Considerations for Low-Income Housing Design Ideas
Innovative, affordable housing models can bring the benefits of sustainable housing to renters, homeowners, and communities. However, typically, energy-efficient building methods have increased design and construction costs. Innovation is changing this dynamic, and reducing the cost of building.
For example, McKinsey found that modular construction reduces build costs by 20% while simultaneously accelerating project timelines by between 20% and 50%. Low-income design ideas are now a reality.
Constructing for Social Impact
Affordable housing should be a concern for us all. Not only is shelter a basic human need, but good housing is the main contributor to people’s wellbeing – both adults and children.
As well as building for sustainability, building for affordability delivers more disposable income, allowing people to spend more on food and health. Research into the benefits of affordable housing has found that:
- Children in stable housing are more likely to achieve educational success
- Affordable housing helps to improve health outcomes
- Families with greater residential stability suffer reduced stress
- Stable, affordable housing improves the health outcomes of those with chronic illness
Victims of domestic abuse are more able to escape abusive homes when they have access to affordable housing.
Combining with green building strategies, affordable homes can help to reduce environmental impacts and pollution and improve indoor comfort.
Communities benefit from affordable housing in many ways too, including:
- Attracting and retaining employees in the community
- Attracting employers to a location
- Supporting the local workforce with shorter commutes and more hours with their families
- Supporting local businesses during and post-construction
- Reducing traffic congestion, pollution, and maintenance on roads
Planned and delivered effectively, innovative, affordable housing models deliver better health outcomes, better education outcomes, and better economic outcomes.
Three Considerations When Constructing for Sustainable Affordable Housing
Innovative housing solutions could deliver solutions that so many counties and cities desperately need to build sustainable communities. I have already mentioned modular construction, but homes could be built to meet the needs throughout life, or by using other innovations and technologies such as 3D printing methods.
Whatever the goals of an affordable housing project, when planning low-income housing design ideas, it is important to consider the following three factors.
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Construction methods and materials
Construction methods are evolving with technology, and materials are evolving because of the need to conserve Earth’s resources. Innovation has helped to develop new ways of building as well as new materials to build with.
Hemp is being used to create composite building materials. Robots are working on construction sites. Whole apartment blocks are built in factories before being shipped and ‘bolted together’ on site.
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Transport for all
Transport is part of the fabric of a community. When developing new housing, we must also consider how people will get around and travel between home, school, work, and shops. Transport systems must provide clean, fast, and efficient ways to move around a city – and this includes investing in green routes to make cycling and walking easier and safer.
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Co-living to relive urban land scarcity
Co-living helps to address issues of affordability. It allows us to be creative with the space we have, tackle urban spread, and can deliver sustainable housing solutions. Well-designed living spaces and communal areas help to create more interactive and engaged communities. Instead of ripping down and building new, could we redevelop existing buildings to accommodate more people in co-living spaces that give access to better community amenities for lower costs?
Boost a community’s potential with affordable housing
Shelter is one of the most basic of human needs, but it is also the most expensive. Easing this expense must be a key consideration. Thanks to technology and new methods of construction, affordable housing has never been easier to provide. We should do so.
When we give people homes that they can afford, it frees up cash for them to spend on other human needs – like food and clothing. But it does so much more than this. It improves the lives of all, from children to the elderly.
As residents start to benefit from the stability that affordable, sustainable housing offers, we shall begin to see the rewards materialize. It’s not an overnight fix, but we will see business prospects improve, educational outcomes excel, and standards of living rise. All we need to do is be brave, come together, and deliver for communities.
To learn more about our commitment to building better neighborhoods in which community prospers, contact ACB Consulting.