The Hard Truth About Housing
Why We Need Systems Change
After spending my entire career in housing and community development, 2018 marked a turning point. That's when housing affordability stopped being just part of my work and became an all-consuming mission. What I've learned since then has fundamentally changed how I think about solving our housing crisis – and why traditional solutions, though vital, can't get us where we need to go.
The Math That Keeps Me Awake at Night
Let me paint a picture of the challenge in my home county in West Michigan. More than 26,000 households – our neighbors, colleagues, and community members – spend over half their income on housing. Most are renters, and all of them are living on a knife's edge, where one medical bill or car repair could mean losing their home.
To bring these families' housing costs down to a manageable level (the recommended 30% of income), each household would need about $500 per month in support. It sounds modest until you do the math: 26,000 households × $500 × 12 months = $156 million per year. For one county. In one state.
The Gap Between Need and Resources
Here's where things get sobering. The Low Income Housing Tax Credit program – the federal government's largest affordable housing initiative – provides about $20 million annually for the entire state of Michigan. Even if we somehow directed every single dollar to our county (leaving the rest of Michigan with nothing), it would cover just 13% of our local need.
This reality check doesn't diminish the heroic work of our local housing organizations. We have dozens of incredible nonprofits in West Michigan working tirelessly to help individual families find and keep stable housing. Their impact on each family they serve is immeasurable and irreplaceable. But even in our best years, when we're maximizing every federal, state, and local resource available, less than a quarter of eligible households receive any form of housing assistance.
Beyond Band-Aids: The Need for Systems Change
This stark mathematical reality has led me to a crucial realization: while we absolutely must continue supporting direct assistance programs, we can't subsidize our way out of this crisis. We need to go several layers deeper and address the systemic reasons why so many hardworking families need such substantial support in the first place.
And no, despite what some might suggest, it's not because people aren't working hard enough. The roots of our housing crisis run much deeper, touching on everything from local zoning laws to federal policy decisions made decades ago.
A Path Forward
Interestingly, organizations as ideologically diverse as the Brookings Institution and the American Enterprise Institute have reached remarkably similar conclusions about what needs to be done. This rare consensus suggests we're onto something important – and gives me hope that real solutions are within reach.
For those ready to dive deeper into understanding our housing system and potential solutions, I've found these books particularly illuminating:
- "Escaping the Housing Trap" by Chuck Marohn & Daniel Herriges
- "Fixer Upper" by Jenny Scheutz
- "Crabgrass Frontier" by Kenneth Jackson
- "Suburban Nation" by Andres Duany, Elizabeth Plater Zyberk, and Jeff Speck
- "The Affordable City" by Shane Phillips
In my next post, I'll break down the specific systems changes we need to pursue at the local level. But for now, I want to leave you with this thought: The housing crisis isn't just about housing – it's about the fundamental systems and choices that shape our communities. And while the challenge is enormous, understanding its true scale and nature is the first step toward meaningful change.
Together, we can build a future where stable, affordable housing isn't a luxury but a reality for everyone in our community. It won't be easy, and it won't happen overnight. But with clear eyes about the scale of the challenge and determination to tackle root causes rather than just symptoms, we can create lasting change.