From Affordable Housing to Economically Aligned Housing Development: The Monroe Group, LLC’s Approach to Breaking the Stigma
At the Monroe Group, LLC, like many others in the Housing Development space, they believe that Affordable Housing has become a buzzword in recent years, but the term itself has its stigma attached. That is why The Monroe Group, LLC is changing the narrative. The firm's owner Desmonde Shalom Monroe has remarketed himself and his New York City-based Minority Business Owned (MBE) firm as an Economically Aligned Housing Development company. One of The Monroe Group, LLCs missions is to provide housing for low-to-moderate-income (LMI) communities. Still, the term Affordable Housing is often misunderstood and misrepresented, leading to negative perceptions.
The term Affordable Housing is often used to describe government-subsidized housing or housing projects and usually has negative connotations. These projects are often linked to crime, poverty, and poor living standards. This stigma is based on outdated and inaccurate stereotypes that hurt those who need subsidized housing. Economically Aligned Housing can take many forms, including private property offering lower rents, government-sponsored housing, and even homeownership opportunities for low-to-moderate-income families. The Monroe Group, LLC, and their partners believe that Economically Aligned Housing Development is crucial for ensuring low-to-moderate-income communities can access safe and secure spaces to call home. The Monroe Group, LLCs philosophy is to build with the community, not on top of it. Desmonde Shalom Monroe believes that Economically Aligned Housing is not a charity but necessary for many hard-working individuals and families.
The stigma surrounding the term Affordable Housing has real consequences. For example, community opposition could prevent developers from building subsidized housing in certain areas, making it difficult for people to access the resources they need to find a place to call home. And This can lead to a vicious cycle of poverty and inequality. Breaking through the stigma attached to the term Affordable Housing requires a shift in perspective. Rather than viewing Economically Aligned Housing Development as an outflow of resources, it is essential to recognize its value as an investment in people and communities. Economically Aligned Housing Developments help people stay in their communities, secure employment with local hiring and workforce development initiatives for development projects, and build a bright future for themselves and their families.
It also contributes to the health and stability of the community as a whole, creates economic opportunities for businesses, and strengthens social cohesion. Educating the public, developers, and community stakeholders about the reality of this critical resource is vital in combating the stigma attached to the term Affordable Housing. This means highlighting success stories and demonstrating the positive impact Economically Aligned Housing Developments combined with robust social programming from community partners can have on individuals and communities. It also means breaking outdated stereotypes and facilitating a more accurate understanding of the diverse population needing housing. Ultimately, Economically Aligned Housing Development is an essential resource, too often overlooked or neglected due to stigma and stereotypes.
The Monroe Group, LLC is changing the narrative from "affordable housing" to "Economically Aligned Housing Development" or (EAHD) which is an essential step in removing the stigma associated with providing housing for low-to-moderate-income people. This change in terminology is significant because:
1. Focus on economic orientation: Economically Aligned Housing Development emphasizes that housing should be affordable and suit the individual's economic situation. This shift in focus shows that economically focused housing is not just for the poorest but for everyone struggling to find economically sustainable housing in their area.
2. Promote inclusivity: Economically Aligned Housing Developments promotes inclusiveness by emphasizing that everyone has a right to access safe, economically sustainable housing. This will help remove the stigma associated with Affordable Housing and promote a more positive image of low-to-moderate-income Economically Aligned Housing Developments.
3. Promoting an Integrated Approach: Economically Aligned Housing Development promotes an integrated approach to housing development. The integrated approach considers not only the cost of housing but also the location, quality, community culture, needs, and accessibility of the living space. This ensures that living space is not only economically aligned but also meets the needs of the people in the community.
4. Emphasis on Community Development: Economically Aligned Housing Development also emphasizes that housing is essential to community development. Community development helps promote housing as a basic need and a critical factor in building strong and healthy communities.
5. Promote positive perceptions: The narrative of Economically Aligned Housing Development helps promote a more positive perception of housing among low-to-moderate-income individuals. This helps break down the stigma associated with the term Affordable Housing and promotes a more positive image associated with Economically Aligned Housing Developments.
Changing the narrative and increasing the understanding of this vital resource will ensure everyone can access safe and secure housing that helps build more robust and inclusive communities. In addition, the change in terminology helps promote inclusion, and a holistic approach to housing, emphasizing community development and a positive perception of low-to-moderate-income housing. The Monroe Group, LLC invites everyone to help to change the narrative around Affordable Housing and Join them in building resilient, thriving communities.
