Stable Homes and a Safe Place to Live

The 2020 census reports that 27.8% of renter occupied households in Hamilton County are spending 30% or more of their annual income on housing.  A lot of people are experiencing a vast change in their ability to provide for themselves and their families in this post covid world.

When we talk about improving the wellbeing of Hamilton County residents, housing is the key to reducing intergenerational poverty and increasing economic mobility. Research shows that increasing access to affordable housing is the most cost-effective strategy for reducing childhood poverty and increasing economic mobility. 

So, what is affordable housing? The generally accepted definition is for a household to pay no more than 30 percent of its annual income on housing. 

There are a lot of misconceptions about affordable housing. One of the biggest misconceptions is that affordable housing is cheap and it drives down property values. I’ve also heard people say that affordable housing increases violence and crime and burdens tax payers. 

These statements are simply not true. What I hear from my communities is that families in need of affordable housing want what we all want, a safe place to live and raise their children. They want their children to have the best education possible where they have opportunities to not just survive, but thrive. 

What is also true is that families who are constantly on the move due to rental rate increases create a greater strain on taxpayers. When children have stable homes and school systems, they can build long-term relationships with teachers, mentors, and peers. These relationships bring better success in school, improved test scores, and a higher likelihood of attending college. College degrees lead to higher incomes and less reliance on tax-funded support systems. Everybody wins.

Let’s create solutions to end poverty in Hamilton County. What suggestions do you have for ways we can increase affordable housing in Chattanooga? 

I want to hear from you. Send me your comments and concerns by using this contact form.