Respond to two peers’ initial post with comparisons of similar social problems, how other communities are addressing it, and if special populations are being served.

The community problem that has been ongoing and presently been addressed by Prince William County, VA residents is Affordable Housing. According to 2018 Community Needs Assessment Greater Prince William, residents stated that affordable housing is difficult to find for middle income families and almost nonexistent for families living below the federal poverty level. When residents find more affordable housing, due to their income level, they find housing in areas that are often crime invested neighborhoods and less desirable locations that may be farther from community goods and services like supermarkets, banks, and social service providers.

Due to the cost of living being so high in Prince William County, it has affected the housing market and due to that, housing costs are too high. Residents are left to make the difficult decision of which needs are most significant and what needs won’t be met that month. As a health care provider in the community, we hear that many times and it breaks my heart to hear that from residents. According to a 2017 report to the Virginia Housing Policy Advisory Council, they found that Virginia has a shortage of affordable housing, and this has major implication for state policy priorities like workforce development, transportation, education, and health (Virginia Coalition of Housing and Economic Development Researchers, 2017). Due to an increase in population, affordable housing has not been able to keep up with the increased demand of the residents. Residents are been put on a waiting list in Prince William County for over 5 years just to get a place to lay their heads and provide shelter for their families.

Glasby & Dickinson (2013), emphasized on partnership working and for that matter, the key approaches are around ‘linkage’ helping people with simple needs access other local services as appropriate. The county has joined forces with many organizations to provide the best and most inclusive anti-poverty services that are personalized to the unique needs of people in the Greater Prince William region. According to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), to cut the waiting list length short, residents and families are able to find their own housing, including single-family homes, townhouses and apartments and receive vouchers from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and are able to pay directly to the landlord.