Class Practice Editorial #1

 Oakwood Park: New Opportunities Pose New Challenges

By: Lauren Rollins



Nobody plans to fall on hard times, but life can quickly begin to change in ways that we don't expect—leading some people to become jobless, or even worse, homeless.


The Affordable Housing Management in Greensboro is currently planning a two-story apartment complex with 16 affordable units for those homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.


Oakwood Park, the name of this complex, will include one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments and will have “ a rent aimed towards households at or below 30% and 50% of Guilford County’s median income.” 


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Calculated rent costs of 10 units for those making at or below 30% of GC's median income



(Calculated costs for 6 units for those making at or below 50% of GC's median income)


David Levy, who is the assistant secretary for Affordable Housing Management says that the attractive new complex will be “near shopping, restaurants, services, major roads, and employment centers.”


One of the biggest concerns here is employment. Helping those who are homeless find jobs is a difficult task but having them keep and maintain employment is also another big task. This non-profit has not outlined a plan of assistance to help keep people and their families not only off the streets but on the right track toward a better life.


According to the NCH (National Coalition for the Homeless), around 44% of homeless people report that they have worked in the past week. This shows that many individuals who are homeless are working, but the challenge lies in finding them stable and well-paying jobs that will help them not only secure but keep housing. There are many other barriers to homeless individuals finding employment. Some of these include lack of education, lack of marketable job skills, criminal history, and physical and mental health issues whether diagnosed or not.


To address this, Affordable Housing management needs to seek partnerships with local job training programs. This way, homeless people can be provided with the skills and resources needed to maintain employment. Government assistance can also play a role in this. Programs like the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (otherwise known as SNAP, or food stamps), can help these individuals find and keep jobs as well as meet their other basic needs.


Another important aspect is childcare. Nearly 30% of homeless people are parents or a part of a family unit. Families living in Oakwood Park will no doubt need childcare in some form and this cost has to be considered. Based on research conducted by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the average cost of full-time childcare for one infant in North Carolina exceeds $9,000 annually. For those facing homelessness or living below 30% or 50% of the Median income, which is a part of the criteria for those vying to live at Oakwood Park, these costs can be quite the setback.


To help with these expenses, the Affordable Housing Management must find a way to provide or direct families in the complex to affordable childcare options. Ways they could do this is by allocating funds to partner with childcare providers in the area to offer discounted prices for low-income families.


I believe that the construction of the Oakwood Park Complex is a great thing and a step in the right direction for addressing the homelessness issue in Greensboro and the Triad. I feel it can be successful so long as the Affordable Housing Management creates detailed plans to help the residents not only find employment but maintain it, along with affordable childcare options. If these things are addressed, a significant impact can be made on the local low-income and homeless populations.

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