The Feds vs. Homelessness (A Double-Whammy)
by Tony Chavira
How do we cause a quick and measurable economic stimulus? INVEST IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING!! Obviously, sheesh... what the hell did you think this site was about anyway? A study that'll be release this upcoming Wednesday pretty much outlines it:
Affordable housing built with help from the use of federal low-income housing tax credits has a positive impact on distressed neighborhoods in the city and is crucial to economic development, according to a new study scheduled for release Wednesday.
The study found that the use of federal low-income housing tax credits is crucial to building and rehabilitating affordable housing, and to helping inner city neighborhoods. By paying affordable rent—monthly rents averaging $500—families were able to more than double their discretionary income, which in turn allowed them to pay for health care, reduce their debt or put money into savings.
Good-sounding stuff, and even better when it's coupled with the federal government's new report and recent commitment to integrate and localize efforts to end homelessness once and for all. What's interesting about that plan is that it doesn't actually cost too much more money than we're already spending and it works to integrate federal, state, and local governments while assisting homeless aid and service providers to really focus hard on veterans, childre and famileies and the chronically homeless. I say, check the plan out on their website (although I think I'll be writing a few more blogs in the near future about what this will actually do).
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