By Lacorya Lynn
Air, water, food, sleep, clothing, and shelter are all basic physiological needs. However, for many people, unaffordable rent means that they must prioritize shelter at the expense of their other needs. Food, health, safety--these are all things that we as Community Spring fellows have had to sacrifice to have a place to stay. Because of our backgrounds and our knowledge of other affected people, we decided that housing affordability is the most pressing issue that we want to challenge. This is how the Lighthouse Initiative first sprang into being.
The word cloud above reflects the discussions our team has had about the importance of housing and what it means to them. As you can see, housing impacts nearly every aspect of our lives, and we want to find ways to make sure everyone has an affordable and safe place to call home. Through this campaign, we will educate people on housing accessibility, change public perception about affordable housing, and increase the amount of affordable units that are available.
Accessing Housing
Knowing where and how to access resources is essential. There is some housing assistance already available - not nearly enough, but some - however, many people do not know how to connect with it. The Lighthouse Initiative seeks to address this disconnect by providing useful information in the easiest way possible. Our team has experienced barriers to housing because of language differences, or after coming home from incarceration, or after domestic violence; therefore, we know the importance of housing assistance being easily and readily accessible. Housing should be accessible to everyone regardless of any situational or language barriers.
Shifting Public Perception
Many people do not realize how a lack of affordable housing can negatively impact someone’s life, whether that’s their health, education, or interpersonal relationships. And while lots of people say that affordable housing is important, few people understand the scale of what’s needed or who really needs help. Even worse, too many people in our community have become complacent in thinking that affordable housing is just something that is unachievable and dismissible. We aim to change these conversations. The Lighthouse Initiative believes everyone deserves a place they can call a home, a place in which they feel safe and comfortable, and a place where they do not have to prioritize rent over food or other critical needs.
Increasing Affordable Units
Perhaps the biggest issue with affordable housing is simply that there is not enough to go around. There are over 13,000 extremely low income families in desperate need for affordable housing in Gainesville; however, only around 2,000 affordable units are available (Shimberg Center). We will pull together creative solutions to increase the number of affordable units, and advocate for systemic changes that will achieve greater housing justice. The status quo - with people spending more than they can afford on rent, prioritizing their housing over their health, losing their homes because they can’t afford it, and worse - is simply unacceptable. We will change the balance and find new ways to increase affordable housing in Gainesville and Alachua County.
Over the next several months, the Lighthouse Initiative will build a campaign to ensure that everyone has access to stable, affordable housing where they can feel at home. By helping people access housing, changing public perception, and increasing affordable housing availability, this vision can become a reality. A reality in which everyone has a place they can truly call home.