Impact

Myth: Affordable housing takes control away from communities in favor of outside developers.
Fact: Affordable housing developers are bound by all zoning and building regulations, and are also subject to additional requirements by financing sources.

• For-profit developers who are new to a community often partner with local nonprofits to better understand the neighborhood.
• Mississippi zoning ordinances control development location, scale, and density.
• Affordable housing developers must comply with all zoning requirements and secure all building permits.
• Many developers of affordable housing are nonprofit organizations that have been vital members of communities for decades. These organizations are vested in the success of the housing development and are held accountable for their work.
• Financing sources for affordable housing projects come from federal tax credits and state bonds and subsidies. These sources subject the developer to strict criteria that may not be required of market-rate housing.

Myth: Affordable housing strains local infrastructure and leads to increased traffic congestion and overcrowded schools.
Fact: Affordable housing development is efficient and can bring improvements to communities.

• Infill development means infrastructure is in place, in contrast to new subdivisions.
• The impact of potential school-aged children on local schools is studied and considered in the approval process.
• Increased demand from additional residents can result in improvements to infrastructure, such as repaved roads, and services, such as garbage collection.
• Affordable housing developments are not approved by municipalities unless the requisite infrastructure exists to support the additional housing units.

Myth: Affordable housing leads to increased crime.
Fact: Affordable housing brings responsible residents to areas of formerly blighted or abandoned properties.

• Design and open space influence crime more so than density or income levels of residents.
• According to the Urban Institute, “There is no evidence of an increase in crime resulting from the introduction of affordable housing into a neighborhood. In fact, much of the affordable housing now being developed in inner cities and older neighborhoods replaces broken down and crime-ridden buildings and can serve to reduce the neighborhood crime rate.” (Source: The Urban Institute 2000)
• Many affordable housing developments include partnerships with nonprofit organizations, which are vested in the success of the development.
• Affordable housing includes excellent lighting, open spaces, and security around properties.
• Applicants to affordable housing are carefully screened, including criminal background checks, by professional services.

Myth: Affordable housing brings down the value of neighbors’ properties.
Fact: Affordable housing has no negative impact on—and can even increase—property values.

• Maintenance and design affect property values—with contextual design and property maintenance for affordable housing, values are not comprised.
• Property value is determined by a set of macro- and micro-economic supply and demand factors, including the pre-existing value of land, proximity to urban areas, location benefits, availability of goods and services, and other considerations.
• Affordable housing development results in the improvement of blighted or abandoned properties.

Myth: Affordable housing hurts the local economy.
Fact: Affordable housing development increases tax revenue, creates construction jobs, provides a local workforce, and brings new consumers of goods and services.

• The development of affordable housing stimulates economic activity through goods purchased and services utilized during construction and furnishing of homes.
• According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), “In the first 12 months after buying new homes, owners spend $8,642 on furnishing and improvements. Buyers of existing homes spend $3,408 more than non-moving households in the 12 months after purchase.” (Source: Emrath 2005)
• According to NAHB, “In a typical U.S. metropolitan area, building 100 units generates up to $16 million in local income and 284 local jobs in the first year alone, with nearly 30% of the new income spent locally.” (Source: NAHB 2005)