Revisiting the Definition of 'Affordable' in Housing

In a _Chicago Tribune_ Op-Ed, Gail Schechter, of the Interfaith Housing Center of the Northern Suburbs, challenges Illinois policymakers' definition of "affordable housing."

1 minute read

October 9, 2003, 11:00 AM PDT

By Connie Chung

"We cannot demand the services of the low-wage worker, then refuse them a place to live in our communities. Instead, we must reclaim the concept of affordable housing to again include those for whom it was always intended: low-income people. Likewise, we cannot siphon jobs from communities (such as some city neighborhoods and south suburbs) and not expect to juxtapose extreme poverty, separated by gridlock, from extreme wealth. What's required is an equitable jobs-and-housing strategy.Further, we would do well to say 'no' when municipalities permit every piece of available land to be littered with luxury housing or big-box retail,'no' to senior-only housing as a bone thrown to affordable-housing advocates, and 'no' to communities that use zoning to get rid of housing for the poor."

Thanks to Connie Chung

FULL STORY: Whose recovery?

Sunday, October 5, 2003 in The Chicago Tribune

Housing Illinois

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