Affordable housing part of American dream
 
The Desert Sun, February 12, 2006
By Hunter L. Johnson

I was surprised to read the editorial “Valley cities need to join forces against major urban problems” (Jan. 29, 2006) recapping the State of the City addresses and see no mention of the need for affordable (or workforce) housing by our local mayors. After all, gone are the days when there was plenty of affordable housing in the valley.

The median price of a home in this area is now $371,000, according to the California Desert Association of Dealers, and we can expect to see it go higher as our population grows. There is no question that more and more people are being priced out of the valley’s housing market.

Social benefits

The importance of adequate housing was dramatically underscored in New Orleans in the wake of the Katrina catastrophe. Hundreds of thousands of people were left homeless — and in many cases, hopeless — and the reverberations of that tragedy are still being felt throughout our country. Many of the homeless refugees came here to California to find a new life and a place to live. We don’t really know how many have succeeded.

But one thing we do know: Among all the news stories, editorials and scathing letters and speeches on the Katrina — and Rita — tragedies, largely hidden from view is how the availability of quality, affordable housing, or lack thereof, has had such enormous impacts on our society and our nation. To wit:

Affordable housing is smart growth and helps curb and even reverse sprawl.

Occupants of affordable housing shop at local stores and work in local businesses, adding to an area’s economic vitality.

Lack of affordable housing limits the ability of the working poor to move up the economic ladder.

On a larger scale, lack of affordable housing is bad for our nation’s businesses and threatens the continued growth of the national economy.

There is a powerful negative impact on the performance of our schools created by the lack of decent affordable housing.

The housing crisis exacts a great toll on the health and well-being of families.

The housing crisis contributes to the continuing problem of homelessness. Stability in life starts with the availability of quality affordable housing.   Continue »

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