DREAM HOUSES

September 2002
		Many residents of Burlington, Vermont who earn the median salary cannot afford to buy or rent a median-priced house or apartment -- and the disparity continues to grow with the housing market boom. What does this mean on a national level? Housing experts Wendell Cox and Susan Popkin answer your questions.

Forum introduction Why can't Section 8 funds contribute to down payments? Is there any racism involved? What has been the progress of any trends to revitalize older housing in and near cities? Would it be easier to build affordable housing in more outlying areas, such as beyond the suburbs? Pertinent statistics about substandard housing assessments done in Houston. Why is there such a disconnect between wages in a particular area and housing prices?     Online Special: How We Live

Dave Daniels of Houston, TX asks: As Development Director for Houston Habitat for Humanity, I am most interested in any pertinent statistics about substandard housing assessments done in Houston. Also, we are continually seeking more useful tools for raising awareness and engaging various local publics in the elimination of Houston's substandard housing problem. I gratefully appreciate any help/guidance you might offer. Currently, Houston Habitat builds 50 homes per year. We receive no government funds for houses, nor United Way contributions. We build from private donor support. Dr. Susan Popkin responds: The 2002 Census should offer some information on affordable housing by census tract. Wendell Cox responds: Habitat for Humanity is one of the truly heroic organizations in our society. You in Houston are particularly well placed. As the only major city without zoning, the barriers to housing affordability are less in Houston than elsewhere. That means that however the funding is raised or the volunteer efforts marshaled to address substandard housing, the challenges you face will be less formidable than that of your colleagues in Portland or San Francisco-San Jose where urban planners have declared vacant land to be more important than people.