According to American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates released in December 2022 by the U.S. Census Bureau, “over 40% (19 million) of renter households in the country spent more than 30% of their income on housing costs during the 2017-2021 period.” Renters spending more than 30% on rent and utilities per month are considered rent burdened. (read more here More Than 19 Million Renters Burdened by Housing Costs (census.gov))

With so many people struggling to maintain safe and affordable housing, it’s critical that we champion the funding and creation of affordable housing – not just in May, but all year long. Dakota is committed to doing our part by continuing to create housing that matters. In 2022, our team started construction on 582 units, closed on projects in 4 different states, and had over 2,000 units in development. These communities create opportunities for individuals and families to not just live, but thrive. Check out our blog from last month on supportive services to learn more about their importance and the programs offered at Dakota communities. Creating Housing That Matters Through Supportive Services: Q&A with Angela Eicholtz (dakotapartners.net)

In honor of Affordable Housing Month, we asked our employees to tell us why they picked to work in this industry and the impact they’ve experienced in creating housing that matters.

The shortage of affordable and available rental homes for extremely low-income renters is a pressing issue that affects millions of people across the United States, so creating it is a critical component of building equitable and inclusive communities. It provides a stable foundation for families and individuals to thrive and access economic opportunities. Thank you to our dedicated, professional, passionate, and knowledgeable staff for doing the work every day to help us accomplish our mission to create housing that matters.