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Low-Income Residents Unable to Afford Surplus Housing

While many displaced Houstonians have found temporary homes thanks to the housing glut, the vast majority of these units do not qualify as affordable if located in luxury high-rise buildings, says Lawler in this EXCLUSIVE.

By Lisa Brown | lisabrown | Updated on September 29, 2017

Affordable Housing Avenue and Artspace created live/work space for low-income artists at the Elder Street Lofts.

HOUSTON—The aftermath of Harvey has had a significant impact on Houston’s housing market and there is a growing misconception that the city is well positioned to deal with displaced residents due to the former housing glut. However, this fails to take low-income Houstonians into account, according to affordable housing experts.

According to FEMA data, low-income families in Houston were disproportionately affected by Harvey. Households earning less than $25,000 annually made up the largest group of residents likely affected by flooding and households earning between $25,00 and $49,999 ranked as the second largest group. The loss of naturally occurring affordable housing raises new concerns for these residents, as they face displacement and higher housing costs.

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