Struggles in Developing Accommodation for At-risk Populations
Creating a home for those who need it most is no walk in the park, mate. You've got to provide permanent digs with optional services and build a thriving community. And let me tell you, this ain't an easy feat.
We chatted with Sierra Atilano, the Chief Real Estate and Investment Officer of the Skid Row Housing Trust, and gathered three major obstacles that surface when you're planning to offer homes to those who need it the most:
1. Greenbacks or Goodbye Project
The truth is, this ain't gonna be cheap. You've got to figure out how to finance your project. The Trust, for example, mostly relies on government funding. But hey, even they are struggling. It often takes the Trust several years to transform designs into reality, as they have to wait for funding applications and the moolah to roll in. Private sources? Worth exploring in the future, but there's still a lot of debate around that.
According to Sierra, the Trust's website sums it up quite nicely:
"If local, state, and federal governments redirected the taxpayer dollars that fund emergency room visits, shelter stays, and the jailing of homeless individuals, it would be a breeze to fund thousands of permanent supportive housing apartments."
2. Homeless Population Increase: More Homes = More Problems
In several countries, the number of individuals on the streets has increased significantly. More people require housing, but if you're providing permanent homes for the vulnerable, you'll run out of rooms eventually. This means you'll have to keep constructing new shelters to accommodate the growing number of homeless folks. Sustainable business model? I don't think so, Guv.
The solution here seems to be system change. Instead of focusing on micro-communities (i.e., vulnerable groups only), we should start considering macro-communities, where affordable housing sits alongside permanent supportive housing. By doing so, we can prevent people from falling into homelessness in the first place (as they'll have access to affordable housing).
3. NIMBY Attitudes: A Nuisance for Developers
When you're working with vulnerable folks, you've got to deal with NIMBY attitudes. You know, those folks who think it's "Not In My Back Yard." That makes realizing your project a real pain.
Change the mindset, mate. Design excellence is the key. Another solution is education. Lots of people say "NIMBY" under the assumption that homelessness won't impact them personally. That's a misunderstanding, so it's essential to educate those who oppose your project.
Sierra puts it perfectly:
"I think there's always this view of the homeless, that, well, they can just pick themselves up by their bootstraps, and they could get themselves out of this hole, when in fact, society needs to recognize: how did we create a system that would allow someone to fall into homelessness in the first place?"
So, in essence, we need massive societal and systemic change to offer homes to those who need it the most. Here's a recap of the major challenges:
- Finding financial support can be tough.
- Changing the system in place is crucial to deal with the rising number of homeless people.
- Many members of the public have misconceptions about vulnerable groups, so they may oppose your project.
Time to revolutionize the housing game, mate! Let's build more affordable homes, educate the masses, and recognize the root causes of homelessness.
Investing in the housing market for providing homes to those who need it most requires significant financial planning and investing, as projects can take several years to become reality due to funding delays. (Finance, investing, housing-market)
To address the rising homeless population, it's crucial to shift focus from micro-communities to macro-communities that incorporate both affordable and permanent supportive housing, thereby preventing homelessness and creating sustainable solutions for housing needs. (Personal-finance, real-estate)
