Housing, or more specifically individual housing, refers to the arrangement and designated use of dwellings or buildings together, for the explicit purpose of sheltering individuals from weather extremes, the natural vicissitudes of nature or any other external threat, collectively, for the benefit of man. The term ‘housing’ is usually used in association with residential as well as institutional properties. A typical building may be a residential complex or a bungalow or a house or flat, a row of flats or a row of terraces. Housing occurs in different forms and capacities and it may involve the provision of personal accommodation, care, finance, family support or public facilities.
Zoning is the basis on which housing prices are established. Zoning determines whether development will be built according to proper planning norms and whether the property can be used for commercial, institutional or recreational purposes. It is not just about controlling the size of a plot or a building but also about regulating the kind of activities that take place there. Whether it is a single family dwelling, a row of apartments or a condominium building, the operation of housing is largely influenced by zoning.
In the United States, the basic unit of housing is a ‘house’. In most states, a house can only consist of a single family dwelling. Urban zoning concerns are inherent in this article classification; a house is seen as a single unit of land occupying an unoccupied area. This restriction, however, is recognised by some residential planners who, through inclusionary zoning, may allow the building of more dwellings on the same plot of land. Inclusionary zoning, sometimes called ‘affordability’, is a controversial issue in housing, as it is often considered to be a form of discrimination against those who cannot afford to buy or own outright.
As indicated earlier, the term ‘housing affordability’ is a subjective term. Some people may see a two-bedroom apartment as being very affordable, while others will see a penthouse as too expensive. People in the middle will often fall somewhere between, with many people placing price points on the housing market that are beyond the reach of the middle-class. This, of course, is not to say that everybody in the middle class is not able to afford housing, just that it is difficult for them to achieve housing affordability.
Suburban areas are the areas that are most vulnerable to housing affordability issues due to their high demand for real estate and limited supply. Suburban areas have, on the whole, attracted a higher percentage of middle-class people than rural areas. Although there is little low-income housing in suburbs, developers have built housing developments that are predominantly comprised of high-end, expensive property. These developments are known as condominiums, townhomes, duplexes and some developments are called ‘affordable units’. A problem faced by many low-income families is that they cannot afford to buy a home in an expensive development because of the exclusivity of the property, which can run into tens of thousands of dollars. Developers are, however, starting to use inclusionary zoning to build middle-class housing developments in suburban communities.
A popular method of housing affordability issues facing low-income families is rental assistance. Rental assistance is available from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD is a government agency that provides housing assistance and advice to low-income families in the United States. The department works under the Department of Housing and Urban Development, also known as HUD. It was created by the Realtor Housing and Development Act of 1965.
The process of gentrification is also impacting affordable housing in the US. gentrification refers to the phenomenon of changing the character of a neighborhood or a city for the better, so that it is more attractive to affluent and wealthy people. It can be described as a process whereby an older neighborhood becomes less diverse (due to people moving out of the area to live in nicer neighborhoods) but also more affluent and better equipped to provide services for people who are more affluent.
In many cases gentrified areas contain areas with higher crime rates, and therefore more expensive home prices. As more people are drawn to these areas, it is likely that home prices will rise in line with the area’s median income. However, this is only a temporary situation. As with most things, it takes time for a neighborhood to become more like an exclusive, up-to-date version of itself. The good news is that affordable housing is still available in most US cities.
