The Arkansas Housing Trust Fund
The Arkansas Housing Trust Fund (AHTF) will provide safe, stable homes for the people who need them. Safer, stable homes mean . . .
…making the grade in school!
When children have safe stable housing, they do better as students. They are healthier, better nourished and more prepared to learn. When families are able to be secure in their housing, children can keep their school friends, advance with their classmates, and take full advantage of their educational opportunities. (Housing as a Platform for Improving Education Outcomes)
…home is where healthy is !
increased risk of poor health and developmental delays. Children living in safe, stable homes experience fewer of these negative outcomes. Every child deserves a safe place to call home. Learn more about how safe stable homes impact the health of our children in this report - Housing and Child Well-Being, Center for Social Development, George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University, St. Louis, MO. Learn more about Community health dividends: (Health Care) Systems hope social initiatives will produce better health outcomes and lower cost.
…all our our veterans get to truly come home
Although flawless counts are impossible to come by - the transient nature of homeless populations presents a major difficulty. In January 2020, 580,466 people – about 18 of every 10,000 people in the United States – experienced homelessness across the United States. The Department of Housing and Urban Development estimates that 37,252 veterans are homeless on any given night. (The 2020 Annual Homeless Assessment Report) Men and women who put their lives on the line to defend the freedom and safety of American citizens deserve better. The least that we can do is to provide safe, affordable housing that allows veterans to heal and reconnect with the community.
…an opportunity to age with dignity and independence
Many seniors and people living with serious disabilities will benefit from this program as well. When money is no longer the issue that prevents necessary home modifications , they can move within and outside their homes with greater ease, gain access to nearby services and supports, and re-connect with all that is offered by communities that many have spent a lifetime contributing to. (AARP Foundation: Improving Access to Safe and Affordable Housing.)
…a possibility for hardworking Arkansans to participate in the American dream
The American dream of a place to call home is still important. People want a good place to raise a family. They want security. They want space and they want some control over what they do with that space. Unfortunately, many hardworking Arkansans are simply priced out of the market. When obstacles are removed, more Arkansans will be able to participate in that dream.
…protection from domestic violence
Approximately 31.6% of women-headed households live in poverty (U.S. Census, 2010). Women who are victims of domestic violence often have limited choices when making the transition to heads of household. With fewer than 40 battered womens’ shelters scattered throughout Arkansas’ 75 counties, and only limited resources or time available, women can be afraid to leave. Addressing these circumstances means that they are able to make positive choices to protect their own safety and achieve normal routines in their lives. (Governor Hutchinson signs Domestic Violence Bill.)
…a more robust and vigorous Rural Arkansas
The Arkansas HTF places a special emphasis on opportunities in rural Arkansas to replace houses in disrepair and high utility bills with safer
homes and lower utility costs. Housing challenges in rural areas persist and are rising. Though money to build accessible, affordable homes in rural areas of the state is insufficient, the rural need is just as high, if not higher than in metropolitan areas. The Arkansas HTF would provide resources for people to
remain in the communities they call home, contributing to more stable and vibrant communities.
…more jobs and business growth
According to the National Association of Home Builders, for every single family home built, about three jobs are created (Impact of Home Building and Remodeling on the U.S. Economy). While the majority of the jobs are construction and manufacturing jobs, opportunities are also provided in related fields. Housing development also brings money into local economies through revenues generated for federal, state and local governments. Business growth, increased tax base and affordable housing add up to strong communities.
…more bang for the buck
When states and communities invest in the production and rehabilitation of affordable housing, they attract additional resources from financial institutions, equity from developers, foundation funds and federal housing programs. Most state housing trust funds reported high leverage ratios; a ratio of 1:7 range is frequent. (Housing Trust Fund Survey, 2016.)