Affordable housing opportunities for people living with HIV/AIDS and low income families By: Crystallee American political and cultural standards push people into conforming to the ideal of “The American Dream.” This means having a place of residence, creating a home and community for you (and your family) and being financially stable. All of this sounds acceptable as a standard, for most people, and I’m sure all people want this for themselves. For youth the American dream may seem unattainable at first. With laws put in place like the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act of 2007 teens, low income young adults and those living with HIV/AIDS may began to see the American dream as an attainable one for themselves. Unfortunately we don’t live in a country that supports the poor and especially not those living with HIV/AIDS; therefore some of these components of the American Dream are beyond our reach. We have been waiting for our elected officials to provide us with a solution to this problem. I believe that the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act of 2007 is a part of that solution. Finally, there is an all encompassing policy that features protection for low-income families and individuals with HIV/AIDS, and their housing needs. A project going up in Phoenix, Arizona is hoping to boost housing options for young people. This is the type of project this Act would fund. According to the Phoenix Business Journal, on October 17, 2007, an article was published that stated, ‘the city of phoenix received $550,000 from the U.S. Labor Department to provide construction and leadership training for young people participating in affordable housing construction.’ The article went on to explain that the program is targeted towards young adults 17-24. This initiative is combining young adult leadership needs and the need for affordable housing. The article stated, ‘the eight-month program targets low-income residents who have dropped out of high school or are unemployed.’ The national Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act of 2007 would support such projects. According to vote-smart.org, the official language of the bill states that the purpose of HR 2895 is: To establish the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund in the Treasury of the United States to provide for the construction, rehabilitation, and preservation of decent, safe, and affordable housing for low-income families.’ An example of how this bill would affect people living with HIV/AIDS is the Hurricane Katrina disaster. According to nationalaidshousing.org, in the case of people living with HIV/AIDS in the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina, these types of policies would have been helpful. The bill calls for rejuvenation, construction and the upkeep of low-income housing nation wide. ‘In particular, NAHC is concerned with how the devastation in the Gulf Coast region is affecting those living with HIV/AIDS, for whom access to stable housing is so critical. Experts estimate that there were 21,062 people living with HIV/AIDS residing in areas affected by Katrina in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.’ (HR 2895) Now people living with HIV/AIDS and low income families and individuals will have real options with HR 2895. The bill was passed with 264 yeas and 148 nays; 19 officials did not vote on the issue. This new piece of legislation is special because it requires a preference to those who have been waiting to get into low income or section 8 housing for 12 months or longer. This means that more people will be able to have homes and have the opportunity to support themselves. Some of the people on the waiting lists are young adults who have aged out of the foster care system. According to the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA), ‘ Young people aging out of the foster care system need economic security and stable housing upon discharge; however, high unemployment rates, scarcity of jobs, and the lack of affordable housing options put young people transitioning out of foster care at a significant disadvantage.’ This means that young people are at high risk for not being able to support themselves. The affordable housing trust could fund similar projects, like those currently happening in the southwest portion of Detroit, Michigan, in the Hubbard Street neighborhood. The 2000 Census stated that Detroit, Michigan’s population for young people ages 18 and under accounted for approximately 31% of the cities total population. On October 24, 2007 The Detroit Free Press published an article on new remodeling efforts of an 80-year old building for affordable housing in the city limits. It stated that, ‘Southwest Solutions is working with the Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit to create 32 affordable units in the abandoned, 80-year-old apartment building -- a cool city effort that really is cool. The project is certain to attract the so-called millennial generation of under-30s who are critical to any city's economic growth.’ These kinds of projects echo the goal of the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act of 2007. Although the main goal of the Detroit project is affordable housing targeted to young people, it’s still relevant because those with lower incomes and those affected by HIV/AIDS infection are younger people. The bill forces the government to create a National Affordable Housing Trust Fund in the Treasury of the United States. This means that there is a higher chance for funding in the future as well. |