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It was in the early 1930s that affordable or public housing was first developed in America. It was meant to address financial or “housing” inequalities by offering property to people of all income levels.

The early developments appeared to assist with preventing homelessness but soon it became associated with poverty. Landlords lost interest in maintaining low cost housing and many properties were neglected. This neglect also provided an opportunity for crime to become rife and soon affordable housing was associated with being poor, living in bad neighborhoods, and simply being “bad tenants.” Today, Section 8 housing applicants are often treated differently from renters who don’t rely on the housing voucher program. Such renters are seen as high risk despite many Section 8 tenants earning an honest living and paying their rent on time.

Because of the years of affordable homes being associated with poverty and crime, many people today still believe that individuals and families who rent low cost apartments will be bad tenants. Not only has this made it harder for families to rent but it also leaves renters feeling embarrassed about their housing situation.

The current stereotype is made worse by governmental housing agencies and developers who don’t invest in the value and the security of low income or low cost housing. Many properties are in high crime areas and close to public schools synonymous with dropouts and poor education standards. The good news is that properties to rent do exist in which the needs of the community are prioritized and landlords do their best to assist tenants with affordability and decent housing.

What Affordable Housing Looks Like Today

There’s no denying that affordable rentals have made a difference in the lives of individuals and families, but the high cost of living and rent without increases in monthly wages have made it difficult for individuals and families to afford their homes. As property prices continue to climb, it has also become harder for many people to afford to buy a house or get approved for a mortgage. This has led to a rise in the demand for affordable housing.

Federal Government has made funding such as rent assistance available to prevent homelessness because more people are being evicted due to non-payment of rent.

Despite the government’s best efforts, campaigns such as rent assistance simply don’t address the 7 year-long waiting lists for public housing, the widespread homelessness, and the struggles that many experience trying to rent an apartment based on their earnings.

More developments are needed with decent property development to firstly help those who need a home they can afford and secondly to combat the stereotype that affordable housing is only associated with crime, extreme cases of poverty, and problematic tenants.