MICAH Northeast Leader Janet Urbanowicz - Pioneer Press Letter to the Editor

On July 13th, the conversation about affordable housing started by these three articles in the Saint Paul Pioneer Press continued with this letter to the editor.

It was the lead letter in the letters to the editor column.

MICAH Northeast leader and White Bear Unitarian Universalist Church member Janet Urbanowicz was the author.

Affordable Housing: An American Problem

There's more than one questionable assumption in James Becker's proposal that low-income housing should be developed "in areas that are rife with foreclosed properties" — in other words, the inner cities ("Affordable housing: An opportunity," July 3). He feels this is where the low-income rabble belong, along with an entry-level, low-income police officer to provide "diversity and stability."

It's clearly inaccurate, and smacks of racism, to imply that all low-wage earners are shiftless, lazy and criminal. There are many single parents, wait staff, retail clerks, entry-level teachers and police officers who need affordable housing.

Foreclosures are happening everywhere, including suburbs like Lakeville, making them good places for affordable housing (by his logic).

Autumn Lubin, foreclosure specialist with Yellow Wood Consulting in Farmington, says that "no community is spared, regardless of its home values, income levels or racial composition. Foreclosure is not just a poor problem. It's an American problem." The same is true of affordable housing.

Janet Urbanowicz, St. Paul