Attainable Housing Blog

Over the last ten years California has continued to set the trend when it comes to anti-smoking by making it against the law for smokers to light up in public places like bars, restaurants, hotel rooms. Thanks to new legislation, California is now making it illegal for residents to light up in affordable housing projects as well too.

The Wave of the Future

Studies have shown that the average resident of an affordable housing project would prefer to live in a home where smoking is not allowed. Even though this might not be good news for residents who already live in affordable housing projects, they can still satisfy their nicotine cravings thanks to electronic cigarettes.
An electronic cigarette is a small device that uses e-liquid, a mixture of nicotine and water. Once a smoker turns the e-cigarette on they will get a small burst of e-liquid in a mist and the tip to the ecig will glow red just like a real cigarette.

A Smokeless Cigarette

Unlike traditional cigarettes, e-cigs don’t produce any smoke and they can be enjoyed anywhere, even in the comfort of home without the fear of breaking any of the rules or regulations that come with affordable housing.

In today’s technologically advanced world many career counselors encourage people to choose careers working with computers or some form of technology because “that’s where the money is at” but few career counselors encourage people to choose architecture careers..

Why Architecture?

As an architect you will have the opportunity to work in a career where you can make a difference in the community and world that you live in by playing a part in the design and construction of new buildings that will be constructed around the country or world.

Architecture careers is never boring; it’s a profession where you will constantly be met with creative and challenging obstacles to overcome on a regular basis. Besides being challenged you will also be able to work in an environment with men and women who love their jobs and thrive working in a creative, fast paced environment.

Make A Difference With Attainable Housing

Over the last twenty years, home ownership has quickly become a thing of the past thanks to many homes that are priced well beyond what an average working class individual can afford. It’s also gotten harder to rent in many cities around the world and this lack of affordable or attainable housing has sent many people away from cities that they grew up in to other towns and cities that offer affordable housing.

Thanks to the leadership initiatives of the Obama Administration many new homes, condos, and apartments are being constructed in the United States that are within the reach financially of people who want to buy or rent.

Architects are playing a major role in the development of attainable housing because they get to be a deciding factor in what affordable materials are chosen plus consult with owners during the building process to insure that a new home, condo or apartment buildings construction costs are kept low so that savings can be passed onto future owners or renters.

This isn’t going to be the opinionated, editorial commentary that it could be. This will be more factual and impartial… Just for the record.

What’s Really Out There?
Refugees and immigrants make up the fastest growing population in many of the United State’s cities. The Internet is a font of information regarding subsidized housing and basic housing tips for refugees and immigrants searching for affordable housing. Latinos, Hmong, east African and others can access organizations that will turn them on to HUD, fair housing laws and even charitable organizations willing to help. In Canada, the need for affordable housing, a result of their increased economy, has driven rents sky high. This has left a staggering number of immigrants unable to find decent, affordable homes.

How’s That Working Out for You?
Living conditions reported by professionals visiting the homes of immigrants (emergency workers for example) report gross overcrowding in tenements originally meant for 6 to 8 individuals. Grandparents housed in stifling, hot, non-air-conditioned attics end up being carried down and out to waiting rescue squads; their chief complaint? Heat exhaustion. Flashlights and often candles used for lighting instead of electricity; open gas ovens used to heat the residence in place of the electric furnace; both an open invitation to a house fire. Sadly, some of these residents-many of who are employed-spend most of their paycheck paying hiked up rents to landlords seeing an opportunity to increase their own income.

If our cities offer programs to assist in affordable housing for immigrants and refugees, and specific organizations encourage the belief that affordable housing is not just a dream (but a reality); a program or organization needs to be created for follow-up. Clearly, social services can’t do it alone; or if they can, something’s dreadfully wrong with the system.