Austin Community college does not provide accommodation for its students. Individuals who wish to join the college are encouraged to make own housing arrangement. Austin has been facing housing shortages since 2001. Research conducted by BBC research and consulting has established that currently there are sixty thousand renters with low-income, and there are only 12,000 affordable housing units. Based on this data, there is a deficit of 48,000 units needed to at least satisfy the current market demand. Also, statistics from the Mayor’s office indicate that there are over 110 people moving to the city daily. An increase in the number of renters has created more demand for affordable units which has, in turn, led to the increase in rent in the city, exceeding the normal market rate. This has made it tough for students living around the college to get an affordable accommodation near the college.
The city itself is battling with the poor quality of life compounded by a high number of people with low-income. Various reports indicate that over 36% of the citizens live below the federal set poverty level. City residents together with the local leadership are crying of segregation by the federal government making it tough to roll various development activities capable of increasing household income needed to improve their quality of life and help them afford decent housing. Students have been subjected to unfair competition with the local residents for the few available units.
A report by Marcus and Millichap established that rental vacancy rate is about 5% annually and with daily admission of over 110 potential renters aggravates the current situation. Students especially, full-time students find it difficult to sustain their studies with the limited income from part-time jobs and the students loans. Some students are likely to transfer or defer their studies to look for more finances to cater for both their educational needs and personal needs as their parents also struggle to make ends meet with the small earnings.
It is so disheartening to watch thousands of students struggle to secure a decent accommodation near the institution to save on transportation cost and also enjoys other benefits that tag along nearness to an institution. Some of these advantages include security, easy access to vital facilities such as a hospital as well as a library which contributes to their comfort and support their education needs. Lack of affordable housing units has contributed to high college dropout rate as students cannot keep up with the persistent financial constraints. In 2016, the average monthly rent ranges between $ 600 to $ 750 with studio apartments going for $ 549 and above.
Construction of affordable housing units remains the only solution that will cushion the students from the rising rental rates which directly impact on their school performance. A continuation of this trend is likely to deny many students the opportunity to complete their studies. Consequently, the number of college dropouts will increase, and this is likely to lead to an increase in social problems such as crime and other unlawful acts as most of these students will not be able to secure any meaningful employment. As a result, they will be forced to use any means to make end meets regardless of legal implication.
The city can contract DDS limited to provide affordable housing units that will enable the students to secure the best accommodation at affordable rates. DDS Limited is known for the provision of low-cost housing units across the United States. The company uses BIM technology in designing various units which have considerably reduced construction wastages. The BIM has helped the company eliminate various loopholes associated with project implementation, purchase of unwanted materials as the technology presents the designed house in 3-D making it easy to plan for each material needed at every step.
An Overview of the Company Cost Cutting using BIM Technology
As mentioned earlier, DDS Limited remains the favorited company to implement this project. Apart from the technology in use, the company enjoys a pool of qualified engineers and casual laborers who share the company vision of the need to improve home ownership through the construction of cheap but decent houses. The company will be able to use a minimum of five months to construct six thousand units which will comfortably solve the current student housing deficit in the surrounding. Timely project completion is another competitive advantage that the company has able to score against other building companies which charge high costs and takes several months to implement similar projects contrary to the stated period in the contract.
The project and Benefits
The project proposal intends to award construction of six thousand housing units for students. Upon completion, over ten thousand students are expected to profit from the project. Each unit will be designed in a way to house two students comfortably. The prices of the newly constructed units are expected to reduce by 50% of the amount previously paid by the students. Two-sharing will further reduce financial constraints among the learners as they will be able to share the cost equally. This is likely to offer a permanent solution to full-time students who have been suffering for so many years spending all their earnings and loans in meeting rental bills. Going forward, these students will be able to live a comfortable life and use their loans productively and more efficiently budget for their semester needs.
The project will also reduce the current housing deficit by 12.5%. This will represent a big leap into future affordable units in the populous city. Again, it is anticipated that more units will increase university enrollment thereby increasing the number of students in postsecondary institutions. This will be beneficial to the city in that; more students will be able to acquire vital skills that will earn them decent employment in the city and the neighborhoods. Over time, the students both working in Austin and its neighborhood are expected to invest in their respective households and in the economy to increase economic development and also raise the living standards of the residents.
Austin is currently experiencing what Mayor Adler described as economic segregation. However, experts argue that economic segregation is synonymous to strongest technology economies such as that enjoyed by the Austin. Therefore, the city needs to solve its housing problems through the successful implementation of similar projects.
A summary of Austin Current Situation
This project remains the only window of hope for many students who desire to join college and finish their studies to help reduce the current level of poverty that has dominated the city with unending affordable housing units’ shortages. The current trend of an influx of new renters continue to increase the number of homes needed and this impact on the monthly rent which has double for the past two years, and the citizens are expecting this to triple even if no measures are taken to halt the rising rental rates.
Project implementation
The project is expected to cost $ 18 million USD to complete the six thousand units. DDS ltd project to complete the units in five months’ time. The company projects that it will employ 2,000 workers both skilled and semi-skilled to ensure the construction work is completed within the agreed time. This will also help contain project cost inflation associated with delayed projects.
DDS will directly source all the materials need in bulk from manufacturers. A strategy the company describes as the most efficient and cost effective to minimize wastages and enhance faster deliveries that will ensure smooth flow of work. The project has been broken down into ten phases to ensure each phase is completed within the stipulated time. However, some steps such as the signing of contracts, securing permits and inspection can take either the shortest time or longer than stated but will hardly alter the project duration.
Gantt chart
Works Cited
"Marcus & Millichap." - Austin Multifamily Market Report. N.p., 2016. Web. 06 May 2016.
Miller, Claire Cain. "Where Young College Graduates Are Choosing to Live." The New York Times. The New York Times, 2014. Web. 06 May 2016.
Quillin, Brynna. "Mayor Adler’s State of the City Address Emphasizes Austin’s Problems with Housing Affordability." Texas Housers. N.p., 2015. Web. 06 May 2016.
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