The affordable housing issue in Santa Fe is a serious problem. Our personal stories illustrate this reality: Landlords controlling tenants’ brand of laundry detergent or what kinds of food can be prepared in the unit, landlords unable to afford their own rent breaking leases to move back in …or our favorite teachers, mechanics, and service industry workers moving away because of the rising cost of living without a marginal increase in living wage. Sometimes there’s a bit of humor in our housing challenges, but too often our stories are filled with desperation and lack of options or recourse.
We are calling all landlords, renters, neighbors, home owners and those without a home to share stories about how the current housing situation has had an effect in their lives.
Select submissions will be highlighted in an affordable housing zine designed by local artists, published this autumn. A few select stories will be presented by local artists at our upcoming Housing the Future 2.0 public program this September. By collecting and retelling these stories, we can illustrate the reality of how the lack of affordable housing affects us all on different levels. All submissions are welcomed and will be considered.
Although we are interested in collecting stories of those negatively affected, we additionally want to hear stories of joy, celebration, pride, and success in housing. Who are the heroes? What are the positive actions we should celebrate?
Submit YOUR STORY by Wednesday, August 7, 2019.