While St. Louis still enjoys relatively affordable costs of living, we have not been immune to the nationwide trend of rapidly rising rental costs. For poor families in both the city and the county, rental prices have increased to budget-busting levels.
According to a recently released report by the Urban Institute, both St. Louis city and county have seen a marked decrease in the number of non-subsidized housing units that are affordable for families earning less than 30 percent of the area median income (roughly $20,000 for a family of four). Non-subsidized units include any housing unit that is not public housing, receiving Housing Choice Vouchers, or other federal rental housing assistance.
In 2000, the city had 21 non-subsidized units available per 100 extra-low-income households looking for housing. Today that number has dropped to zero. The county has also seen its affordable non-subsidized housing disappear. There is literally no affordable, non-subsidized housing available to St. Louis’ low-income families. With thousands waiting on the Section 8 waiting lists for both the city and county, families are being forced to pay unsustainable portions of their income to rent. This means that poor families are often forced to skip medical treatment, educational opportunities for their children, and basics such as food. We all know that hungry kids have difficulties learning, and this decline in affordable rental properties is sending thousands of children to school with empty stomachs.
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Making things even worse, the gap between the total number of extra-low-income families and affordable housing units has widened by almost 50 percent. As of 2013, there were close to 45,000 more extra-low-income households seeking housing than there were affordable rental units (both subsidized and non-subsidized).
Undoubtedly, this problem has been exacerbated by market forces, such as the 2008 financial collapse. When the predatory lending market collapsed, it forced millions of homeowners back into the rental market. These former homeowners were unable to pay exorbitant adjustable rate mortgages that only seemed to adjust in one direction: more expensive. With the resulting high consumer demand, landlords have been steadily raising rents, faster than general inflation. This means that families who couldn’t afford their expensive mortgages are now facing a rental market that is, once again, forcing them to choose between paying for housing or other necessities.
Our region needs community leaders to prioritize the construction of affordable rental housing, especially in high opportunity areas. Thousands of St. Louis families are desperate for an affordable place to raise their children and build a future, but there currently is simply no place for them to go. We urge governmental leaders to join with community members, community development agencies and other nonprofits to have an honest conversation about housing affordability.
Will Jordan is the executive director of the Metropolitan St. Louis Equal Housing & Opportunity Council, which works to ensure equal access to housing for all people through education, counseling, investigation and enforcement. Glenn Burleigh is a longtime progressive activist and organizer. He currently serves as EHOC’s community engagement specialist.
