What’s the ultimate importance of access to affordable housing?
It’s at the heart of quality of life. But what exactly do we mean by “quality of life”? In all phases of life, from young adult to wise elder, we are all constantly weighing the relative merits of wealth, money, and material circumstances. We all know that money doesn’t buy happiness.
Wise people will tell us that happiness is more a choice than a state of being. That’s why people in poverty can exhibit more contentment with their circumstances than those we outwardly see as “wealthy”. And how often do we observe people with an abundance of material wealth, but who seem miserable?
We can reframe this ever-present existential inquiry around the simple concept of one of Maslow’s primary needs – shelter. Better known as housing. I’ve worked in the housing industry for the last 25 years, focused on providing the best possible living arrangements for seniors, and I’ve learned a lot from my customers; their attitudes and social and economic backgrounds, and the range of contentment toward the end of life.
There are those who choose to be content with their circumstances, even while striving to better them. Then there are those who just seem to feel better being miserable, so that nothing is ever good enough, and contentment is always a “some day, one day” state of being they’ll never allow themselves.
The seniors housing industry has matured during my tenure, to where few of my colleagues would disagree that all we really want to provide, ultimately, is wellness. Holistic health. To see our clients content in their final stage of life.
This is all of us, at any age
This is not just about people in the mature stage of life. Contentment; call it “happiness”, is a choice. It doesn’t have to depend on your physical or financial circumstances. But it’s sure easier to find when we’re not stressed.
At all ages and stages of life, the constant primary stressor for so many is their financial situation, and the primary expense is housing. Many are “house poor” – the cost of the home takes over 50% of their earnings each month, so they’re constantly struggling to make ends meet.
I keep returning to housing as a primary need, within the context of our learning years, and later, our careers and family life. Having comfortable housing that we can afford can ensure financial security. This opens the door to being content with what we have, and to get on with living a productive and contributory life.
When I look at our socio-economic spectrum, in Canada – one of the world’s most fortunate nations, I am struck by the pervasiveness of housing stress. Across the range of incomes and vocations, family status, ethnic origins, and cultural values, how many of us experience our greatest stress in the area of our housing, its affordability, and the elusive values of financial security and wellness that good, stable housing could make possible.