Session 13: Housing and Community Development

Having once lived in lower income housing, I know precisely how it feels to move some place else where there is less crime and poverty, and to just experience new surroundings. Now, with so many different programs being put into place, more people can experience that same feeling, and not just the few it once was. Not only is Obama establishing the White House office of Urban Affairs to help generate more financial help to lower income, urban areas, there are other organizations and programs being put into place to help those living in public housing where crime and poverty can run ramped. One such program is the HOPE VI, which tries to lessen concentrations of poverty by placing public housing in non-poverty areas, instead of just isolating lower income residents as has been the traditional approach. This, in turn, promotes mixed-income communities. Public housing agencies are also providing help to the housing market for lower income residents by proving Housing Choice Vouchers. These are administered through PHAs and helps lower income families find suitable, sanitary and safe housing. The family chooses the home but it must meet PHA standards. If the home does, PHA will pay a direct subsidy to the landlord, and the family pays the difference. This is a great program because it provides much needed assistance to families that would otherwise continue to live in poverty and inadequate quarters. The fact that the government, as well as other non-governmental agencies are taking such an interest and role in housing for lower income families shows all that can be done to start to combat poverty. The government is doing a good job in helping to decrease poverty rates in the US with such programs. I had no idea that so much was being done in this area, but it is often times easy to not look back at hard times in your life, but one must never forget where he or she has come from, nor the people that are still there, and I am happy that many people that shared a similar living experience with me can now share the experience of living a better life in a better living environment.