After World War II, the United States experienced rapid and expansive housing development in rural areas that would later be referred to as the suburbs. This mass exodus from the densely populated urban environment to a more spacious, healthier, and safer environment was dominated by the white population who could better afford and qualify for the new suburban homes; this became known as white flight. Not only did the sprawling suburban development provide for larger homes to accommodate growing families, as well as, a cleaner environment and better schools, but it also placed zoning restrictions in effect. As a result of the migration from the urban cities to the rural suburbs, there was a substantial increase in the price of land and homes. …show more content…
As more master planned communities, as defined as more than 2500 acres, are being developed they can encroach tens of thousands of acreage. In California, according to Nico Calavita and Kenneth Grimes (1993), a master planned community with visions of reaching a population of 80,000 residents and over 27,000 dwellings by 2020 is setting aside over 14,000 acres for open space in which nothing will be built. However, as little as 5% is often required by federal and state housing laws to accommodate those classified as low income and another 5% for those with moderate income. Although, advocates called for an increase in the percentage of low to moderate housing options within such a massive development, they failed to gain enough support and the requirement stood at a combined total of 10% for low to moderate income earners. “Housing advocates say those requirements should be higher. C-3, a volunteer organization dedicated to improving planning in the region, points out that the five percent set-asides would be inadequate to achieve the plan's stated goal of creating a balanced community and the regional goal of improving the jobs-to-housing balance” ( …show more content…
14). Additionally, a lack of affordable housing places an increased burden on society in terms of public health. As the homeless population increases so does their physical ailments and disease as a result of not attending to preventative care due to instability in their environment. Likewise, because housing is the most expensive expenditure on a monthly basis, individuals and families considered low income are at an increase for malnutrition as they are forced to forgo a healthy diet. Psychological stressors also has the capacity to impact the physical health and mental well-being of the low income who are forced to double up in housing that is not adequate in terms of square footage to accommodate the extra occupants. Lance Freeman (2002) authored an article for American Journal of Public Health and stated “housing affordability has the potential to affect all domains of life that are subject to cost constraints, including health” (p.