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 Affordable Housing - Nickel & Dimed 
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I read Nickel and Dimed for another class earlier this semester. I flew through it because it was fascinating. However, I am going to suggest to my sister that she write the real story of the working poor, because that is her life! I admire Barbara E.'s courage and tenacity - I couldn't do what she did.

Of course, the real reason to read this book, is to understand how rough life is for millions of people struggling for the very food to eat that day.
The first thought we all have, is to raise the minimum wage. However, economists have shown that when the minimum wage is raised appreciably, jobs are lost. Employers won't hire, and they lay off people already on the payroll.

So what can be done? I think the Habitat for Humanity project is amazing in its effects. People work together, pooling resources and talents. The needy working poor person has to put in many of hours, first on someone else's house, and then on their own. They develop pride of ownership, which is lacking in federal public housing. Since their monthly payments are so much lower than what they had previously paid for substandard rentals, they immediately enjoy a big boost in disposable income. Thus they are now much better able to provide food, clothing, and other essentials for their families.

I realize this program is limited in its scope - it can't build enough houses to house all the working poor in the forseeable future. However, maybe with the popularity of Nickel and Dimed, more and more people may decide they can route some charitable dollars or volunteer hours to this worthy cause.

I wonder what anyone else can suggest, to address the appalling lack of affordable housing in many areas of our country, including this city of Boone, NC? I personally know a young couple with two small children who moved here to Boone for the husband's job. The mother homeschools the children, ages 5 & 7. (Her part time home based computer business had dried up, and they were forced to sell their nice small home.) The family of four "temporarily" moved in with her parents. However, they were never able to afford any type of rental in this Boone area. Recently, they moved to another town, into a house owned by another relative. Her husband had to go back into a dangerous line of work that he had left a few years ago, that she desperately wanted him to leave. I am sure that the lack of affordable housing was a large part of this problem, in addition to our current national economy. By the way, this young couple both have bachelor's degrees! What a sad situation.

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Joyce Jarrard


Tue Sep 23, 2003 10:50 am
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Yes, the price of housing in Boone is insane! I heard Watauga County's new supt. on MTN TV say that she and her husband have not bought a home here yet because they can not find one that they can afford. She said that Asheville, where she formally worked, had high home prices but this area's home prices are comparable to a beach home! I've heard that it a large number of Watauga County teachers are eligible to retire within the next five years, so the county will need to hire new teachers. It is going to be difficult for new teachers to be able to afford to live here because of the housing prices.


Wed Sep 24, 2003 8:27 am
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I agree with Joyce. The Habitat for Humanity project is a great idea. It reminds me of times past when neighbors would all get together for a house or barn raising. Of course, although it is not exactly the same, the cooperation among people working toward a specific goal while alleviating many economic pressures is the same. Since we cannot all be big time capitalists, this is a form of socialism that works well.


Fri Sep 26, 2003 8:21 pm
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Joyce starts her thoughtful post with this assumption:

"However, economists have shown that when the minimum wage is raised appreciably, jobs are lost. Employers won't hire, and they lay off people already on the payroll."

As critical analysts of any issue, we have to be wary of this sort of definitive statement. I've posted some links regarding this issue on your course syllabus website.

I think you will find that there are at least two sides to this argument, one where economists can provide good evidence that increases in the minimum wage do not result in job losses, and another side that cites a little different evidence which confirms the opposite outcome, that is, job losses.

This doesn't mean that either side's economists are lying, or wrong. It does mean that one's answer to questions regarding the impact of an increase in minumum wage involves a political and moral decision regarding what evidence one chooses to find persuasive, and why. It can also reflect the sort of evidence one has been exposed to based on the values of the community in which one lives.

So explore some of the arguments, and recognize that for all of us our evaluation of the arguments reflects moral and political attitudes which we hold intentionally, or which we have absorbed in our day-to-day associations.

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Gayle Turner


Sun Sep 28, 2003 2:23 pm
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Affordable Housing.

In my most previous career, I worked in affordable housing for over 10 years. I have an extensive knowledge of both public and private programs in this industry. There is so much to tell............................

If anyone has any specific questions, I would be happy to answer them and/or research if I don't know the answer off the top of my head.


Fri Oct 03, 2003 9:26 am
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