Advocates of housing recently met with local, county, and state elected officials at the third annual Affordable Housing Summit in West Chester to discuss ways forward to enable residents to find affordable places to live, writes Michael P. Rellahan for The Daily Local News.
“We live in a very progressive county,” said Cheryl Miles, community housing director for Kennett Area Community Services. “The population is growing, and the number of businesses is increasing. New houses and apartments are being built every day.”
However, many residents cannot benefit from those projects due to limited resources, unfair housing practices, and constantly increasing mortgage and rental rates.
During the summit, focus was put on open conversation between elected officials, nonprofits, and people who have experienced housing insecurity and homelessness.
Among other things, the participants discussed the comparison of fair market rents to housing support funds, access to housing, and the challenges for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, and Employed families.
The event concluded with several suggestions, including getting legislators’ help in identifying and securing physical spaces that can be used as housing options for families with earned income at 60 percent of the area’s median income or less.
Read more about the ongoing affordable housing issue in The Daily Local News.
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