CDS Offers Expertise on Affordable Housing

The Case for Affordable Housing in Pricey Neighborhoods
​The Houston Chronicle

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As real estate becomes more valuable in Houston's urban core, a shrinking number of federally subsidized housing in these wealthier neighborhoods could threaten the economic diversity of people who live there...

Steve Spillette, a Houston-based urban development strategist with Community Development Strategies, said that as real estate values increase and neighborhoods become more affluent, they typically see reduced crime, have more desirable schools and attract more businesses. The employees who work there, however, might not be able to afford to live there.

He said affordable housing in Houston's core is decreasing and farther-out neighborhoods considered affordable often have the lower-performing schools and fewer transportation options.

​"The land value will go up and it becomes hard to add housing that is affordable," Spillette said. "It's hard to keep that mix (of incomes) in high-quality areas."