“affordable housing”

The very idea of “affordable housing” (with quotes) is nonsensical. It circumvents market forces to offer rental property to people at half the actual price, but with a renter-salary cap. When I was planning my move to Seattle I encountered several nice apartments (such as a little studio in Pioneer Square) which I was unable to move into because I didn’t make low-enough of a salary. That’s idiotic. If I move to New York City and want to live downtown but make only $40,000 / year, I shouldn’t live downtown.

There is already affordable housing — without the quotes. It exists in the suburbs. If you don’t make enough money to be able to afford living downtown, live in the suburbs and commute until you can afford living in the city. If you think you will never be able to afford it, you need to take a moment to consider exactly why that is.

Everyone should have a five-year plan which includes improving their financial situation. Accepting undeserved hand-outs should never be a part of that plan. For the record, making minimum wage (or less) does not make someone any more deserving than does being related to a dead rich white guy. The “lack” of “affordable housing” is not an issue. The lack of forethought / planning and intelligent decisions on the part of people in the market to rent, is. Rather than bribing developers like Vulcan with “affordable housing” requirements, educate the renting masses in how best to plan their lives and let the housing market take care of the housing market.