Reduced stock of low-income housing

Many homeless are the victims of reduced stocks of low-income housing. For example, single-room occupancy hotel units were reduced from 127,000 to 14,000 in New York City between 1970 and 1983.

1. The lack of housing is being experienced universally and is due in large measure to the growing phenomenon of urbanization. Even the most highly developed peoples present the sad spectacle of individuals and families literally struggling to survive, without a roof over their heads or with a roof so inadequate as to constitute no roof at all. The lack of housing, an extremely serious problem in itself, should be seen as a sign and summing-up of a whole series of shortcomings: economic, social, cultural or simply human in nature. Given the extent of the problem, we should need little convincing of how far we are from an authentic development of peoples. (Papal Encyclical, Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, 30 December 1987).

1. Socially sterile rental accommodation
2. Housing shortage
3. High cost of housing

1. Vagrancy
2. Urban slums
3. Underprivileged minorities
4. Illegal occupation of unoccupied property
5. Homelessness
6. Gypsy persecution

1. Unethical practices of landlords
2. Substandard housing and accommodation
3. Discouragement of permanent residency

1. Providing cheap accommodation
2. Improving access to shelter for poor
3. Doing without adequate cheap accommodation
4. Developing housing policy

1. Reduction
2. Lowness
3. Lack
4. Cheapness [D]