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Lack of low income housing

With real estate prices at a premium, developers, builders and home owners naturally seek to maximize on their investments. Providing low-income housing is not usually a motivating cause for the private sector. The lack of low-income housing, or transitional housing, however, impacts the entire community. Here in Thurston County, the number of homeless is estimated at around 800 people. There are less than 300 temporary shelter beds available. The rest of the homeless population most likely camps out. I don't know enough about the causes of homelessness and the circumstances of the individuals. It would seem to me that in a state with record high minimum wage pay (at $7.93 the highest in the nation) and extremely low unemployment (currently 4.2 in Thurston County), it should follow that homelessness should be low. The reality is different though, and I would really like to see the communities step up to fund and provide more low-income housing options.

Sandy Nelson
Realtor for Olympia Area Real Estate
www.sandynelsonrealestate.com

Posted by Sandy Nelson Realtor® Olympia Real Estate on 07/18/2007 11:20 AM

Comments (3)

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3 Comments on Lack of low income housing

JUL

2007

Sandy,

Thanks for the post. Unfortunately, most people think that homelessness is not their problem and they certainly don't want any solutions in their backyard. Tax dollars used to assist people with real marketable skills and education, is a step in the right direction. Helping people to meet the challenges of the market place gives them the opportunity to begin the road to recovery. Sometimes other services are needed, nonetheless its a beginning to getting them to be self sufficient. Affordable housing is a key component to the recovery process.