Nothing on a world-wide basis quite matches American hubris. America even does ‘bad’ better than anyone else. That would seem to be the relentless message around US public/social housing — proudly American awfulness: crime, drugs, racism, degenerate no hopers, public housing falling down, falling down, falling down. Why would any country bother to compete?
One answer to this question is provoked by the world-wide financialization of housing. As homes become first and foremost investment opportunities rather than essential shelter, rising prices are creating affordable housing crises.
A world-wide solution has been, and will continue to be, developing public/social/non-profit rent-geared-to-income housing of various shades and colours. These housing forms are designed to hold homes away from free housing market dominated by speculators. Such tasks neither were, nor are not simple ones. And yet there is no reason for governments to wallow in the fears that pervade America’s triumphalist hall of self-loathing mirrors.
Worldwide, there are national, regional, and city success stories that feature both human and economic success in public/social housing. Indeed there may well be just such stories available by turning a few pages back in local history. A recent article goes hunting for local success in the province of South Australia.
There are positive results to be found. Read more in INDAILY: Affordable, sustainable and stylish: Showcasing the best social housing in SA
