Each chapter of Angelika’s Journal offers suggestions for what you can do. Here are the suggestions from Chapter One:
1. Find out what the fair market rent is in your area. Check out http://nlihc.org/oor , the site of the National Low Income Housing Coalition. Out of Reach can give you information about the Fair Market Rent (FMR) in your area.
2. Once you find out the FMR for your area, figure out what the income must be for a family to pay no more than thirty percent for housing (rent and utilities.) Find out what jobs in your area actually pay that wage.
3. Learn about groups in your area who address the need for quality, safe housing for people. Habitat for Humanity is one such organization. Other nonprofit housing developers and organizations known as Community Development Corporations (CDC) are in a number of areas. Nonprofit developers build homes for rent, purchase, and/or for people who need housing with some support services (mentally ill, for example.)
4. Invite a housing advocate speaker to your group.
To purchase a copy of Angelika’s Journal, go to http://avenidabooks.com, online retailers, or Ten Thousand Villages in the Lewis Plaza on Augusta Street In Greenville, SC.