/24-7PressRelease/ - KANSAS CITY, MO, July 21, 2007 - The affordable housing debate is raging from coast to coast as cities recommend strategic plans to accommodate teachers, police offers and other workers whose salaries don't keep pace with rising home values. Many of these initiatives, however, are long-term plans for a very immediate problem.
The statistics are telling. For every 100 very low-income renters, only 76 affordable rental units are currently available, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. What's more, for the 14.8 million U.S. households that make $10,000 or less per year, a year's rent costs about 70 percent of their annual income, reports American Fact Finder.
"Construction costs are rising, despite the downturn in the residential real estate sector. And although home values are declining in some regions of the country, housing is still not affordable for many," said John Finnessy, CMP, Executive Director the National Portable Storage Association, or NPSA, a nonprofit membership association dedicated to the advancement of the portable storage industry. "Portable storage containers offer an economical alternative to new construction."
Indeed, so-called "container homes" are springing up across the nation. Portable storage containers are being transformed into actual hurricane-proof, fire-resistant homes with a "no termite" guarantee. The 32,000-pound containers, some as large as 20-by-48 feet, can be used as the framework of a beautiful new home. Call it 21st century recycling. The concept is finding acceptance in communities like St. Petersburg, Fla. and Atlanta, Ga., where multi-story dwellings are being built as a solution to affordable housing issues.
"Portable storage containers can be turned into a home in a matter of days, sometimes a single day," said NPSA Operations Manager Joel Rathbone. "I've heard estimates that these container homes can run about 65 percent of the total buildout cost of a traditional, bricks and mortar or cinderblock home. Once again, portable storage finds a new use for a new challenge."
For more information, visit http://www.npsa-us.org.
The National Portable Storage Association
The National Portable Storage Association is dedicated to the advancement of the portable storage industry. We at the NPSA are here to serve those in the portable storage industry who rent, sell or lease containers, trailers and mobile offices. The NPSA assists members with industry, regulatory and workforce issues; plus, offers members networking, marketing and legislative support at national, state and local levels.
PR Contact:
Jennifer LeClaire
Self Storage Promotions
954.454.0072
jennifer@selfstoragepromotions.com
http://www.selfstoragepromotions.com
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