Affordable housing in current real estate markets is a  continuing challenge for many of our nation’s households. The increasing expense of transportation, rising healthcare, and childcare costs, increasing land values, and the cost to construct units have cumulatively stretched household budgets and perpetuated our affordable housing crisis. Even through the recent downturn in the housing market, many communities still provide few affordable options. Our traditional suburban development pattern has limited housing that is proximate to employment centers, public transportation facilities, and other needed services.