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In Our View: A Place To Call Home

The Columbian
Published: September 28, 2015, 6:01am

The primary factor in the growing national problem of homelessness can be found in the root of the word — “home.”

While many people who find themselves living on the streets have mental health issues that contribute to their situation, the majority are homeless because of economic conditions. The National Council for the Homeless points to numerous such factors: An economy in which wages have remained stagnant for decades; welfare reform laws that have lessened public assistance over the past two decades; an epidemic of foreclosures during the Great Recession; and a lack of housing that leads to increased rent prices under the laws of supply and demand.

In Vancouver, the vacancy for rental properties is estimated at 2 percent, which ranks among the lowest in the nation. According to Multifamily NW, the vacancy rate was about 1.5 percent on the city’s west side last spring, while it stood at 2.4 percent on the east side. Individuals and families who find themselves in need of housing, be it because of a change in jobs or an increase in rent or a move to this area, have few options from which to choose — and even fewer still that are considered affordable for a vulnerable and low-income population.

According to local realtor Norris, Beggs & Simpson, the average rent for a one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment in Vancouver is $889. For a three-bedroom, two-bathroom dwelling, the average is $1,278.

All of this contributes to a cycle of poverty that exacerbates long-term crises. According to government statistics, the poorest one-fifth of Americans spend, on average, more than 40 percent of their income on housing, compared with less than 31 percent for the upper quintile. This leaves little room for discretionary spending by low-income people — spending that would boost the economy — and leaves no room for saving that can lead to homeownership or some measure of financial security.

Of course, those numbers reflect those who can afford housing, a number that is shrinking in cities throughout the country as more people join the ranks of the homeless. According to the annual Point-in-Time Count, which is an unscientific survey, Clark County had 662 homeless people as of January. Anecdotal evidence suggests that number has grown, and business and political leaders from the city recently toured a tent camp that has arisen near downtown. “It’s as bad as it’s been in years,” Vancouver Police Cmdr. Amy Foster said. City Manager Eric Holmes added: “Three months ago, it was different. Three weeks ago, it was different.”

All of this will require cities both large and mid-sized to work with developers to build more affordable housing. In 2013, Los Angeles approved a policy involving developers of housing for the homeless, making it easier for them to access city funds when they include public storage, toilets and laundry facilities. In New York, officials are considering a policy change that will require developers in certain areas to set aside 25 percent of their units for low-income residents.

The danger with such policy changes, particularly for a smaller city, is the risk of driving developers out of the area and further worsening the problem. Avoiding that will require cooperation and diplomacy. But the first step in addressing Vancouver’s homeless problem must be to give residents more places to call home.

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