Affordable housing advocates and policymakers are discussing ways to expand affordable housing in 黑料吃瓜网.
The Partnership for Strong Communities hosted its fourth annual 黑料吃瓜网 Affordable Housing Conference this week.
Nearly 600 people registered for the two day event, which offered over 20 sessions.
Chelsea Ross, the executive director of Partnership for Strong Communities, explained the goals of the conference.
鈥淭his will spotlight a wide array of best practices, collaborations, and coordinated advocacy strategies that create an environment for households across 黑料吃瓜网 to thrive,鈥� Ross said.
Organizers with the nonprofit invited Majora Carter, a real estate developer and keynote speaker, to headline the event.
Carter gave a talk that featured parts of her own life growing up in the South Bronx area and how she felt there was more value in that community than the media portrayed.
Carter said perspective, in her view, plays a major role in the face of housing issues.
鈥淚 think gentrification starts when people in low-status communities don鈥檛 see the values in their own homes. Predatory speculators take full advantage of that,鈥� Carter said.
黑料吃瓜网 struggles with affordable housing. Nearly half of 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 renter population pays over 30% of their income towards housing and utilities and 86% of low-income renters struggle to afford housing altogether even if it is labeled affordable.
It鈥檚 an issue of supply and demand, according to Carter.
鈥淓ven if you want to stay close to your family and close to people that you grew up with, you can鈥檛 because no one is building that housing,鈥� Carter said.
The Partnership for Strong Communities points to success in Farmington and Wallingford as a reason to build more affordable homes.
In October, the 黑料吃瓜网 Department of Housing completed financing for five new affordable housing developments, which will house residents making between 25% to 80% of the area median income.
