Creating Inclusive Communities

There have been two significant pieces of financial news lately. One received significant attention, the other received relatively little. Together, they illustrate an important lesson about how money works: Reasonable risk taking is usually rewarded, greed is often ultimately punished.

No doubt about it, these are tough times in Michigan’s economic history. The industry that fueled economic growth for generations now struggles. For the first time in recent memory, property values in many communities have fallen. At the same time, prices of many consumer goods, like food and fuel, are rising.

Yesterday I heard that one out of every one hundred people in the U.S. is incarcerated. What a stunning statistic! The report went on to say that, while crime rates remain relatively consistent, political sentiment has led to significantly stiffer sentencing, thereby increasing the number of people in prison.

I would like to share a story with you about a woman in my neighborhood, Mrs. B. While I’ve changed a few facts for reasons of confidentiality, the essential elements are true.

What are the essential elements needed to create, rebuild, and sustain vibrant communities? It’s a long list: good jobs, good schools, good community services, and, of course, good housing, among other things.  I think that we too often lose sight of the need for all of these elements to come together in order to create and maintain the kinds of neighborhoods and communities in which most of us would like to live.

Yes, there is an up side, at least for some people. The depressed prices in the current real estate market could be good news for some prospective home buyers, particularly first time buyers who do not need to worry about selling their current home. Even for those who do have a home that they need to sell, their ability to afford an “upgrade” may never be better.

Every day, CHN receives calls and e mail asking about housing issues such as fair housing, mortgages, and accessibility. In an effort to answer some of the most frequently asked questions, and to make people aware of housing issues and opportunities for advocacy, I've decided to start a weekly blog on our website.

Each week I'll offer both information and viewpoints about local, state, and federal housing issues. I hope that this information proves useful, and welcome your feedback.