Housing Matters: Affordable Housing, It's a Necessity

By Housing Specialist II Shaunte’ Abernathy Cox

An estimated 12 million renters and homeowners pay more than 50 percent of their annual income for housing. A family with one full-time worker earning the minimum wage can’t afford the local fair-market rent for a two-bedroom apartment anywhere in the United States (HUD, 2015). 

However, at Community LINC, Sara, a 28 year old, mother of three, who entered the Interim Housing Program unemployed, is finding a way to beat the odds.  Within her first month of being in the program, she secured employment.  Her minimum wage job, combined with the money she receives for child support, has allowed her to start the process to transition to permanent housing. 

During her time at Community LINC, she’s been able to establish a financial safety net, which will help decrease her chances of cycling back into homelessness.  Through the direct assistance funds we receive, we will be able to eliminate some of Sara’s barriers by paying her outstanding utility debt. 

In addition, she was able to connect with a private landlord to secure housing with cable, water, trash and sewer fees all included in the rent.  The only utility Sara will be responsible for is electricity. 

In a couple of weeks, she will leave Community LINC with a job, money in a savings account, a budget, a furniture voucher, restored confidence in herself and most importantly, HOUSING! 

By all accounts, Sara succeeded. She participated in services at multiple levels and utilized the tools she received from each area to help her succeed.  However, without the availability of private, affordable housing, things could have been a lot different for Sara.  For example, the average wait for Public Housing in Kansas City is 1-3 years while the average wait for Section 8 is 3-5 years.  Furthermore, the wait for many low-income tax credit properties in Kansas City is 12-18 months. 

Establishing partnerships with private landlords is critical when it comes to helping our clients transition.  It ultimately boils down to education…taking the time to explain to landlords who we are, what we do, who we serve and why our clients should be given a second chance at housing. 

It’s a never-ending task, but I’m up for the challenge and I hope you will join me as we work together to Educate & Celebrate! 

Source:  The U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development

www.portal.hud.gov (Who Needs Affordable Housing), 2015

*Low-income tax credit properties are indirect Federal subsidy used to finance the development of affordable rental housing for low-income households (HUD, 2015)

**The client’s name was changed to protect her identity.