Creators: Rasvitha Nandru, Isabela Ibarcena Ruiz and Brooke Ann McConaghy
Course: The Nonprofit Sector, Philanthropy, and Social Change (Riccio)
Abstract: Shelter is one of our human basic needs, yet many individuals are evicted out of their homes for several reasons and left to fend for themselves. Unfortunately, Massachusetts has a shortage of affordable rental homes across the state. According to Children’s health watch at Boston Medical center “for every 100 families with extremely low incomes in the Commonwealth, there are only 46 available units of housing they would be able to afford without spending more than 30 percent of their income on rent, a condition known as rent burden.” This means that most families are spending a vast amount of their income on their homes which leaves them with a shortage of other expenses and needs. We created a Kumu-based map indicating the factors that affect housing (in)security which was used by our community partner, Northeastern Students4Giving, to aid in making a decision and give grants to local community organizations.
