States and Cities Decimated Americans' Lowest-Cost Housing Option
18 days ago
- #homelessness
- #affordable-housing
- #urban-policy
- Single-room occupancies (SROs) were once a common and affordable housing option for low-income individuals in major U.S. cities, providing small rooms with shared amenities.
- From the mid-20th century, zoning and building code changes led to the decline of SROs, contributing to a rise in homelessness as the lowest-cost housing option disappeared.
- Research shows a strong correlation between high housing costs and homelessness, with areas experiencing rapid rent increases seeing corresponding spikes in homelessness rates.
- The loss of SROs has left a significant gap in affordable housing, with estimates suggesting the U.S. could have 2.5 million more low-cost units if SROs had grown at the same rate as other housing types.
- Some states are now reversing course by passing laws to allow the construction of micro-units and shared housing, recognizing the role SROs played in preventing homelessness.
- Efforts to convert vacant office spaces into SRO-style housing are emerging as a potential solution to address the current housing shortage and homelessness crisis.