The Hidden Cost of Suburban Sprawl: A Housing Inequality Perspective

Suburban sprawl is a rapid outward growth of cities accompanied by a low population density of the extending territory, the latter being a rural or semi-urban area, creates an image of large home spaces, low housing costs, and a better quality of life for a population.

But thus we see this extensive form of development is associated with perverse social costs, especially in the area of housing segregation.

In this blog, the author shows how earth sprawl intensifies economic and social inequities, and reveals the obstacles of a spatially just city.

Suburban Sprawl and the Illusion of Affordability

Not only has suburban sprawl continued unchecked, but consumers are actually being given the false impression that many goods and services are cheaper than they actually are.

The outbreak of sub-divisions is regarded as the panacea for short supply of houses in urban area, as it provides cheap housing to the families who are experiencing scarcity of house and need better housing conditions.

But it doesn’t always include the indirect consequences and inequalities that sprawl generates.

1. The Burden of Transportation Costs

Suburban houses may be cheaper to live in than urban houses, but the residents incur more on transport.

A suburb is almost always automobile reliant, hence results in high expenditures on fuel, transportation, and car upkeep.

Some of the expenses include fares which definitely affects families that has constrained abilities to access cheap public transport.

2. Infrastructure Inefficiencies

The arrangement of suburban developments makes expenses of extending basic amenities like roads, water, and electricity high.

These costs may be recovered via assessor’s rates that are raised through property taxes, other charges which add extra burden to the residents.

3. Access to Services and Opportunities

Suburban sprawl often leads to formation for service desert typically areas that lack proper access to healthcare, education or employment.

Residents and particularly families with low income also remain locked in these neighbourhoods thus perpetuating a life of poverty.

Housing Inequality in Suburban Sprawl

Suburban sprawl deepens housing inequity as it puts in place geographical, social and economic barriers.

Such splits are evident in different forms and play a role in strengthening the fragmentation of residential buildings.

1. Segregation by Income

Where suburban sprawl occurs there is usually income-based residential separation.

He or she has found that most of the wealthy families live in clean and spacious suburban areas with convenient facilities while the poor families can only live in less clean and less facilitated areas.

This segregation only strengthens the gap because opportunities of quality education, health care, and other services remain pathologized.

2. Displacement and Gentrification

Suburban sprawl is seen to extend increasingly to rural areas and neighborhoods with low income.

This leads to increased property prices and rentals making lower income earners leave their neighborhoods for better places they cannot afford.

This kind of gentrification deepens the problem of housing crisis by relocating disadvantaged groups from better-paid work hubs.

3. Housing Quality Disparities

There are various possibilities regarding the quality of housing in large suburban areas.

Families with high income can live in houses which are more progressive and maintained while the low-income families are stuck with older degrading buildings.

Housing and living conditions remain a major indicator of health and quality of life of the residents of such homes for these clients.

Toward Equitable Urban Development

Cities must also start embracing novel and sustainable planning patterns to fight the hidden costs of suburban sprawl and housing segregation.

Such postures should endeavour to develop relatively dense, populations’ areas that are well connected and have fair provisions for all persons within the community.

1. Promoting Mixed-Use Development

The integration of these various uses offers an all-embracing concept that replaces the rigidity of travel from home to work and drops the physical, social, and commercial separation of zones that segregate urban environments.

These opportunities mean when affordable housing is incorporated into these developments, cities can ensure low-income earners access these services.

2. Public transport financing

Greater and enhanced investment in PTs is essential to depressed car usage and to ensure that the disable have access to facilities they require.

Efficient and inexpensive transportation means give those at the base of the income pyramid an opportunity to get to their places of work, school, or hospitals without the cash strain of affording a vehicle.

3. Reforestation of Affordable Housing Programs

Housing authorities and private entities need to recognise that metros and suburbs require more units of inexpensive homes.

Inclusionary zoning, low income housing subsidy, and tax credit for affordable housing can work anywhere they can make up for lacking resources for cutting inequality and offering stability to vulnerable demographics.

Community participation in the decision making process is an effective way of guaranteeing their needs are met as they develop with the growing communities.

CDF can therefore result in the developing of fair and sustainable neighbourhoods where all the citizens of a community have a say in what is done around them or for them.

4. Protecting Great Spaces and Assets

The key goal of the development of human settlements should therefore be directed towards striking a workable balance between on one hand, progress, economic growth and on the other, environmental management.

Parks and conservation also enhance the standards of living besides reading the uncontrolled eruption of sprawl.

Conclusion

The elephant in the room in the discussions around suburban sprawl is the role this model has played in reinforcing housing disadvantage and the resultant economic and social polarization.

Though spread out may be a possible solution to housing challenges within cities, sprawl consequences compound inequalities and hinder the concept of socially inclusive cities.

In tackle these challenges, sustainable and inclusive growth model have to be embraced by the policymakers, urban planners and the communities in general.

Using solutions that subsequently increase affordability in an area, cities should progress toward the idea of accessible and positive future for all citizens, regardless of the territory they live in or their economic status.

Suburban sprawl may remain a force for altering the character of urban areas today and in the foreseeable future, but the consequences of this trend do not have to be greater inequality, if appropriate steps are taken.

Also read: Social Costs vs. Economic Benefits of Gentrification