IndexAbstract IntroductionMain BodyDiscussionConclusionReferencesAbstractAs you delve into different aspects of residential techniques and zoning practices, it doesn't take long to discover the harsh realities and inconsistencies of affordable housing . Many policies aimed at strengthening the housing market have been put in place in recent years, but they have failed to create more affordable housing throughout the United States and particularly in Dallas, Texas. This paper will document the history of affordable housing practices and focus on rising rental prices and rising home purchase prices in Dallas. Finally, this article aims to address policy and study how the United States and Dallas are creating more affordable housing options. For the purposes of affordable housing paper it will be defined as: A residence where housing costs exceed 30% of total household income (Linneman & Megbolugbe 1992). We say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay IntroductionOne of the most basic components that everyone deserves in simplest terms is shelter; a single-family residence, multi-family duplex, or mixed-use apartment complex. Politicians, planners and economists have long been committed to finding solutions to provide adequate housing that meets the needs of current and future residents. For example, Homer Hoyt, an economist in the 1930s, studied housing characteristics and identified patterns related to many urban housing markets and introduced terms such as vacancy chains and filtering (Kaplan & Holloway, 2014). As the U.S. housing market continued to grow, one of the major contributors to widening the growing disparity in affordable housing was the Housing Act of 1949, America's version of urban renewal. Introduced by President Truman, it aimed to revitalize areas such as the slums that populate many urban centers and one of the initial objectives was to eliminate sub-standard housing to create good housing in exchange (Levy, 2017). During the mid-1900s American cities, hampered by uneconomic and dying urban centers, introduced their own urban renewal projects to act as a revival of the economy and reshape residential and commercial environments (Levy, 2017). This, coupled with increased zoning regulations in the suburbs, new residents or those recently displaced by these “policies” have been restricted and faced exclusionary zoning in numerous new cities (O'Flaherty, 2005). Although the program is no longer in effect, the effects of urban renewal projects can be seen today in cities' demographics or old downsizing practices. During this period of urban renewal and new policies, the case of New Jersey: Southern Burlington County, NAACP v. Township of Mount Laurel in 1975 showed an example of those who confront exclusionary zoning taking a stand and fighting back. Mount Laurel's new ordinance enforces rules to allow only single-family homes in residential zones excluding apartments, townhouses and any other current or future multifamily uses. Many minorities, mostly African Americans, in the community felt that the regulations that would force them to move elsewhere outside of Mount Laurel's jurisdiction were targeted at them. Applicants seeking adequate housing opportunities claimed exclusionary zoning and expressed their reasoning for the city to provide affordable housing optionsaccessible to low- and moderate-income families (Southern Burlington County, NAACP v. Township of Mount Laurel). Ultimately, it was felt that the city should provide affordable housing options and that cities should only zone with intentions “for the welfare of the people and not for the benefit of the local tax rate (American Bar Association Journal (1975)” . has led to inclusionary zoning policies, where developers must allocate a certain percentage of units to receive a below-market rate (Schneider, 2018). Local Government Code § 214.905, which states that inclusionary zoning is not mandatory, however the second half states that a municipality may: create or implement an incentive, contractual commitment, density bonus, or other voluntary program designed to increase the supply of affordable or low-cost housing units; adopt a requirement applicable to a serviced area under the provisions of chapter 373A, Local Government Code, authorizing homestead conservation districts, if such chapter is created by an act of the legislature. Dallas is familiar with this and even has places where voluntary inclusionary zoning is available. But how is the city taking advantage of this legislature and using its resources to address the affordable housing problem as it continues to grow? Main bodyIt is not possible to mention housing without first considering factors such as population and employment growth. Ranked as the third largest city in Texas, Dallas is one of the busiest metroplexes in the United States. As the city continues to grow (Lamm, 2019), the disparity between those in need of affordable housing and the availability of affordable housing also increases. forwardDallas!, the city's comprehensive plan adopted in 2006, states that a necessary component is providing a regional balance of affordable housing (forwardDallas!, 2006). After the collapse of the national housing market in 2008, the result in Dallas was a rapidly growing economy (Nagorka, 2019). Chart 1 shows that thousands of jobs were added to the job market over the years 2014 to 2017. Unfortunately, in return, Dallas created an “unbalanced market that doesn't produce enough low-cost places to live ( Nagorka, 2019)”. while numerous jobs are available. While the housing market is not the worst in the nation, the amount of affordable housing available has declined in many parts of Dallas, particularly south Dallas. Land is being redeveloped and repurposed, or as some call it gentrification, in areas like the Bishops Arts District. Intending to create walkable, denser places, these new developments are pushing out homeowners in these communities. As home prices rise, “acquisitions” are greater than the value of the home, but they are not always enough to move in and live as one has done for decades. Furthermore, as cities like Dallas become more modern and advanced in residential design and planning, there is “a disproportionate concentration of poor families in the central city and older inner ring suburbs, where deterioration and obsolescence have reduced the quality of older homes". Downs, 1997).”Keep in mind that Dallas' strong and growing economy is not the only factor influencing affordable housing options. Our real estate market is attractive to investors from other states. According to the latest census data, many of our residents continue to move fromCalifornia (Calvey & San Francisco Business Chronicle, 2019). Having a higher cost of living, moving south is a viable and economical option for many people who choose to live in Texas. Developers know that they can offer higher prices to those who come from other markets and are willing to pay a higher than average price, thus increasing the value of homes. International developers are another factor. Many international developers have targeted Texas, and especially Dallas, over other cities because of the abundant and cheap land. However, these builders are entering Dallas and paying cash for properties, unanimously winning bidding wars among home seekers and being driven away from properties they can only afford through financing. Investors and developers who have a strong influence on our housing market are essentially “…impacting the affordability and availability of housing, as demand exceeds supply and bidding wars ensue (Searcey & Bradsher, 2015 )." Chart 2 shows the steady increase in home values ​​between 2014 and 2017 in Dallas. (Zillow, 2019).HUD, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development offers a lot of assistance, and many residents are eligible for housing vouchers provided through the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. These vouchers are given to qualified low-income residents, who receive government assistance to live in an apartment or house at below market rate. However, not all places accept vouchers, or have recently stopped doing so, and the process of receiving your voucher can take months. In some cases, voluntary inclusionary zoning is applied where some developments offer prices at a lower rate for some tenants and in exchange receive incentives or subsidies from the government. A report from Opportunity Dallas states, "[W]e've never had a clear, predictable incentive package for developers, so they know exactly what's on the table (Guinto, 2018)," justifying why so few developers have chose to participate and Dallas lacks inclusionary zoning opportunities. Combined with rising rental prices, chart 3, many residents are finding it increasingly difficult to find affordable housing. DiscussionBut is Dallas really solving the problem when most homes added are for middle- to upper-income residents and multifamily options are scarce and expensive? Aware of the growing concerns, some measures were discussed as ways to combat disproportions and increase affordable housing options. The Dallas Housing Authority is looking to use private investors to revitalize properties scattered throughout the metroplex. Allowing public-private partnerships to develop into strong assets for both parties will boost the concept of adding more affordable housing throughout the city (Allen, 2019). Additionally, Dallas recently implemented changes to the Development Code and City Code, offering additional incentives to residential projects that agree to include some income-restricted units. In return, Dallas aims to create communities of various income classes. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Conclusion Dallas city officials know the task that awaits them in this fast-paced economy. There will be winners and losers in all aspects. Reconstruction and improvement of existing affordable housing will require serious implementation of laws and concrete support from agencies. 1975)