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Comment by jimmygrapes | Hacker News Reader

I am guessing you know as well as I do (based on your previous posts) that one of the prime drivers of homelessness is a combination of the credit bureau scam and the "3x rent" income requirement. More than building new facilities I believe these factors play a much larger role. Even today now that I'm far more stable and my credit is decent, I still run into these issues when I have to move. I might even be homeless in a few months, again, despite being fully capable of affording the rent for my area. I don't know how to fix this.

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the "3x rent" income requirement.

This would be much less of an issue if there were more affordable units. It's extremely hard to find units below $500 in the US. If you could readily find units for $400-$600, many people who currently can't afford housing would be fine.

That's definitely a part of it, yeah. My place that currently costs 950 is increasing to 1230 in a few months, and I swear nothing about the unit has appreciated in value. My carpets, appliances, etc. have certainly not become more useful or cleaner in the past year. And the area around me which was once quiet and crime free now suffers from weekly gun violence and constant theft, thanks to... cultural changes that I'm not really allowed to talk about. I don't know that building more affordable housing would change things, and they definitely won't change them as fast as prices rise.

And I assume it's still the case that every adult on a lease needs to meet that 3x requirement, making roommates a less viable way to afford a place near jobs.

I’ve tried to rent out single family homes with rooms rented at the $500-$600 price point (boarding house) and was told “no flop houses, families only” by my local jurisdiction. When I told them I’d bulldoze and get zoned for a 4-plex, I was told my zoning request wouldn’t be approved. Sunbelt state, suburban area, older construction with no HOAs.

I’ve moved on to trying to buy an RV park or campground, or build one, and use tiny homes or Boxable for the structures. The purpose of a system is what it does, and it is not to get people into affordable housing. It is to protect property values and NIMBYs' desires, with a second order effect of disincentivizing density (even slight increases of it). Deeply disappointing for someone who works with the unhoused and is just trying to get them into housing that isn't a shelter or a tent behind the park.

Thank you for the work you are doing. I would love to hear more. If you ever wish to talk -- even just to vent -- do not hesitate to email me about this issue.

Highest praise. Your writings on HN and your mailing list were a contributor to my inspiration to work on this, and your perspective has been invaluable. I will reach out when time permits.

People act as if poverty is this unexplained phenomenon that one just can't get rid of, moments later they try to make it as expensive as possible to stay alive in a certain area.

Agreed. 2x rent is a significantly worse policy as it encourages landlords to allow folks to live closer to the edge.

It's the price itself that is the issue.

As a former landlord who had to evict someone and went through the long arduous eviction process, why shouldn’t landlords filter on ability to pay and history of being able to pay?

Don’t put the onus on the private sector. You want landlords to make it easier for people to rent? Either have the government have programs to guarantee rent or make it easier to evict people for non payment.

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