I just happen to come across this post and it just struck a cord with me. With all my work on an affordable LEED Home and the AIA Ohio Affordable Green Home Design Competition, what this architect writes about is exactly what I believe in and want to advocate as my professional career progresses.
The Case for Affordable Housing & A National Energy Standard
They must go hand-in-hand. ( October 2009 )
Certain items are needed for all people to live a decent (modern) life: decent housing, decent (safe) food, clear (safe) water & air; fair wage/job; access to health care. All other things are possible (for a people) from there.
Making a (high end designer) commodity of any of the aforementioned, makes those items inaccessible by lower income people and the poor, and now we see, inaccessible to even the middle class in America.
Behind affordable health care, Affordable Housing is the largest problem facing our nation. When jobs are harder to get, it makes it that much harder to maintain one’s health, and to maintain a decent place to live. Basic, decent housing, healthcare and food are a human right.
Continue reading the article at ShantyWorld
My office has committed to work with a local high school on this competition in an effort to teach students about the profession as well as to consiously put more effort toward social responsibility within the office.