Final Research Paper

Exploring the Affordable Housing Crisis through Critical Theoretical Lenses Student Name Institution Professor Name Course Date Exploring the Affordable Housing Crisis through Critical Theoretical Lenses The shortage of affordable housing for average earners is one of the significant and primary phenomena of the urban environment of the present era, as hundreds of millions of people in large cities around the globe are affected by this. There is this crisis in high rent expenses, overcrowded units, poor quality accommodation, and vulnerability to homelessness. With the expansion and development of cities, it is hard now to find affordable houses, and this has aggravated the issue of social injustice and led to the emergence of the rich and the poor gap in societies. According to Edwards (2016), the impact is staggering, and families and individuals have no other option but to select between life’s essentials, housing, health care, education, and food. Owing to this problem, looking at it and analyzing its roots and implications from different lenses is essential. This essay aims to analyze the affordable housing crisis through the lens of two critical theoretical frameworks: Two of the theories applicable to the study include utilitarianism and Feminist Urban Theory. Therefore, if one approaches the problem from the above perspectives, a larger view of the problem can be seen, and better ways of solving it can be found. Research Question How can the principles of utilitarianism and Feminist Urban Theory be integrated to enhance existing policies and develop new strategies that address the affordable housing crisis while promoting social justice for marginalized groups in urban environments? This research question investigates the application of utilitarianism and Feminist Urban Theory to the affordable housing crisis. It seeks ways to improve existing policies and develop new strategies to address this issue. The goal is to find solutions that balance overall societal benefit with social justice for marginalized urban groups. Theoretical Foundations Utilitarianism: Maximizing Societal Benefit According to Williams (2013), utilitarianism holds that the right action is the one that brings the most significant amount of utility or happiness to the largest number of people. When applied to the affordable housing crisis, the practical approach is used to identify the solutions that will most benefit the most people. According to Udoudom (2021), increasing the number of affordable housing units through different approaches (subsidy schemes, PPPs, and developer tax incentives) would bring society the most significant net benefit. Jones and Felps (2013) state that housing is one of the basic needs of a man; helping a large population of people and families to obtain their own homes would have ripple effects. These could include higher disposable income for other necessary products, better standards of living, and overall well-being of society (Jones & Felps, 2013). The practical approach corresponds to the principle of ‘the greatest happiness of the greatest number.’ By raising the overall stock of affordable housing, policymakers can help a large segment of the population reduce their expenses (Driver, 2009). It, in turn, could result in more general social benefits like better economic conditions, fewer people becoming homeless, and better health. Driver (2009) states that the opponents of the utilitarian approach state that the rights and needs of the minority or the oppressed will not be protected for the sake of the majority. This limitation makes it possible to question the ability of utilitarian policies to either maintain or even worsen the existing inequalities, especially for the most vulnerable in society regarding housing insecurity. Feminist Urban Theory: Addressing Structural Inequalities Feminist Urban Theory (FUT) is a theoretical framework that analyzes the politics of power and social relations in the city, focusing on gender, race, and class. When it comes to the essence of this theoretical background, as described by Peake et al. (2021), one can grasp how women and other vulnerable groups tend to suffer from the scarcity of affordable housing. FUT also believes that this challenge of the scarcity of reasonable houses is not an issue of efficiency but fairness (Falú, 2023). It explores how women are paid less than men and, have lower employment rates, are more prone to be single mothers, and face discrimination in the employment and housing markets, which all increase their vulnerability to housing insecurity. According to Gibbons (2021), the theory also highlights policies that aim at handling these structural injustices with the participation of vulnerable groups in the crisis. FUT also advocates for the integration of women and other vulnerable groups in the formulation of policies and the development of cities (Gibbons, 2021). This participatory approach ensures that the policies and initiatives in the provision of housing meet the needs of the people in the urban areas and that the causes of housing injustices are addressed. According to Dutton et al. (2022), FUT also disrupts the conventional urban planning frameworks that have not considered or have considered the needs of women and other marginalized groups as insignificant. This approach focuses on the need to provide shelter for people experiencing homelessness and wants to change the systems that contribute to the marginalization of people in terms of housing. Analysis of the Affordable Housing Crisis Utilitarian Perspective From the perspective of utilitarianism, the problem of the lack of affordable housing would create a lot of positive consequences for society. Mulliner et al. (2013) state that the availability of more affordable housing units can help many people reduce their costs and positively impact the economic situation, social integration, and the fight against homelessness. According to Payne (2019), the general public and families would spend more resources on other necessities, thus boosting local economies and possibly decreasing demand for social services. It could result in employment opportunities and overall economic development of the community, hence a positive impact (Payne, 2019). There could be an improvement in social integration through the support of mixed-income housing, which would encourage the integration of people in urban areas. Integrating different socioeconomic groups can result in better social mobility, less segregation, and a livelier city. Glaeser and Gyourko (2018) state that less homelessness would be a clear outcome of increased availability of affordable housing, thus lowering the chances of homelessness among vulnerable groups. It also has the added benefit of enhancing the quality of life of the targeted population and decreasing the overall costs of homelessness to society in terms of healthcare and social services. Access to affordable and secure housing is associated with improved health, which may decrease healthcare expenses and increase society’s welfare. Javdani et al. (2023) argue that housing conditions can reduce stress levels, improve mental health, and control chronic diseases. Another advantage of affordable housing is educational gains. It offers stability for families, and children can stay in the same school district, positively impacting education results (Javdani et al., 2023). Such stability can have long-term positive impacts on social mobility and economic development. Feminist Urban Theory Perspective According to Feminist Urban Theory, the affordable housing problem is seen as a part of the overall social injustice in urban communities. Kern (2011) states that this perspective raises several questions that should be addressed in conventional urban planning and housing policies. Sex differences are also a significant factor contributing to housing vulnerability (Kern, 2011). Single mothers and women are disadvantaged in the housing market because of wage disparities, care responsibilities, and past discrimination. FUT also stresses the importance of acknowledging and responding to these gendered experiences of housing precarity (Spain, 2014). Another impor...