Sadly, things have taken a turn for the worst with COVID-19. As the rent and house prices soared over the past decade, affordable workforce housing has become a serious issue that has affected more people than anyone would have imagined. Especially when combined with constantly rising joblessness and dwindling funds, it is increasingly difficult for those with low or average incomes to find suitable housing due to slashed construction subsidies alongside increased costs in building materials resulting from COVID-19. Then, there is resistance in some sections of the society toward accommodating the workforce group in their neighborhood due to the fear it will disrupt their peace and safety.
Maxwell Drever says that the solution to the last problem is to sensitize the community members toward the needs of the workforce population and why it is critical to be inclusive. Making them aware of their contributions to the city with good examples can eventually help them open their minds. While this is a way to address this concern, the expert believes that there are multiple solutions to building or filling the gap of workforce housing.
Modular construction
Modular construction can be a great approach to keep multi-family housing costs down. This technique lets you build most of the necessary modules off-site and then, later, on-site, assemble the modules and attach them. Decreasing costs by 10% to 15% is undoubtedly something local municipalities should welcome under these circumstances. At the same time, they work alongside developers in introducing new standards and regulations carried out with the goal in mind of making permitting quicker and inspections more efficient.
Broken or worn properties
The current housing crisis is one that many cities across the United States are dealing with daily. So, what does one need to do to respond to this escalating issue? Maxwell Drever informs there are a lot of broken and abandoned old properties across the country that can be useful if put into the hands of those in need of living units who may not otherwise have access to market-rate housing or government assistance. However, one must ensure there won't be any structural damage during the conversion process should you want these properties to serve their purpose as safe, livable spaces for low-income households. Therefore, ensure the homes are structurally sound before proceeding.
Proper investigation will allow authorities to understand the amount of repair a property has to undergo before being fully functional to cater to the housing needs of the median income groups. It can also give a clear picture of the type of budget required for this project and how much rent one can ask for from the residents. As a result, investors and developers would be able to estimate their approximate returns and pursue their projects in peace.
There are many ways to deal with the affordable housing problem that the American workforce is facing. One only needs to get innovative and look for options to meet the rising demands and solve this crisis that runs deep across communities.A wave of change has already started in the form of hotel and motel conversions.
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