In any discussion regarding public policy, we must consider the full context. In regard to affordable housing, the full context includes the choices that individuals make. Housing advocates conveniently ignore this issue. They point to poor families paying a large percentage of their income for housing, but fail to address the choices that have led to that situation.
A family’s income is not assigned by lottery—it is the result of the choices it has made. The economic opportunities available to us today are the culmination of previous choices. The types of jobs that we are qualified for and the income that we can earn is the result of the choices we have made in years past. The choices we make regarding saving, investing, and spending impact our financial resources. Those choices include what type of education and training to attain, what type of car to drive, vacations, eating out, as well as the choice to have children.
The individual who applies himself in school will create more economic opportunities for himself. He will obtain knowledge that will help him command a higher salary in the future. The law-abiding citizen will have a better chance of getting a job than a career criminal. The individual who shows up for work and strives to do his best will create opportunities to advance. The individual who delays having children until he can afford them will have fewer financial burdens. These actions, and the choices that led to them, shape one’s present and future financial situation.
Certainly, some individuals find themselves in dire financial straits because of circumstances outside of their control. Medical expenses or a flood can be financially devastating. But these are the exception rather than the rule, and for most individuals, they are only temporary setbacks.
The freedom to advance is available to anyone who cares to exercise it. The opportunity to learn and improve one’s job skills is open to anyone who has ambition. The choice to exercise one’s freedom, to take advantage of the available opportunities, is a choice that has life-shaping consequences. That choice will determine what type of housing one can afford.