LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Affordable housing isn't easy to find these days, especially with reports showing a nationwide shortage of more than seven million affordable rental homes.
There's also a shortage in Arkansas, but Little Rock city leaders are working to improve it.
"Anytime you get to help individuals and families find decent and affordable housing, and they have the opportunity to create some homeownership and have a place that they can call the home, it always feels great," Little Rock Department of Housing and Neighborhood Programs Director, Kevin Howard said.
Howard said building 16 new homes in the city's sixth ward is a step in the right direction for decreasing the affordable housing shortage.
"Anybody can find a house," Howard said. "The key is being able to find affordable housing for that low to moderate income person and family."
Howard estimates hundreds in the city are on a waiting list to move into low-cost housing.
"We want to provide a sense of pride, a sense of homeownership and give these individuals and families the opportunity to get into these homes with no money down," Howard said. "We'll provide up to a $20,000 subsidy so they can apply for that to receive assistance and get into these homes."
Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. said he wants to see even more affordable homes in Little Rock.
Two years ago, he set his goal to create 100 new housing units.
"We've already laid the infrastructure for close to 35 to 36 homes," Scott said. "20 of those homes have already been sold utilizing our down payment assistance as well as the subsidies that we work with the Housing Urban Development program within the federal government."
According to Scott, creating low-cost housing creates a foundation for families.
"We are very grateful because we know that this helps us close racial wealth gaps here in the city of Little Rock," Scott said. "If you can have a home, you can build equity, you can build equity, you can build wealth."
Howard expects the homes to be finished in the next year and a half.