Crisis: A Balancing Act

When trying to make decisions and predictions for the future on a large scale it is often best to observe how similar decisions have affected a smaller sample system.  For instance, our Nation is facing a potential housing crisis if the wrong decisions are made, and looking at Washington State as a smaller sample of what may happen to the entire country will give us some insight on how decisions we make now could generate a negative surprise in the future.

Right now we are facing a dilemma between preserving the environment and preserving affordable housing.  We have to protect land from development in order to have sustainable wildlife, national parks, and farming, but we also have to continue access to developable lands to keep land and housing costs from driving people into homelessness.  If we look at Washington State’s battle with this issue we can see how the scales can tip over time.

In 1990 the state of Washington began discussions on the “Growth Management Act” because the state had a booming population and there were concerns that it would outgrow its available resources.  The “Growth Management Act” was put into place in 1994 and has been great at preserving Washington’s natural lands.  In 1994 7,332 manufactured homes were placed in Washington State.  In 2013 661 were placed, a 91% decline in 20 years.  This is because the preservation of lands, which in and of itself is a good thing, is causing the state to have exponentially increasing land and home prices.  According to a recent study (4-2016) the median price for a home in Washington State increased by 11% over the previous twelve months.  Land and housing is a very important commodity and manufactured home communities can play a key role in sustaining a practical and affordable means to house hard working Americans.

It is important to preserve lands and keep America’s resources plentiful, but we also need to think of how today’s decisions can impact the future.  We were founded on the right to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness, but sometimes we get in our own way.

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