The city of Philadelphia shows that not all affordability crises are created with the same mix of supply and demand.
Anna Kramer writes of the specifics of Philadelphia's housing shortage—specifics that are likely common in other cities as well.
According to Kramer, "in Philadelphia, it’s not just a shortage of affordable housing that’s causing the crunch. Instead, poor-quality houses and an unusually high poverty rate — about 400,000 Philadelphians are living in poverty — tilt the equation so that demand far outstrips supply here, making affordable homes hard to obtain and difficult to manage."
Kramer calls on data from "The State of the Nation’s Housing 2018" report released in June by the Harvard University Joint Center for Housing Studies to illustrate the point.
"Among other statistics, the report states that affordable units for low-income renters both nationwide and in the 11-county Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington region have become 50 percent more scarce over the last 10 years," according to Kramer. "The data point to a regional deficit of 117,132 affordable rentals."
Stull, the city of Philadelphia is the most affordable city other than Baltimore on the Northeast Corridor. So how can Philadelphia be both affordable and have a lack of affordable housing? As Philadelphia proves, affordable is a relative term.
FULL STORY: Old homes, high poverty make Philadelphia housing less than affordable for some
How the ‘Housing Trap’ Keeps Housing Unaffordable
The financialization of housing uncouples housing prices from local supply and demand. Fixing this requires a new approach.
The Nation's Fastest-Rising Rents Are in California's Central Valley
Fresno's skyrocketing housing costs and inadequate supply are putting strain on the city's low-income households.
Double-Digit Housing Price Increases Tied to Supply Imbalance in Denver
Expensive homes dominated the metro Denver real estate market in 2020.
Seattle Legalizes Co-Living
A new state law requires all Washington cities to allow co-living facilities in areas zoned for multifamily housing.
NYC Officials Announce Broadway Pedestrianization Project
Two blocks of the marquee street will become mostly car-free public spaces.
The City of Broken Sidewalks
Can Los Angeles fix 4,000 miles of broken sidewalks before the city hosts the 2028 Olympic Games?
Study: Automobile Dependency Reduces Life Satisfaction
Automobile dependency has negative implications for wellbeing. This academic study finds that relying on a car for more than 50 percent of out-of-home travel is associated with significant reductions in life satisfaction.
San Diego School District Could Accelerate Workforce Housing Program
A proposal to build housing on five district-owned properties could yield 1,000 housing units for low- and moderate-income district employees.
Denver Transit Board Approves $1.2 Billion Budget
The 2025 budget for the Regional Transportation District is the largest in the agency’s 55-year history.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
Village of Glen Ellyn
City of Laramie
American Planning Association, Sustainable Communities Division
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Cambridge, Maryland
Newport County Development Council: Connect Greater Newport
Rockdale County Board of Commissioners