A key issue WakeUP Wake County advocates for is affordable housing throughout the county. Affordable housing is defined as housing for which the resident spends 30% of their income or less per month. Housing prices increase as areas draw residents with higher paying jobs, leaving local residents and skilled-workers priced out of housing that is in reasonable proximity to jobs. Without a variety of housing options at various levels, communities run the risk of losing viability, creating urban sprawl, increasing family instability for children, and development of homeless populations in the area.
Affordable housing is an essential part of sustainable development that allows an area to thrive by:
- ECONOMIC: jobs of all skill levels are needed for economic activity so greater job growth requires the development of a diversity of housing types to support the area’s ability to thrive economically and retain talent. By creating an ecosystem of workers and customers, local economies fuel themselves with a diversity of businesses and community resources requiring a variety of skill sets ensuring talent retention. In addition, stable housing options that are affordable are more cost-effective investments for communities as they create tax revenue and savings from services like jails, hospitals, and shelters that would be less needed.
- ENVIRONMENT: prioritizing affordable housing close to job centers decreases suburban sprawl and dependence on car transport. This minimizes the impact of development on natural resources and limits car emissions, which are the greatest contributor to climate change. Climate change’s impact on natural disasters requires intentional focus on those in lower income housing and land areas that are vulnerable to disaster.
- SOCIAL EQUITY: creating a diverse network of affordable housing helps stabilize families. This encourages community development of diverse economic backgrounds of all stages of life and enables local residents to preserve the historic roots of an area. It also allows areas to retain young professionals and talent and enables retirees and elderly residents to remain in the area without undue financial hardship or losing independence.