Affordable Housing! What is that? I like most of you have read and continue to read how the price of housing continues to go up, or now we are seeing that a correction in process and prices are falling making the "American Dream" more affordable for the middle income. Middle Income, Affordable Housing and Housing Bubble, can be defined as catch phrases each a phase that has its own definition to each of us due to the varied conditions within our specific geographic area. Over the past several months we've all been inundated by the media's use of these terms. For me it has resulted in me reflecting upon what is affordable housing and the middle class. In retrospect for me personally affordable housing has gone from 1,000 sq ft apartment to a 3,500 sq ft 3 and 3 on 1.25 acres. Initially, it was 7 foot flat ceilings, shag carpet and vinyl in the kitchen and bath. Today it is 10 to 16 feet textured ceilings with single or double trays with hardwood and Italian Tile floors with oriental rugs. Bathrooms were just that, utilitarian rooms for attending to personal hygiene but today even in smaller homes they are something you experience. Separate Showers and jetted tubs, tile floors and showers are common place just as ceiling fans and recessed lighting. To upgrade we have double and triple settable showers with multiple heads, steam and even plush places to lounge. Living rooms have become media rooms with 56" HD plasma screens which are voice activated as part of a full house audio/visual system. Oh yes we must not forget that breakfast bars have become breakfast nooks and formal dining rooms have become works of art or at very least a gallery.
So what has happened to "Affordable Housing"? You remember, a simple home with the basic roof, four walls, AC/Heat, dishwasher, Disposal, refrigerator, washer/dryer and a two car garage.
Perhaps we've luxuried ourselves right out of it simply due to our desire to always have more of the good life. But I have found that many families in their pursuit of that "Good Life, The American Dream, and Affordable Housing" end up missing out on creating a home. How do they miss? Simple, in order to obtain our distorted perception of "The American Dream, Affordable housing, the Good Life" each member of the family must chase job and money before they consider family in order to obtain what once was so easily obtained by a single bread winner.... What Happened? Progress proceeded family and ego superseded sustained it all.
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