From Living in Affordable Housing to Building Affordable Housing

By Rachel Bell, HODC Development Intern

I have always wanted to work somewhere where I can make a difference, and working in affordable housing is a mission that hits close to home for me. As an intern at HODC, I have been able to turn my passion for and life experiences in affordable housing into a deeper understanding of what it takes to get affordable housing built and maintained.

I grew up in a smaller town in the Seattle area and lived in affordable housing through the Section 8 program, also known as the housing choice voucher program. I was raised by my mom, a single mother living with a disability, who brought up my two older brothers and me with the help of my grandma. Many people may perceive affordable housing as a government handout to people who are choosing to be low-income or in poverty. In reality, it is not a choice. Subsidized affordable housing was the only way for my family to survive, and it continues to be a necessity for my mom.

Soon after I graduated high school, my family lost our apartment and for 8 months, I found myself couch surfing at my grandma’s, then with my friends’ family. I hit adulthood at a time when home prices were rising sharply. I couldn’t afford rent on my own while attending college and working minimum wage jobs. Affordable housing continued to be a necessity in my life, and I was grateful to find subsidized housing through my college. 

It took some searching and asking for help, but all of these opportunities seemed to fall in place at just the right time. However, I know that many individuals and families keep asking and searching, and the opportunities are simply not there. Working at HODC has further solidified my understanding of just how much more affordable housing is needed. 

Between my own life experiences and working at HODC, I have learned that there are so many situations that could result in someone needing affordable housing. It could be a young person trying to get through college and make a better life for themselves, a single mom supporting their family, a person with a disability, or an elderly person with limited income. Providing affordable housing for people in all walks of life is something that is deeply important to me, but is a massive challenge in our country at this moment. It takes many people to tackle this issue, and I am excited to get to be one of them.

I am glad to have an internship with an organization that is facing this challenge head on and does so with determination and dedication despite the challenges that come. It has been a great introduction to the affordable housing development field, and I am looking forward to growing my experience and furthering the cause of affordable housing. I am excited to be part of something that not only houses people but can give them better opportunities in the northern suburbs of Chicago.