Austin’s Affordable Housing Crisis

What Does the affordable housing crisis mean for low-income Americans?

As something that is essential to human wellbeing and vitality, housing is a pertinent topic in the realm of economic accessibility and equity for many Americans. With the capacity to make or break a person's quality of life, housing often means the difference between a life of prosperity and a life in poverty. While the severity of the issue is evident, progress toward economic equity through housing reform has been slow since its beginnings decades ago.

The Extent Of The Crisis

Although shelter is a fundamental human need, many Americans are finding it increasingly difficult to obtain affordable housing. In this context, housing that costs less than 30% of a household's overall income is considered "affordable". More than 43 million rental households exist in the United States, and almost half are cost-burdened, which means they spend more than 30% of their income on housing.

https://nlihc.org/resource/housing-cost-burden-low-income-renters-has-increased-significantly-last-two-decades

This is a problem rooted in a lot of factors, however, generally centers around the notion of supply. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, the disparity between what's needed and what's available for low-income housing totals a shortage of 6.8 million units. At current rates of production of around 110,000 homes each year, supply will never match demand.

https://reports.nlihc.org/sites/default/files/gap/Gap-Report_2021.pdf

This has occurred due to a number of causes, but one major reasoning revolves around regulations implemented by State and Federal governments that limit new construction in favor of traditional single-family homes. Similarly, cost and local land-use regulations are key factors in this dynamic. In too many places, local zoning and other legislation such as growth ceilings or density limits make it difficult or even impossible to work with local landscapes in order to build enough additional housing.

https://nlihc.org/sites/default/files/resources/out-ofbalance_report.pdf

Why It's Important

The scarcity of adequate low-cost housing has a variety of detrimental consequences for communities. Housing cost-burdened families are more at risk with issues pertaining to food security, health care, retirement, transportation, and overall social stability.

The lack of affordable housing also greatly affects many Americans by limiting their access to transportation. One's geographic location is often closely tied to where they work or other opportunities, but with limited access to transport can make this difficult. Because of this, many people who find themselves in a position of need can become isolated from employment opportunities and therefore further entrenched in poverty.

Among other things, this issue is also one that promotes inequality, by exacerbating sprawl and creating communities that are divided by class and their associated populations. By prioritizing the construction and development of single-family and suburban homes, the focus of the policy is not on producing housing that serves a diverse set of incomes and demographics. In this way, the housing affordability crisis isn't just something that affects economics, it directly pertains to the composition and resulting resources, support, and resulting wellbeing of our communities.

The Impact

A lack of accessible housing means a number of detrimental things for a community. Not only with the capacity to cause social harm through a lack of shelter for those who need it, a shortage of housing options for those with low incomes can also be contributory to strains on our greater economy. By propagating a system that leaves those who cannot afford it without a place to go, we are creating a society that promotes homelessness, crisis, and crime. In this regard, when we fail to prioritize housing for all, we're making it so that those at most risk are more dependent on our social support systems, and are thus at greater demand to fund them.

Also, poor access to housing in communities like Austin means that we're maintaining a system that exacerbates trends of systemic poverty. When there aren't enough low-income housing options for those who need them, those with means have more opportunities to outbid those who are more vulnerable. When people have no other options, they may be forced into the housing which is dilapidated and unsafe or an area that breeds crime. This lends itself to a loss of investment in the area as well as social instability, creating a downward cycle of decline for the community, and in turn, propagates and worsens levels of poverty.

Furthermore, a lack of affordable housing restricts the opportunities individuals have. When they have no place to go, people become isolated and find themselves socially and economically immobile. Without access to transportation, many people are unable to leave their neighborhoods or have economic or educational opportunities available that are within reasonable commuting distance. Without the ability to pursue additional education or gainful employment, individuals are inclined to languish in poverty with little opportunity for escape.

Why It Affects Black Americans More Than Any Other Group

As a result of discriminatory housing policies, such as those which once mandated racial segregation and redlining, the black population is often more severely impacted by a lack of affordable housing. However, it should be noted that these same forces impact many other underrepresented groups as well. One's race, class, gender identity, and sexual orientation are all too common factors that can restrict their ability to access housing.

However, African-American communities have been at the forefront of this issue for decades. With roots deep within the history of the United States, many black Americans have often found themselves forced by unjust circumstances to live in subpar housing, which has been a reflection of the general lack of attention and equality given to these communities. With these populations also growing in areas that are quickly reaching housing capacity, many cities are finding themselves at the precipice of an affordability crisis that specifically affects those of color in a disproportionate way. As this occurs, it is black Americans who find themselves most at risk to be displaced or priced out of their homes, thus exacerbating the effects of systemic poverty and homelessness already prevalent within their communities.

This is an issue-driven by past and existing inequities and discrimination and is a self-sufficient cycle that must be addressed for what it is if we are to effectively repair it.

Moving Forward And Encouraging Growth

As can be seen across Texas and throughout the country, the affordable housing crisis is one that directly impacts our most vulnerable populations through a strain on social support, the magnification of existing inequities, and an inhibition from access to opportunities to grow.

The problems created by a lack of housing options for those who cannot afford it pervade every aspect of society, even beyond the economic impact. The long-term effects which are created by disenfranchisement and isolation affect entire communities, making it so that people can become disconnected from one another, without adequate social support networks, or positive forward momentum to strive for better opportunities.

There are many solutions that can be implemented, but whether or not they are successful depends on the political will that is applied to state housing initiatives. Currently, there are a number of approaches being taken which have shown success, including rent assistance programs and community land trusts. However, more money must be put into building affordable homes for residents with lower incomes, and more needs to be done to make affordable housing an accessible option for all.

There are also things we can do as citizens of Texas. We can encourage elected officials to make housing options more readily available, and work with community organizations that are already working towards these goals. This is the only way that we're going to be able to ensure that everyone has access to affordable homes and that opportunities for growth aren't inhibited by poverty or discriminatory practices.

The affordability crisis in Texas is a complex one with many different factors which contribute to its creation, and as such is an issue that must be addressed from multiple angles.  We have to address the lack of housing options for those who cannot afford it and be sure that anyone in need is able to get the assistance they need. Additionally, we need to encourage growth initiatives that promote less segregated communities where resources are more evenly distributed.

Finally, we must ensure that affordable homes are being created for all residents and that all are given access to better opportunities. There are many different strategies that can be taken in an effort to address this issue, but it will require consistent commitment from elected officials and community organizations. This is the only way we're going to ensure everyone has the opportunity for growth, and that no one person or demographic is being disproportionately excluded.

With enough political will and community organization, we can ensure that everyone has access to affordable housing and can enjoy the opportunities for growth and social support we all deserve.