Abigail Neeley

14 December 2023

Melania Popa-Mabe

SOWK 441-002

Affordable Housing

Housing is considered affordable when the median household income allows for the

household to pay for housing while also having money to pay for necessities such as food and

clothes. More specifically, housing is affordable for a household when 30 percent or less of gross

monthly income goes to utilities and rent (Bates, 2022). The lack of affordable housing in the

United States affects people of various ethnic groups, cultures, and backgrounds causing issues

such as a lower quality of life, less access to necessities, and homelessness.

The lack of affordable housing in the United States primarily affects those experiencing

poverty, or families who are considered low-income, with over 10 million people falling into this

category. Out of these 10 million people, about 70 percent of these families are spending over

half of their income on housing (Out of Reach, 2023). The affordable housing crisis

disproportionality affects those who are low-income, with the majority of those being affected

including people with disabilities, people of color, and older adults. Because those being affected

by the crisis are spending the majority of their income on paying for housing, the ability to save

money becomes almost impossible for most people. This can also have an impact on receiving

access to higher education and increase debt, which can lead to generational poverty and an

inability to move out of the lower class.

With 10 million people facing this issue, the housing crisis is not only confined to urban

areas, but within rural areas as well. Millions of people in poverty are experiencing difficulty
accessing affordable housing within several areas throughout the United States (Johnson, 2019).

Within this population, certain groups of people are disproportionally affected by the affordable

housing crisis. People of color are much more likely to fall below the poverty line and have

difficulty finding affordable housing with almost 50 percent of people in poverty being people of

color (Johnson, 2019). Discriminatory housing practices also contribute to this demographic

having a difficult time finding affordable housing, and this barrier is an example of a type of

systemic oppression people of color face. Individuals with disabilities are also overrepresented in

the demographics of people experiencing poverty and lacking access to affordable housing with

around twenty percent of the population making up this demographic (Johnson, 2019).

In the state of South Carolina to afford a two-bedroom apartment, one would either need

to work about 118 hours a week at minimum wage or have an hourly rate of over 20 dollars (Out

of Reach, 2023). Because people working minimum wage jobs are unable to work over 100

hours per week to afford an apartment, the lack of housing security can also reflect in other areas

of life where income cannot be used. This results in a decline in other aspects of life, such as

mental and physical health, education, and unemployment, and causes the cycle to continue until

housing stability can be achieved (Johnson, 2019). Intersectionality theory shows how multiple

factors such as race, class, and ability can greatly impact how the lack of affordable housing

disproportionally affects different groups of people and increases their chances of economic

instability.

Rights vs. Needs Approach

Within social work, there are two different approaches to determining where human

rights and needs fall under: the rights-based approach and the needs-based approach. Both of
these approaches are used in social work practice depending on the context and situation and

each can be applied in several unique ways.

The rights-based approach is focused on the globally defined basic human rights and the

injustices and inequalities that affect people whose human rights are being oppressed. The rights-

based approach states that people have “non-negotiable” and “indivisible” rights that are a

fundamental necessity to each person (Tadros). Within the rights-based approach, human rights

are defined as cultural, social, political rights and others which have been determined as human

rights internationally (Few, 2023). The rights-based approach also mainly focuses on people who

are within minority groups who are facing the biggest obstacles to receiving their rights. Because

the rights-based approach involves policies, advocating for those who are oppressed or facing

inequalities is one of the main aspects. Due to the rights-based approach focusing on

marginalized groups, this requires a general focus on the multidisciplinary characteristics of a

person’s identity, including gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, and other aspects

(Jackson, 2016).

The needs-based approach focuses on the holistic needs of the individual and the effects

of discrimination and oppression the person faces caused by policies and marginalization. This

includes an intensive dive into social identities, such as gender, ability, and other social

identities, that could be causing inequalities and inequities for a specific person. The needs-based

approach’s main focus is ensuring the basic needs of food, water, shelter, education, and

healthcare to each individual person. This approach is also focuses on disaster responses and

short-term relief by prioritizing human needs and allocating resources based on severity and

urgency of needs. Another tenant of the needs-based approach is the assessment of specific

groups or populations to best determine the needs of particular groups of people and how to best
allocate these needs (Tadros). The needs-based approach also has the ability to be transitional

and short-term, and this can provide immediate relief to those affected by war, natural disasters,

and other crisis that people may experience.

