Affordable, mixed-income housing and racially and ethnically diverse neighborhoods are a benefit—both economically and socially—to all our residents. If a community shuts its doors to people of any income-level, race, or ethnicity, that community cannot prosper.
In 2014, the Westchester County Executive turned to 50 community leaders for their insights about the economic future of the county. To them, the greatest opportunity to attract new businesses was the opportunity to recruit talent, and the greatest opportunity to recruit talent was to offer a larger variety of mixed-income housing choices. On the other end, youth flight—or, the inability to keep young professionals in the community where they grew up—is seen as one of the greatest threats to the county’s economy.
Moreover, the social benefits of mixed-income and racially and ethnically diverse neighborhoods are great as well. Increasing diversity across economic, racial and ethnic spectrums leads to better education for our children, improved tolerance of others, and greater cultural awareness.
Below, you can find some of the benefits of mixed-income housing and racially and ethnically integrated communities, as well as links to sites that contain additional information you may find helpful and informative.
Benefits of Mixed-Income Housing
- Mixed income housing promotes racially and ethnically diverse communities, providing a nurturing environment with diverse schools to raise children
- Mixed income housing provides opportunities for seniors, young adults, and families to live in communities, at prices they can afford
- Mixed income housing promotes economic empowerment and integration
- Mixed income housing helps the local workforce, including volunteer first responders, live in the same community where they work
- Mixed income housing revitalizes distressed areas
Benefits of Racially and Ethnically Integrated Communities
- Diversity contributes to greater tolerance, fair-mindedness and openness to diverse networks and settings
- Diversity makes us more creative, more diligent and harder-working
- Diversity broadens the range of cultural experiences available
- Diversity is a magnet for talent, stimulates new ideas and spurs economic growth Diversity in the classroom improves students’ academic outcomes and social growth. Schools flourish because contact with different types of people, different perspectives, different ways of thinking and different lifestyles helps us understand our own culture and values, and the world around us. Our children grow up to be more culturally sensitive, deal better with diverse work situations, and are less likely to apply racial stereotypes.
Resources
Fair Housing Ad Campaign, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
National Community Reinvestment Coalition
National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders
Note: These resources and links are being provided for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by the County of Westchester of the information or opinions expressed therein. The County of Westchester bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of the external sites or for that of subsequent links.