May 2021 | Vol. 7 Iss. 05
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CAN YOU AFFORD TO LIVE IN SSL? By Bill Hardesty | b.hardesty@mycityjournals.com
A
ffordable housing is a perpetual campaign issue, but what does it mean, and how is the City of South Salt Lake stacking up?
Definition
Affordable housing and low-income housing are not synonymous. While low-income housing is part of affordable housing, affordable housing means much more. “Affordable housing is housing that is deemed affordable to those with the median household income or below. Affordability measures are based on the idea that households should spend 30% or less of their overall income on housing,” said Alex White, South Salt Lake Community Development Director. For example, Family A’s household income is $45,000. They could spend $13,500 per year on housing which figures out to be $1,125 a month. Family B’s household income is $90,000. They could spend $63,000 a year, which is a $2,250 monthly payment.
The problem
“When housing costs are higher than 30% of the household’s income, housing is no longer affordable,” White said. When this occurs, families need to spend more on housing, sacrificing other critical costs such as food, clothing, utilities, schooling and internet service. Another potential problem when there is a lack of affordable housing is families begin to widen their search for housing they can afford. Most often, they find it away from their employment. While their housing costs are more reasonable, transportation costs increase. White points out the third problem. “Studies show that the availability of affordable housing is directly related to a resident’s health, access to education, and
Local Postal Customer ECRWSS Scan Here: Interactive online edition with more photos.
Granite High School comes down to allow single-family homes to the south and townhomes to the east. (Bill Hardesty/City Journals)
employment opportunities,” he said. “It is important for cities and land prices have driven up the cost of housing in Salt Lake to provide a mix of housing options to provide families oppor- County, the overall increase in resident income has not grown at the same rate. Our city historically has had many affordable tunities to find affordable housing.” South Salt Lake City housing options. Today, finding housing costs at or below 30% “Housing affordability has become a critical topic in South of overall household income has become extremely difficult for Salt Lake,” said SSL Mayor Cherie Wood said. “As real estate Continued page 5
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