The issue of housing affordability is extremely concerning and has only gotten worse. As youths who are directly affected by this issue, it is absolutely unacceptable the amount of unhoused people in our community. The rent even for a one bedroom apartment is so inflated that people working three jobs can’t even afford it let alone utilities, food and basic necessities.
Inflation has played a significant role in raising the prices in the housing market for the last three decades. In recent years, according to the Massachusetts Housing Partnership center for housing data at least 46.6% of adults in the state cannot afford their rent which leads them to feeling pressured or forced to move. Barely keeping up with rent and bills, paying more than 30% of their income on rent. It also can affect elderly people as well as they can have trouble receiving money or enough money for the current house or apartment that they are in.
This issue is not going away but getting worse and the reality is there isn’t adequate support being given by our city’s representatives. Although it is not a long-term solution we feel the institution of rent control for at least a short period of time will help.
After reaching out to the entire West Springfield and Chicopee councils and getting next to no replies about this, we are now reaching out to the news media to advocate for this issue. The issue around housing affordability right now is the worst it’s been in over 30 years. Something needs to be done. If people are not in support of rent control there are other ways of supporting housing affordability. But we can not continue to do nothing. People’s lives are on the line.
Fenix Andino and Damien Cruz
West Springfield
Sela Free
Chicopee