Affordable housing: A question of definition. A case study on the housing markets of Arlington County, VA and Montgomery County, MD

This dissertation examines two moderately-priced affordable housing programs, one in Arlington County, VA and one in Montgomery County, MD. The importance of low-income affordable housing programs are widely recognized and acknowledged, yet in recent years, moderate-income households are facing affordability challenges resulting from surging housing prices and lagging incomes. The dissertation questions whether jurisdictions are using the most relevant and reliable data to identify their affordable housing needs by studying the employment structures, resident income distributions, housing tenures, types and prices of each County. This dissertation will provide local jurisdictions with a new approach to developing housing strategies and seeking alternate solutions.