Affordable Housing vs. Housing Affordability: What's in a name?

What's in a name?

“It is not surprising that people living in suburban neighborhoods are more likely to be suspicious of affordable housing.” (Jenna Lee Tighe, 2009)

In her 2009 dissertation, Jenna Lee Tighe, Ph.D. examined “Public Perceptions ofAffordable Housing: How Race and Class Stereotyping Influence Views.”

Tighe concluded neighborhood opposition “remains a major obstacle to successful implentation to federal, state and local housing policies.” She also found people associated “affordable housing with monorities” and this lead to “less support for affordable housing.”

Navigate‘s survey did not look at race, but it did look at how people today view “affordable housing.” A little over a quarter of those surveyed believe it is a negati-

AGREE OR DISAGREE: AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A NEGATIVE TERM

Source: Navigate Affordable Housing Partners

WOULD YOU OPPOSE OR SUPPORT AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

Source: Navigate Affordable Housing Partners

We asked those who say they would opose an affordable housing development in the neighborhodd the following question:

IF A NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT WAS COMING TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, HOW IMPORTANT ARE THE FOLLOWING?

Top 5 Answers

Source: Navigate Affordable Housing Partners