The state of low-income housing
Article Abstract:
Public housing is expected to undergo major changes in the late 1990s. For one, necessary welfare reform initiatives will be implemented. This means that low-income households that traditionally depend on public assistance as a source of payment for their housing would have to work for their housing rents, which may deplete much-needed income from communities and make it more difficult for property owners to take care of their housing stock. Another change that would significantly affect the low-income housing market is the shift of decisionmaking to state and local from federal governments. This may threaten the renewal of contracts on assistance, encourage the sale of units or abandonment of programs for lowest-income residents, and reduce the number of affordable rental housing. All these are bound to sacrifice the ability of low-income people to avail of comfortable, safe and inexpensive housing.
Publication Name: Journal of Housing and Community Development
Subject: Sociology and social work
ISSN: 0272-7374
Year: 1997
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Out of reach: the unaffordability of rental housing
Article Abstract:
Rental housing has become an unaffordable commodity for many Americans. Because their incomes have not kept up with rents, many renters are allocating greater proportions of their incomes for their rent. An estimate shows that 50% of poor renter households used more than half of their incomes for housing in 1995. Given this situation, many have barely enough left for other needs, including food, clothing and health care. Some even take several jobs and work overtime every week just to be able to pay their rent. These conditions are expected to aggravate the housing crisis in the country. Unfortunately, Congress further made the lives of low-income dwellers more difficult through a series of bills reforming the welfare system.
Publication Name: Journal of Housing and Community Development
Subject: Sociology and social work
ISSN: 0272-7374
Year: 1997
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