NHPF Industry Report

Battling Hypocrisy to Build Popular Support for Affordable Housing

R ecently, two high-profile names, the comedian Dave Chappelle and the venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, were quoted expressing their opposition to affordable housing coming to their respective neighborhoods. Interestingly, Chappelle countered the reporting by saying he opposed this particular development, not affordable housing per se and Andreessen has been quoted expressing a need for “regular people to move in” to neighborhoods. Just not his. That is the crux of this report: What will it take to make Americans more comfortable with different types of housing—and people—in “their towns?” We’ve learned that when we say affordable housing, we hear opportunity and advantages for all, when others hear affordable housing they hear barriers, obstacles, or illusions. In this report we are looking at what people are hearing and how we can improve what we are saying, so that affordable housing continues to be part of communities everywhere.

BATTLING HYPOCRISY TO BUILD POPULAR SUPPORT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING • 3