Many feel anxiety, face tough choices when rents rise with housing

Editor:

The Community Coalition for Social Justice met Tuesday, April16th and heard an impassioned presentation from Nyla Gaylord about homelessness in Orleans County.

An important factor in this largely unrecognized issue is that people on fixed incomes have little recourse for dealing with the reality of ever-increasing rents. Lower income tenants expect rents to increase and experience anxiety in anticipation of it happening.

As a low-income renter you may be forced to decide between spending your limited resources on food, clothing, transportation, or heat—on the one hand—and shelter on the other.

Property owners attempting to meet the expectations of a code enforcement officer, as well as satisfy people interested in making their community more attractive to prospective residents and business people, are up against it as well. If they put effort and money into addressing problems, and need a short-term payback, their rents and selling prices must rise. Homeowners who take good care of their properties also have their hands full.

The Community Coalition for Social Justice believes that viewing such matters as a short-term issue jeopardizes our community’s prosperity and health long-term. We believe showing restraint whenever possible and taking the long view is ordinarily better for all concerned.

In short, the Community Coalition is convinced that what happens to the less fortunate does make a difference to all of us.

Sincerely,

Gary Kent – on behalf of the Community Coalition for Social Justice Committee

Albion