Category Archives: poverty

Highlighting the issue of Affordable Housing

Working with Habitat for Humanity all week has made us all take a second look at the role of affordable housing in communities. We met Tina, the future owner of the house we roofed. She took time from her work week to thank us for our hard work and to take in the progress made on her house. Tina and her family have been contributing “sweat equity” hours on their house and other Habitat projects as they wait for the first home. 

To gain perspective on the ouscal situation in Athens, GA, our group spoke with Matthew Murphy, the affordable housing administrator for Athens-Clark County. His agency oversees federal funds allocated for affordable housing issues in the county. Recently named the poorest county in the U.S., the county struggles to find housing alternatives  for families that live at or below the poverty line. Our group discussed potential approaches to increasing the availabilty of reasonably priced rental units and single family homes. Should this be the responsibility of comminities and local non-profits? Or as a nation, should our government provide more funding through taxation? It becase obvious that this is a very complicated issue that requires the coordinated efforts of all levels of government, non-profits and citizens. — Julia H.

Building in America’s poorest county

Fifteen students wielded hammers, learned to use electric saws and scaled a roof at a Habitat for Humanitu site where two of a projected seven homes are under construction.

But despite the excitement of learning new skills, what struck many of us here in Athens, Georgia, was the revelation that nearly 100 percent of the children in three elementary elementary schools here receive free breakfast and lunch under the federal program based on income. However, Athens Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Spencer Frye told us that the kids were in rough shape when they got to school on Monday mornings, until someone figured out that their families couldn’t afford to feed them on the weekends. Now food is sent home with them on Fridays. One only wonders what the summers are like!

Despite the presence of the University of Georgia, with its beautiful campus and surrounding neighborhoods, this area is the poorest of any county he nation with a population of 100,000 or more. 

Habitat fot Humanity in Athens is not only providing housing for the poor, but by strategically placing the new homes and renovated apartments in high-crime areas, it is proving the “Broken Windows” effect works, as also shown through Professor Brenda Bonds’ research. In the three areas where Habityat has built or is building, crime has plummeted.

–Nancy K