Issue in Focus

Affordable Housing

Update: Aug. 05, 2011 -

Riviera Beach giving low-income families chance to rent upscale homes /via sfltimes.com

Issue Overview

For housing to be affordable, it shouldn't cost more than 30% of your family's income. A recent study of housing in Palm Beach County found that nearly 35,000 households spend more than half of their income on rent.

Affordable housing is a problem in Palm Beach County for a variety of reasons.

  • Income per person has not risen much in the past decade, but cost of living has.
  • Thousands of rental units were converted into higher-cost condos in the past decade.
  • The 2003-05 housing market boom caused sharp increases in rents.
  • It's difficult to establish new low-cost units because of a complex approval system for new construction.
  • The NIMBY (not in my backyard) sentiment makes it difficult to find locations for low-cost ...

...units.

  • In recent years, community programs focused on helping families achieve home ownership, rather than increasing availability of affordable rental properties.
    • Many local organizations work to combat high housing prices and resulting homelessness.  To make a difference in your community on this issue, consider working with Housing Partnership or volunteering to help with Palm Beach County's ten year plan to end homelessness, ten2end.

    Inform Inspire Impact
    show older articlesshow older articles
    Help Us Expand This Section

    Let us know if you have any updates to this issue by using our Submit an Article Form

    Help Us Expand This Section

    We need your stories, news, groups and events to make this a rich site.

    Tell us if you have something you’d like us to add to this Issue.

    Help Us Expand This Section

    We need your stories, news, groups and events to make this a rich site.

    Tell us if you have something you’d like us to add to this Issue.

    Inform Us!

    If you know of any news, events, resources, people or groups making a difference on this issue, let us know.