Currently in the US there is a housing problem for the poor. (Badger, 2012). Because of this fact many poor people have no choice but to live in subpar conditions and despite programs developed by governmental and non-governmental neighborhoods, there are many who do not have this basic need met.
Part of this problem comes from a housing shortage of decent rental units available at a price the bottom quarter of citizens can pay. Following data from the most recent census, at the moment there are approximately 41 million people in the US need to rent home. This means that one third of the citizens in the US occupy in homes they do not own (Badger, 2012).
Emile Badger wrote, “The U.S. does not have enough available rental housing, whether you’re rich or poor.” He analysis of the data trend has led her to conclude the amount of people needing to rent in the US will increase. Research predicts over the next ten years 3 million new rental dwellings need to be constructed to meet this growing demand (Badger, 2012).
The housing problem is related to the US poverty, which all too often is overlooked. This oversight is why the housing shortage has been continued to exist and continue to negatively impact the lives of the poor. Badger believes that the government’s existing programs fail to tackle the housing needs of millions of people in the country.
The government program that provides unemployment benefits supports what is currently being done for those with a housing problem? In 2011 this program helped 2.3 million people stay out of poverty. (Luhyby, 2011). That is good, but no one believes it addresses the need out there. The census showed that 46.2 million people were below the poverty line and the majority of these people live in subpar housing. (Badger, 2012) The census showed that there were 47 million Americans who earned an annual income of below $23,021 for a family of four (Badger, 2012). Luhby sees two problems fueling what she calls the “housing crisis.” One is an actual physical lack of housing structures. This mixes with our economic system to create a high demand for a short supply, which drives housing prices up. This is then mixed with a poverty problem that causes to poor not to be able to procure an adequate living space (Luhby, 2011).
These same government assistance programs have record high loads of people seeking those benefits. Food stamps were also at record highs with 46.7 million Americans receiving them June, 2011. It does not appear that things are moving in the right direction. The Republican party is pressuring to reduce housing asisstence programs, not increase them. They believe that the money used their could be applied to the national debt. With rent is also on the rise, and incomes of working class families frozen, this problem is unlikely to be solved in the next decade. (Badger, 2013). “This means that the poorer you are in America, the more you’re disproportionately funneling your income into the roof over your head” (Badger, 2013). Badger also believes that the only way to solve this problem is through the political process that does not seem to be able to make policy changes that would be needed to resolve the issue. It is a fact that it is a problem, but whether or not there will be a solution to it in the near future is unlikely.
Reference:
Improving the Quality of Housing. (n.d.).Community Toolbox - Bringing Solutions to Light. Retrieved September 13, 2013, from http://ctb.ku.edu/en/tablecontents/chapter26_section2_main.aspx
Luhby, T. (n.d.). Government assistance keeps millions out of poverty - Sep. 13, 2012 . CNNMoney - Business, financial and personal finance news. Retrieved September 13, 2013, from http://money.cnn.com/2012/09/13/news/economy/poverty-government-assistance/index.html
The U.S. Simply Doesn't Have Enough Available Rental Housing, Whether You're Rich or Poor - Emily Badger - The Atlantic Cities. (n.d.). The Atlantic Cities. Retrieved September 13, 2013, from http://www.theatlanticcities.com/housing/2013/02/us-simply-doesnt-have-enough-available-rental-housing-whether-youre-rich-or-poor/4791/
