this paper is to examine the status and condition of African-Americans as compared to whites in the area of housing. The city of Chicago is used as a specific example, both historically and presently, in relation to access to and cost of affordablehousing. The paper includes statistical information which highlights the proportion and number of both groups that occupy public and privately owned housing, the median/average monthly payment for housing. Finally this work reviews how these facts relate to the overall lives of African-American living in the United States.
Table of Contents
Objective
Historical Chicago Housing Facts
Covenants
The Gautreaux Case
Recent Studies and Their Findings
Summary & Conclusion
From the Paper "Seitles claims that integration has been a success in the fight against racial prejudice and states that: "Social consequences of racial isolation intertwine with grim economic realities for minorities. Due to the lack of interaction between racial groups, African-Americans are unprepared to work and socialize in a white majority society, while conversely, whites are not relating to, working with, or living with blacks. Prospects for African-American children raised in such communities are greatly diminished because of the lack of interaction between blacks and whites. Moreover, minority possibilities for advancement consequently decline from the lower quality of education afforded to them in ghetto schools, precluding them from competing for high-income employment. Although these inequalities are not always directly caused by intentional discrimination, residential racial segregation perpetuates these inequalities. Thus, minorities who live in racially homogeneous communities are faced with disadvantages beyond the present economic and social inequalities associated with minority neighborhoods." (Seitles, 1996)"
