The Cause

Few people are aware of the issues surrounding the availability of affordable housing in the United States. There are millions of people in this country who are struggle daily to maintain a roof over their family’s head. This summer I will be pedaling across the country to spread the word about this problem and raise funds for organizations dedicated to creating more affordable housing. Below is a quick briefing on the problem, as well as a set of links to additional resources.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) considers housing to be affordable to a low-income family as long as the cost of housing, including rent or mortgage/tax payments plus basic utilities minus telephone and internet service, does not exceed 30% (before taxes).  In 1997, three million low to moderate income working families spent more than half of their income on housing.  By 2001 this number had jumped to 4.8 million, a 67% increase.  Over time people are not making enough each year to keep pace with rising living costs.

The median monthly rent for unsubsidized housing in New York City increased from $831 in 2002 to $900 in 2005 (in constant dollars).  Nine hundred dollars a month implies (using the 30% rule) an individual would have to make $36,000 per year (before taxes).  Minimum wage in New York City is $7.15 per hour, which translates to a generous $14,872 per year.

There are several different factors that contribute to housing problems.  The first is cost burdens.  This is when residents pay an excessively large percentage of income on housing costs.  About 14 million people spend over 30 percent of their monthly income on housing, and an additional 13 million households spend over 50 percent.  The second is physical inadequacy in which severe physical deficiencies, such as lack of hot water, electricity, toilets, bathtubs and showers are present. One in seven poor families lives in housing which is physically inadequate.  The third most common problem is overcrowding.  A house is considered overcrowded if the number of people living in a house is greater than the total number of rooms in the house.  About 6.1 million households live in overcrowded conditions.

Housing is one of life’s necessities.  A house is a place to have protection from weather, to raise a family, to store belongings, to provide security, to create a disease-free environment, to be contacted and simply, to live.  Most people will extend themselves to extremes in order to avoid homelessness, which often results in prioritizing housing over other necessities such as food and healthcare.  Studies have shown that children in overcrowded home situations are much less likely to complete their homework than are students who have adequate home.  Having enough space promotes healthy relationships among family members.

While the government does provide assistance in the form of public housing (“The Projects”), rent subsidies, and other grants, it is not doing enough to combat this problem.  Non-Governmental Programs such as Habitat for Humanity International and Rebuilding Together are making a difference.  These are two of the major organizations that Bike and Build contributes to and works with.

Rebuilding Together is a non-profit organization that focuses on the preservation and repair of currently existing homes.  They work through grass-roots volunteers and typically help elderly, disabled and otherwise low-income homeowners.  They have a network of more than 200 affiliates provides free rehabilitation and critical repairs to the homes of low-income Americans. Rebuilding Together preserves affordable homeownership and revitalizes communities by providing free home modifications and repairs, making homes safer, more accessible, and more energy efficient.

For more information about how Rebuilding Together, visit their website at www.rebuildingtogether.org.

Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) is the organization that Bike and Build works the closest with.  HFHI is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry that seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world, and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and actions.  HFHI invites people of all backgrounds, races and religions to build houses together in partnership with families in need.  The organization was founded in 1976, and has built more than 125,000 homes around the world, providing more than 625,000 people in more than 3,000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter.

Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, HFHI builds and rehabilitates simple decent houses with the help of the homeowner (partner) families.  HFHI houses are sold to partner families at no profit, financed with affordable, no-interest loans.  The homeowners’ monthly payments are used to build more HFHI houses.  It is not a giveaway program.  In addition to a down payment and the monthly mortgage payments, homeowners invest hundreds of hours of their own labor – sweat equity – into building their own house and the houses of others.  HFHI houses are sized appropriately for the needs of the family, use quality, locally available materials, reflect the local climate and culture and most importantly, affordable.  All houses are accessible to the handicapped. HFHI also focuses on sustainable construction practices and energy efficiency.

For more information about Habitat for Humanity International, please see their website at www.habitat.org.

For more information about this problem check out the following links:
The Other Side of the Valley: Jim Kenyan, Valley News

Feeling the Pinch: Wages and Housing in New Hampshire

Housing First: A Special Report from National Public Radio

President’s Agenda to Expand Opportunities to Homeownership

Virginia Center for Housing Research

*Information, statistics and other figures for this page were provided by Bike and Build through the participant manual.