NHPF Industry Report
Based on the above, “affordable housing” is for everyone! But, dig deeper and the hypocrisy starts to show.
• 40% of the public surveyed have reservations about the statement “housing should be a human right” • Of that group, 47% feel that making housing a human right “may cost me money” or “take resources from me, my business or my family” • Many could not be convinced that homelessness is a business problem with economic impact for all (47% ranked this response as the least likely to convince them of the need to guarantee housing) • Only 17% of those surveyed ranked “my community will benefit because of the construction and other jobs created” as the most effective response to convince them of the need to guarantee housing • Only 17% believed their “family will benefit because the community will be healthier and safer as the most effective response” to convince them of the need to guarantee housing
What more needs to be done to tackle this kind of public response? Jon Searles, Community and Economic Development Officer, Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA),
has seen positive results by focusing on the “real people” who would be living in an affordable apartment community: retail workers, teachers, police officers, nurses, etc. through a campaign including ads, personal outreach, and media relations. This effective messaging resonated positively with the community and helped the development move forward.
Conflicting Beliefs
Although the majority of the 500+ general population survey respondents believe unconditionally that housing is a human right, there is dissent. • Less than half, 47%, of the general population support affordable housing that will benefit seniors, veterans and families • 62% of all respondents found that the statement “Stable affordable housing reduces crime and other societal ills including drug abuse and domestic violence” is most likely to convince them that affordable housing should be guaranteed for all
10 • THE NHP FOUNDATION 2022 SYMPOSIUM
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