by: David Levine

Yesterday was a special, but maybe not so special, day at Good Shepherd. It was the first of the month. As if by cue, the phones rang off the hook. People were calling for help with a rent payment or utility bill. They knew the first of the month is when we are flush with assistance money—if only for a week or so, until the money allocated for the month runs out.

We know the statistics are grim for our community. Not a day passes where we don’t read about our deteriorating social condition—that the national poverty rate is at its highest level in 11 years; that 1 in 4 children in Washington, DC, live in poverty; or that nearly 7 percent of Virginians received food stamps last year.

These statistics show one side of the issue. For want of a better word, these statistics tell us the “demand-side” of the problem. They say more people are in need, often a very dire need for food and shelter. It is what we know is true. You only need to visit the Good Shepherd office on the first day of the month.

On the flip side, these statistics don’t depict the “supply-side” of the problem. The supply-side tells us how much affordable housing has been created. The supply-side numbers say we are solving homelessness by providing the needy with housing.

Here again, the statistics look grim. According to one housing provider, since 2003, 3 million units of affordable housing have been lost to condominium conversions or market-rate rental upgrades. Part of the problem has been the loss of profits at banks and at the two housing government-sponsored agencies, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. These entities used to play a large role in the creation of affordable housing (mainly through their purchases of low-income tax credits). Part of it, too, may be NIMBYism and severe local budget constraints.

Whatever the reason, at a time when need is growing, it is clear additional affordable housing resources are not growing in sync with the need. At Good Shepherd we do are best to increase the affordable rental housing stock—but we are just one part of the answer to addressing the need.