As part of the much lauded Green New Deal, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders are launching an initiative to launch public housing communities. It is refreshing that AOC and Bernie want to re-start the discussions on large-scale public housing. It is time to admit that the Housing and Urban Development Section 8 housing program is a failure. The voucher system has failed to provide abundant, affordable housing and failed to prevent homelessness.
And what better way to build public housing than making it a part of the Green New Deal. Unlike the housing projects of yesteryear, these are ones that will likely build sustainable communities where residents become stakeholders in their community. Instead of ugly cinderblock dwellings that resemble psychiatric hospitals, these will be beautiful. Residents that are also stakeholders make their communities safer because neighborhoods are stable. Stable housing makes for safer housing.
AOC and Bernie want to build beautiful, vibrant communities which are eco-friendly, give people good paying jobs, and encourage and foster a sense of belonging. Furthermore, the public housing option is the only way to put the greed of the landlord class in check. Rents have gone sky high putting hard working people one step from homelessness. When you struggle to simply take care of your day to day needs, there’s little leftover for community building. Community building is what reduces crime. Crime finds unstable neighborhoods, much like cockroachs seek dark places. Make crime impossible and criminals pack up and leave.
Here is the link to the story. Have a read