Subsidising the Cost of Land for Low Income Housing: Some Evidence from Jos, Nigeria

The relationship between people, environmental circumstances and the cost of projects in Jordan are focal points of this study, where the problem of low-income housing needs is still increasing, having tripled in the last two decades. The shortage of public housing production and the cost of lands and building materials, mainly controlled by private sector investors, are substantial reasons for the housing crisis in a country of poor economic recourses and high percentage of poverty. The Jordanian government decided to aid the poorest class of the population, offering free of charge shelters organized in small residential quarters, which became a prototype diffused throughout all the Jordanian regions. This paper analyzes one of these typical quarters, collecting data through face-to-face interviews with the households using a structured questionnaire. The study focuses on the physical components of the quarter, looking at open spaces, paths, streets, volumes, materials, colors in relation with the environmental context. It also investigates the households' requirements, relationships and preferences. The study discusses also the housing problems at the macro scale level in order to concretely evaluate the shelters' cost, setting some guidelines with respect to the cultural and environmental local conditions.

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The cost‐effectiveness of the low‐income housing tax credit relative to vouchers: Evidence from six metropolitan areas

Housing Policy Debate ◽

10.1080/10511482.2005.9521553 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 16 (3-4) ◽

pp. 469-511 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Lan Deng

Keyword(s):

Cost Effectiveness ◽

Low Income ◽

Metropolitan Areas ◽

Tax Credit ◽

The Cost ◽

Low Income Housing

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Can They Afford the Rent? Resident Cost Burden in Low Income Housing Tax Credit Developments

Urban Affairs Review ◽

10.1177/1078087411417078 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 47 (6) ◽

pp. 775-799 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Anne R. Williamson

Keyword(s):

Low Income ◽

Rental Housing ◽

The United States ◽

Tax Credit ◽

Cost Burden ◽

Housing Choice ◽

Voucher Program ◽

Housing Choice Voucher Program ◽

The Cost ◽

Low Income Housing

Although the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) is the primary vehicle through which subsidized rental housing is developed in the United States, we know little about whether residents in LIHTC units can actually afford their rent. This article examines affordability as defined by the cost burden measure for nearly 38,000 Florida LIHTC households. Results indicate that the majority of LIHTC residents are cost burdened, and a smaller proportion are severely cost burdened. Results are presented based on race, ethnicity, and income, with separate analyses for LIHTC tenants who do not participate in the Housing Choice Voucher program and those who do. Findings indicate that Whites typically do not fare better than minorities in terms of cost burden in LIHTC developments. Further, participation in the Housing Choice Voucher program does not necessarily prevent cost burden. LIHTC residents with household incomes between 50% and 60% of area median fare best in avoiding cost burden.

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The Effects of Prevailing Wage Requirements on the Cost of Low-Income Housing

ILR Review ◽

10.1177/001979390505900108 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 59 (1) ◽

pp. 141-157 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Sarah Dunn ◽

John M. Quigley ◽

Larry A. Rosenthal

Keyword(s):

Low Income ◽

Geographical Location ◽

Tax Credit ◽

Construction Costs ◽

Prevailing Wage ◽

Econometric Evidence ◽

Project Characteristics ◽

The Cost ◽

Residential Projects ◽

Low Income Housing

Recent California legislation extends the application of prevailing wage regulations to construction workers building subsidized low-income residential projects. Econometric evidence based on micro data covering 205 residential projects subsidized by the California Low Income Housing Tax Credit since 1996 and completed by mid-2002 demonstrates that construction costs increased substantially under prevailing wage requirements. Estimates of additional construction costs in the authors' most extensive models range from 9% to 37%. The analysis controls for variations in cost by geographical location and for differences in project characteristics, financing, and developer attributes. The authors estimate the effect of uniform imposition of these regulations on the number of new dwellings for low-income households produced under the tax credit program in California. Under reasonable assumptions, the mid-range estimate of the prospective decrease exceeds 3, 100 units per year.

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Demonstrating Nutrient Cost Gradients: A Brooklyn Case Study

International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research ◽

10.1024/0300-9831/a000210 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 84 (5-6) ◽

pp. 244-251 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Robert J. Karp ◽

Gary Wong ◽

Marguerite Orsi

Keyword(s):

Low Income ◽

Energy Content ◽

Food Selection ◽

The United States ◽

United States Department ◽

Micronutrient Deficiencies ◽

Caloric Density ◽

Low Income Families ◽

The Cost ◽

The Impact

Abstract. Introduction: Foods dense in micronutrients are generally more expensive than those with higher energy content. These cost-differentials may put low-income families at risk of diminished micronutrient intake. Objectives: We sought to determine differences in the cost for iron, folate, and choline in foods available for purchase in a low-income community when assessed for energy content and serving size. Methods: Sixty-nine foods listed in the menu plans provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for low-income families were considered, in 10 domains. The cost and micronutrient content for-energy and per-serving of these foods were determined for the three micronutrients. Exact Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for comparisons of energy costs; Spearman rho tests for comparisons of micronutrient content. Ninety families were interviewed in a pediatric clinic to assess the impact of food cost on food selection. Results: Significant differences between domains were shown for energy density with both cost-for-energy (p < 0.001) and cost-per-serving (p < 0.05) comparisons. All three micronutrient contents were significantly correlated with cost-for-energy (p < 0.01). Both iron and choline contents were significantly correlated with cost-per-serving (p < 0.05). Of the 90 families, 38 (42 %) worried about food costs; 40 (44 %) had chosen foods of high caloric density in response to that fear, and 29 of 40 families experiencing both worry and making such food selection. Conclusion: Adjustments to USDA meal plans using cost-for-energy analysis showed differentials for both energy and micronutrients. These differentials were reduced using cost-per-serving analysis, but were not eliminated. A substantial proportion of low-income families are vulnerable to micronutrient deficiencies.

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