Photo: Greg Blockley

We know how to solve the housing problem... we just need the will to do it.

People and organizations across Texas are developing solutions to meet the housing needs of poor families. But the magnitude of the Texas housing crisis is huge compared to the number of homes developed to date through these efforts. Due to a shortage of funding and inadequate government support all of these efforts combined fall short of meeting even the growth in the Texas housing crisis. Yet these programs prove that solutions are possible. These successful solutions are based on five principles:

Aid those most in need

Two-thirds of the Texas families with the worst housing problems have incomes below $15,000 a year. Highly innovative Texas housing initiatives help those poor families most in need get a decent place to live.

The number of poor families with worst case housing needs is growing three times faster than housing is being produced.

Photo: Paul Bardagly

Link housing to community revitalization

Texas housing programs are revitalizing decaying housing and neighborhoods at the same time. They are building new homes on vacant, weed choked lots, repairing the homes of the elderly and the renovating run-down apartment projects. This dual approach builds and rebuilds communities, not simply housing “projects.”

Photo: Glynnis Laing

Use self-help initiatives to lower costs

The largest untapped resource is the individual initiative of people to help themselves. Our state’s most successful housing programs empower communities and individuals to build their own homes.

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Support community based efforts

Community organizations, homeowners associations, churches and civic groups are on the forefront of developing innovative approaches to solve the housing crisis. These programs cannot meet the entire housing need, government and private sector programs are required as well, but they can play an important role in devising new and innovative approaches to housing.

Provide adequate funding

The programs featured here are huge successes. Inadequate funding is limiting their effect. Government and individuals must find ways to increase the supply of funding if the housing crisis is to be ever be solved. Get involved with a community organization solving the housing crisis in your community and support adequate funding for decent housing for all Texans. We can solve this housing crisis.

If we are ever to solve the low-income housing crisis we must set priorities, leverage community resources and provide adequate financial resources.