One of the main differences between the rights-based approach and the needs-based

approach is that the rights-based approach is focused on human rights in general, while the

needs-based approach is focused on individually assessed needs. Another main aspect that

differentiates the rights-based approach from the needs-based approach is the involvement of

politics and different policies used. While the rights-based approach has politics at the center, the

needs-based approach tends to stray away from politics and policies altogether (Tadros). Another

difference between the rights-based and needs-based approach is the level at which they take

place. Because the needs-based approach is on an individual level, this would apply to micro

social work, while the rights-based approach is focused on changing policies on the macro level

(Tadros).

Application of Rights and Needs Approaches to a Social Issue

The problems surrounding the lack of affordable housing in the United States not only

affects the unsheltered population, but it also affects refugees, people with disabilities, and

people experiencing poverty. The lack of affordable housing prevents many barriers for these

groups of people and requires systematic reform and policy changes to improve the process of

housing. The solutions, intended outcomes, and process of intervention are influenced by unique

perspectives with respect to affordable housing for the unsheltered population and the distinction

between the rights and needs-based approaches.

The needs-based approach focuses on basic requirements and sees affordable housing as

a basic need for people who are without shelter. This approach also solely focuses on housing as
an essential need and aims to boost welfare as much as possible. One solution or desired

outcome would be basic shelter provisions by providing basic housing options without taking

into account the specific rights of individuals. This outcome would be reached by using resource

allocation and distribution to focus on efficiency, be more cost-effective, and focus on the

severity and urgency of the situation the individual is in. The process of reaching this outcome

based on the needs-based approach would include delivering necessary services efficiently to

help resolve immediate needs and concerns such as providing emergency shelter or food to

people who currently need the resources. This process would also be supported by government

agencies and non-government organizations, such as Salvation Army or government-funded

homeless shelters, to deliver services and support. This outcome would be reached based on the

needs-based approach if the basic need of housing and affordable housing was met for all

populations (Tadros).

The rights-based approach views affordable housing as a fundamental right humans have

and highlights the social work value of dignity and worth of a person (Jackson, 2016). Based on

the idea that housing is a fundamental right, homelessness and the lack of affordable shelter is

viewed as a violation of human rights. The solutions and desired outcomes for affordable

housing, according to the rights-based approach, are ensuring housing and creating legal

frameworks to solidify the right to affordable housing. This solution would secure affordable

housing for several unique populations and remove barriers to reaching financial sustainability

(Johnson, 2019). To reach these desired outcomes and solutions, several systematic and policy

reforms need to be made to change the process surrounding affordable housing for the

unsheltered population and for those experiencing poverty. This would include limiting barriers

and discriminatory housing practices that disproportionally affect certain populations and by
introducing programs that aid those experiencing poverty to have access to affordable housing.

Another way to reach the desired outcomes and continue allowing individuals to have access to

affordable housing would be to create legal protections within laws around affordable housing to

remove barriers for oppressed populations (Jackson, 2016).

The needs and rights of the affordable housing crisis are defined by several different

stakeholders who have differing desired outcomes and solutions reflective of each population

and its relationship to affordable housing. When looking at the rights-based approach, the rights

are defined and addressed by using ethical and legal approaches to determine inherent human

rights. The primary stakeholders of the needs-based approach are most commonly community

members, government organizations, and advocacy groups who cater more specifically to

individual or community needs (Johnson, 2019). Although both the needs and rights-based

approach have similar method to which the desired outcomes are reached, there is a different

process by which the goals are reached and differing emphasis on objectives.

Critiques of Rights and Needs Approaches

The needs-based and rights-based approaches, albeit having weaknesses, have several

strengths that aim to combat different issues and address systemic and individuals needs. By

taking the strengths from both approaches, an integrated approach can be used to help to balance

the strengths to the weaknesses.

