Crime and drugs contribute to California housing shortage
I am responding to The Fresno Bee story regarding the shortage of affordable housing in California. I’m homeless and sleep in my truck every night, which is horribly difficult at this time. I truly wish I can find a decent place to live that is affordable and safe, but for the most part, those kinds of apartments are usually located in bad neighborhoods infested with gangs, drugs and crime.
It’s too bad low-income housing has to be associated with those factors but it usually is, which keeps me from wanting to live there. I’m 62 years old and on a fixed income. I don’t commit crimes, take drugs or drink, and I don’t have children that join or belong to gangs or damage property. I work hard and play by the rules.
Unfortunately, crime and drugs usually seem to be associated with low income, which probably contributes to the shortage of affordable housing in California. Property owners and investors do not want to rent their expensive units to low-income renters because they don’t want their investments trashed or ruined.
Alfred Palumbo, Fresno
This story was originally published July 4, 2017 at 5:46 PM with the headline "Crime and drugs contribute to California housing shortage."