Post #3963079

2026-07-20 15:28 UTC

Thing I learned from this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQW4W1_SJmc Poverty is correlated with homelessness - *negatively* The poorer an area is, the lower its homelessness rate; the wealthier an area is, the higher the homelessness rate. I think we need to internalize that fact - rising median wages without commensurate increase in housing stock causes homelessness. So if you're relatively wealthy and you're against new housing, you - specifically - are the problem.

Replies (3)

@tess@mastodon.social 2026-07-20 15:37

Another thing from the video: Building 100 market-rate homes frees up 70 less expensive units - including 40 affordable units - because wealthy people move from older to newer units. In other words, you could subsidize 40 below-market rate units built at a loss (construction costs are high in expensive areas), or you could allow a private developer to build 100 luxury units at a profit and get 40 affordable units basically for free, allowing you to spend the money on public housing instead.

Open ##3964533
@venite@mastodon.nl 2026-07-20 15:37

@tess@mastodon.social wow this makes so much sense

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@fivetonsflax@tilde.zone 2026-07-20 16:47

@tess@mastodon.social @mhoye@cosocial.ca This is interesting but there are some aspects left out that I think ought to be addressed. Where is the luxury housing being built? Is it in a geographically desirable neighborhood that is currently populated by poorer people? What does it mean when you destroy 8 rent-controlled units to build 20 market-rate units?

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