The main focus and strength of the rights-based approach is the focus on fundamental

rights for individuals and groups and promotes social justice by focusing on the dignity and

worth of a person. This is a strength of the rights-based approach because it can have a long-term

impact on systematic issues and change the root cause of many problems surrounding affordable

housing and the housing crisis. Another strength of the rights-based approach is that it empowers
communities by allowing members of the community to have a voice in decision making and

advocating for rights (Few, 2023). The rights-based approach also utilizes legal protections and

rights to ensure protection for at risk groups of people and works to change legal injustices.

The rights-based approach also has several weaknesses that sometimes limit resources or

efficiency. Because the rights-based approach utilizes legal aspects, this makes it difficult to

address needs quickly due to the often lengthy legal processes (Few, 2023). The legal process

can also use a significant number of resources which can limit accessibility for certain

communities. Another potential weakness of the rights-based approach is that the approach can

sometimes clash with already existing legal policies, and this can lead to different political

obstacles (Few, 2023).

One of the main strengths of the needs-based approach is that the approach focuses on

immediate relief and ensuring the basic needs of individuals are met. When making sure the

basic needs of these individuals are met, this approach can also be flexible with changing to meet

the specific needs of the individual despite varying situations. Another strength of this approach

is that it efficiently uses resources because of the focus on practical solutions. The last strength

of the needs-based approach is that the outcomes are easily measurable, and this allows for

improvements to easily be made depending on the outcome.

The needs-based approach has several weaknesses which are mainly focused on the issue

that focusing on immediate needs fails to address the systematic problems and root causes of the

issue. Because the approach focuses on immediate needs and does not address the root of the

problem, other individuals and groups will continue experiencing the problem despite their

immediate needs being given to them, such as the issue concerning affordable housing and

homelessness (Tadros). This can also cause those experiencing the issue to become dependent on
the immediate needs they are being assisted with rather than reaching independence in the future.

Another weakness of the needs-based approach is that the community has little say in the

decision-making process, and this can cause communities to show less support to resolve

different issues. Because the needs-based approach focuses on providing immediate solutions,

this can also reduce the effort in making a systematic change that would resolve the need to

provide these immediate needs (Tadros).

To promote social justice within the affordable housing crisis, an integrated approach of

both the needs and rights-based approaches would be the most effective. By using an integrated

approach, immediate relief could be provided to individuals who need shelter or other urgent

needs, and systemic change could also be addressed at the same time by working for legal

frameworks and encouraging communities to advocate for certain needs. This would allow for

the strengths of both the rights and needs-based approach to be utilized to promote systematic

change while also addressing immediate relief. By using the strengths of both approaches, this

would also allow for the integration of the two to resolve the weaknesses found in both

approaches. In the context of affordable housing, an integrated approach would address

immediate needs such as shelter while also addressing systemic changes such as legal

frameworks.
 Works Cited

Bates, L. (2022, February 1). What is affordable housing? Local Housing Solutions.
https://localhousingsolutions.org/housing-101-the-basics/what-is-affordable-housing/

Few, R. (2023). UNSDG | Human rights-based approach. United Nations.

https://unsdg.un.org/2030-agenda/universal-values/human-rights-based-approach

HUD Archives: Glossary of terms to affordable housing. HUD. (2011).

https://archives.hud.gov/local/nv/goodstories/2006-04-06glos.cfm

Jackson, A. (2016). The human rights-based approach. United Nations Population Fund.
https://www.unfpa.org/human-rights-based-approach

Johnson, L. (2019, January 10). Who’s hit hardest by the Affordable Housing Shortage? Greater
Greater Washington. https://ggwash.org/view/70436/the-affordable-housing-shortage-
explained#:~:text=Whether%20we%20agree%20on%20the,individuals%20with
%20disabilities%2C%20and%20children.

Out of Reach. National Low Income Housing Coalition. (2023). https://nlihc.org/oor

Tadros, N. (n.d.-a). Comparison between rights-based approach and needs-based approach.

Comparison Between Rights-Based Approach and Needs-Based Approach – The People
POWER and Policy Advocacy. https://advocacy.knowledgesouk.org/comparison-between-
rights-based-approach-and-needs-based-approach/