3 Lessons on Affordable Housing That Changed How I Think
“The more I’ve learned about affordable housing, the more I’ve realized how much I misunderstood it.”
I am no expert in affordable housing, but I do have the privilege of working with people who are. Prior to joining The Sanchez Group, I was a preschool director, and my perspective on affordable housing was rooted in a simple belief: children and their families deserve a place to lay their heads at night, and the solution seemed straightforward—just make housing more affordable. After working with Martin Sanchez, CEO of The Sanchez Group, who is deeply passionate about affordable housing, I’ve come to understand that the issue is far more complex than I originally believed.
Over the past several months, I’ve learned three key lessons about this heavily debated topic: affordable housing is not one-size-fits-all, it is not limited to Section 8, and ensuring access to affordable housing impacts the entire community.
I used to think “affordable housing” simply meant low-cost or below-market pricing. But as Martin explains, “affordability is relative.” Affordability isn’t determined by price alone—it depends on whether a specific household can reasonably afford that cost based on their income and financial obligations. For example, a Porsche or a lakefront home isn’t inherently unaffordable—it’s just unaffordable to me based on my income. The same principle applies across housing. A unit that is affordable for one household may be completely out of reach for another. This means affordability is income-dependent, varies across individuals and communities, and must be understood as a relationship between income and cost rather than a fixed price point. This shift changes how we define affordable housing from a vague label into something measurable, often evaluated through metrics like the percentage of income spent on housing. It also highlights why blanket solutions fail, since affordability is not one-size-fits-all.
I also used to believe affordable housing was synonymous with government assistance—primarily programs like the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program. However, I’ve learned that affordable housing encompasses much more than vouchers or subsidies. It includes a wide range of models and tools such as tax credit programs, public-private partnerships, workforce housing, zoning strategies, and income-restricted developments. In reality, affordable housing is not a single program, but an ecosystem of approaches designed to increase access across different income levels. This broader understanding expands the conversation beyond government aid to include market-driven and hybrid solutions, reduces stigma by showing these efforts are intentional and structured, and opens the door to more scalable, sustainable ways to address the issue.
Finally, I used to think affordable housing primarily served individuals and families in need. What I’ve learned is that housing stability creates ripple effects that extend throughout the entire community. When people have stable housing, it impacts workforce reliability, local businesses, school performance, healthcare outcomes, and overall community safety. Employers benefit from more consistent staffing, students are better positioned to succeed, and communities experience less strain on public resources. In this sense, affordable housing is not just a social issue—it is a critical component of economic and community infrastructure. This perspective reframes housing from a charitable concern into something that directly influences the health, stability, and growth of an entire community.
My perspective on affordable housing has evolved from a simple, surface-level view into a deeper understanding of its complexity and interconnectedness. I am still learning, but I now recognize that affordability is relative, solutions are not one-size-fits-all, and housing stability plays a vital role in building stronger communities.