Our rural service area has been left out of the tremendous economic growth experienced by our neighboring urban counties, yet we are the closest deep-draft port to Asian markets. What we do share with the other counties is the lack of affordable housing causing a desperate spiral into the abyss of homelessness, addiction, expensive incarceration and excessive use of hospital ER services. The availability of tax credits is likely the only incentive to attract developers to build housing people can afford to live in, thus avoiding these other negative outcomes. Safe, affordable housing is the key to good health, education, and employment whether urban or rural. The difference is that rural has far fewer financial solutions available to address this issue. Do the math- affordable housing is far cheaper than jail or hospitalization-Vote for maintaining tax credits that actually serve all of us by being the less expensive option to the taxpayer.
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