The faces of housing insecurity in Delaware County
Sue, a single mother of 3, has been working two jobs to maintain her household. Recently, her apartment building was sold and the new owner increased her rent by 30%. She hasn’t been able to find a new place to move her family because there simply aren’t enough rental units available that her income can support. She has been able to receive supplemental rental assistance to bridge the gap on a short-term basis, but now she has just 30 days to find a new home for her family. Otherwise, they will have to move into a homeless shelter, if there is space for the 4 of them.
Affordable housing benefits everyone in Delaware County
- A healthy housing inventory creates jobs, from the construction phase through long-term permanent jobs.
- Affordable housing promotes more spending within the community. More money left over after the rent payment means more to spend on healthy food, healthcare, etc.
- Stable, safe housing means a healthier population. Old, unkept buildings pose a risk to physical health.
- Affordable housing leads to improved government infrastructure. More residents equals more property taxes, so Delaware County is able to provide for all citizens.
- Affordable housing reduces the number of evictions and therefore the number of homeless.
The faces of housing insecurity in Delaware County
Judy, a 70-year-old widow, never held full-time employment outside the home; instead, she maintained the house for her husband and son. Her son relocated to the West Coast, so when Judy’s husband died, she moved into her mother’s home to take care of her. Her only source of income is her late husband’s modest pension and Social Security. Her mother died a year ago. Even though Judy still lives in her mother’s home, her siblings have decided to sell the house. Judy’s income will not cover monthly rent in Delaware, so she is faced with the challenges of being alone while trying to find a safe, clean place to live.
The faces of housing insecurity in Delaware County
Jackson, a recent Delaware County high school graduate, lost his father unexpectedly. Suddenly Jackson had to find the funds necessary to bury his father while also navigating the challenge of become homeless at 18 years old. He has been able to find help with food and other needs through local United Way programs, but our community lacks the housing options that are affordable for Jackson and others in similar situations.
Funders Who Made It Possible
The faces of housing insecurity in Delaware County
When Jorge’s wife died of COVID, he lost half of the monthly Social Security income they had depended on. The 83-year-old veteran couldn’t afford housing or taxes. He used what little savings he had to put a down payment on a small camper, which he tows from parking lot to parking lot to live in. The camper is now under threat of being repossessed. He has tried to get help through various veteran agencies but feels old and forgotten by the military and society. “If I was ill,” said Jorge, “services would be available to me but since I’m healthy, I have to fend for myself.”