Housing Issues
Housing issues cut across the world regardless of status as both the rich and poor communities are affected. The crisis on affordable housing shortage has resulted in increased rents and upscaling of house prices (Sargent, 2010). The dominating factors revolving around housing issues include inadequate housing that cannot sustain the American population. On the other hand the increasing population growth has resulted in overcrowding and congestion in the housing sector. Poor accessibility to the houses also makes people avoid certain areas.
The ratio between the American population versus the available housing options is inadequate hence most people are forced to live in substandard houses. The low-income earners are as well finding it hard to afford decent housing. People venturing into housing investments are facing hurdles because of the high-interest rates subjected to loans by financial entities. Building materials are also costly thus discouraging investors. Some of the government set policies upon housing are uncoordinated and discourage people from delving into housing investments.
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Housing being a basic need for all human beings, governments should consider every citizen's housing needs. The housing demand is higher than both the qualitative and quantitative supply, therefore the government needs to find a way to meet this need of erecting decent houses with a consideration of its citizen’s earning capacities and imputing reasonable renting options (Chapman, 1996). The government also needs to intervene in the financial institution’s interest rates by advising reasonable standardized rates that will encourage able citizens to invest in housing thus creating more housing options.
Government Intervention (pros)
Government intervention in containing housing issues needs to be encouraged. This is because it will promote equality and a sense of belonging among its citizens. The low and middle-class Americans may be assisted to obtain housing that they may not qualify for otherwise (Altman, 2013). Through this, both low and middle-income earners' expenditures will be reduced making them able to redirect their squeezed income to fend for other basic as well as crucial needs. Issues of superiority and inferiority complex will be solved in housing matters as well because most if not all poor American citizen's livelihoods will improve.
Setting certain standards to regulate the housebuilders and owners will help maintain a favorable standard of living. A high percentage of Americans cannot afford decent housing due to their low-income earnings; therefore, Government policies aside from the economic aspects should factor in the social and environmental aspects as well in aiming at affordable and sustainable housing (Altman, 2013). Logically, people consider their sociological needs when looking for an area to reside. Therefore, the government is advised to set favorable policies that will attract decent individuals with whom healthy social relationships can sprout.
Urban renewal programs need to be encouraged for the improvement of sanitation needs around neighborhoods with poor housing conditions. By this consistent initiative, many neglected areas will attract residents because of improved and decent environmental conditions. Designating proper dumpsites within reachable proximities and educating residents on the importance of ensuring cleanliness as well as a fine imposed on carefree people that dispose off dirt in wrong places. Exposure to dirty environments could subject people to health conditions that will be costly on their pockets hence, if the issue of neatness is addressed, then more areas will be open for safe residency.
Government Intervention (Cons)
Government intervention in the housing issues has interfered with the American goal of increasing homeownership. The nature of set policies, rules, and imposed taxes on housing needs has increased the affordability of homeownership as well as its attractiveness (Altman, 2013). The short term remedies upon the regulation of taxes have recently been put in place. An example is the 'First time home buyer tax credit' that was initiated under the Obama administration. However, citizens hope for long-lasting solutions that will guarantee the return on their investments for the fact that private development would create more housing opportunities.
Some rules and regulations set by the government on housing could hinder the development and maintenance of housing units. Costly construction material may discourage landlords from conducting frequent maintenance on their housing units because of the knowledge that they may fail to recover the money from the house rents they depend on for their sustenance (Altman, 2013). Unattractive housing units will stem from neglecting the housing units making people not interested in them from the outlook. The government, therefore, should have regulations on the tax charges on these materials to ensure they are easily accessible to those with investment as well as maintenance thoughts.
In conclusion, pro-government intervention on housing issues plays a vital role in improving the current housing situations. By setting up favorable and reasonable policies and reduction of taxes, constructing numerous and quality housing units to accommodate poor Americans will have most Americans sorted on their housing needs. However, the government should also look at the downsides of excessive involvement in the housing issues that discourage investment opportunities in this sector.
References
Chapman, W. E., & Great Britain. (1996). Planning and affordable housing.
https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/38924539.pdf
Altman, J. C. (2013). Debating the intervention. Journal of Indigenous Policy, 94-
99. http://www5.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/JlIndigP/2013/3.pdf
Sargent, S. E. (2010). Affordable housing: Frank Lloyd Wright's Pope-Leighey
House, in Alexandria, is one of his so-called Usonian houses. Virginia Living, 9, 1, 46-48. http://www.virginialiving.com/house-and-garden/inside-affordable-housing/
