# Why are people so opposed to affordable housing?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-so-opposed-to-affordable-housing/754392>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [May 9, 2016, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-so-opposed-to-affordable-housing/754392 "2016-05-09T14:33:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 5

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**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2016, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-so-opposed-to-affordable-housing/754392/81 "2016-05-12T18:52:54Z")

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> [@puddleglum](#):
>
> If I could wear your clothes instead of mine I could save alot of money, same with food. Me not being able to control your clothes and food definitely impacts me.

You might find them a bit loose in the crotch.😃

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**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2016, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-so-opposed-to-affordable-housing/754392/82 "2016-05-12T18:55:09Z")

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> [@msmith537](#):
>
> You might find them a bit loose in the crotch.😃

🙂

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**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2016, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-so-opposed-to-affordable-housing/754392/83 "2016-05-12T19:41:45Z")

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> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#):
>
> I don’t get the analogy. It seems you’re saying there should be no zoning restrictions anywhere for anything. Everyone should just be able to buy land and do whatever the hell they want with it? Luckily that’s not how things work and most people who go around buying land understand that and act accordingly. When you buy land and then want to rezone, however, your neighbors have every right to complain.

That’s because it’s a stupid analogy that has no bearing on economics, urban development, real estate, the realities of local politics and fashion. It’s clearly absurd to have no restrictions on what can be built. There are other considerations besides who has the most money. Health, safety, pollution, infrastructure demands, economics, the general aesthetics and character of the neighborhood are just as important.

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**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2016, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-people-so-opposed-to-affordable-housing/754392/84 "2016-05-13T14:39:01Z")

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> [@Shodan](#):
>
> Do they have the right to complain when a developer wants to build low-income apartments, even if it doesn’t require re-zoning?

Technically, they always have the right to complain. But if someone wants to put apartments in a nearby area that is zoned for apartments, you just have to know you’ll probably lose that argument. Of course, that also depends on how specific the zoning code is.

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