Housing: A Denied Human Right

Taughannock Falls / Source: Aubren Villasenor

In 2019, popular progressive Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, proclaimed, “Housing is a human right.” Ocasio-Cortez, whose district is based in NYC, is one of the most expensive places to live in the country, something similar to the city of Ithaca. 

The gorges and waterfalls dotting Tompkins County have attracted many to the Ithaca area but may also be contributing to a housing shortage affecting the Tompkins County area. 

The rise in interest has fueled a boom in development and commerce but simultaneously has contributed to an increase in rent prices that forced many longtime residents out of the Ithaca area. Residents being priced out of their neighborhoods due to increasing property values is a phenomenon called gentrification: an issue affecting the whole country, especially black and brown communities.

According to The Ithaca Voice, the median rent within the city of Ithaca increased twofold from the year 2000 to 2016. At the same time, the median percentage of income spent on rent increased from 30 to 39 percent. These increases are similar to those affecting the nation, rent is increasing and wages are not keeping up. A large student population can also be blamed for some rent increases, but not all. 

However, a shortage of housing is not the only issue creating housing insecurity. There are several other causes, which I plan to investigate as the housing beat reporter for Ithaca Week. These causes range from such as unaffordable utilities, to individuals with a lack of understanding of the market, like refugees. 

I’m interested in analyzing the causes of housing insecurity affecting the Ithaca and Tompkins County area. I plan to use my position as a journalist to learn about and amplify the lived experiences of local community members affected by the issues. I will carefully cover the remedies of local and state elected officials to share what is and is not working. 

I look forward to being the Ithaca Week beat reporter for housing issues affecting Tompkins County. I aim to use my journalism for community building, and I ask you what are your lived experiences with housing in the Ithaca area? What do you believe are some of the causes and solutions to housing insecurity? What is something journalists keep “missing” in their reporting?