As a resident of the Fairpark neighborhood in Salt Lake City, I have seen the homeless population balloon in just a few years. It’s led to increases in crime and drug use, causing residents to feel less and less safe. As someone from a third-world country living in a first-world country, it is a shame there hasn’t been much done to remedy the ongoing issues. Our city and state government have not done enough to create better options for affordable housing, which has directly led to the increase of unhoused people all over Salt Lake City.
As a single mother of three children who moved to the United States from Liberia 17 years ago, it’s hard to imagine being able to afford a home even at $300,000 in Salt Lake City, which is increasingly hard to find. I want to encourage my City Council to consider reforming how the housing market affects single parents, single-income households and low-income residents.
In England, my sister was able to purchase a home at a greatly reduced rate using their Council Housing program. People are selected using a points system based on need. This is an example of positive government and local leadership that has led to the reduction of the housing crisis because “developers commit to selling homes at least 20% below local market value.” This has given those who never had the prospect of homeownership the opportunity to buy a home. I believe we can follow what England has done to provide affordable housing for their unhoused and low-income population.
Federic Auger, Salt Lake City
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