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The Term 'Affordable' Is Misleading

There is a focus on building more affordable housing, but Century West Partners' Steve Fifield says what we really need is workforce housing.

By Kelsi Maree Borland | Updated on January 04, 2018

Steve Fifield Steve Fifield is the CEO of Fifield Cos. and co-founder of Century West Partners.

There is no debate that Los Angeles is suffering from an affordability crisis, but the term “affordable housing” may be misleading to many residents and voters, according to Steve Fifield. Affordable housing is housing that is allocated for residents earning a small percentage of the median area income, but it doesn’t include those making near that median income. In L.A., that may leave out residents making $50,000 to $75,000 per year who are struggling to get by at current rents. We sat down with Steve Fifield, a co-founder at Century West Partners to find out more about the differences between affordable and workforce housing.

GlobeSt.com: Why to you think that the term ‘affordable’ and the focus on affordable housing is misleading?

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