To the editor:

There has been a lot of buzz around the”affordable housing” problem in Lawrence, but people are ignoring the other factor, which is income.

Census data show Lawrence has an excess of available housing except for $400 or below which essentially means “free housing.” I don’t care how affordable the housing that you want to build, you just can’t do it for rent that low and have it worth living in.

Why not focus on driving incomes higher and not by some artificial means like increasing the minimum wage but by having a city government that enacts policies to draw good-paying jobs, works with those in poverty to develop skills that will get them higher-paying jobs and provides financial literacy to help them maximize the income they have?

I realize that providing free housing is a disincentive to work hard, show up on time and develop skills that will take time, but it’s time Lawrence tried something innovative and instead of a housing trust fund.

I challenge the churches in Justice Matters to start their own “income trust fund” to help those who desire to escape the pit of poverty they are in. A partnership of financial equity combined with sweat equity from people who need help could be transformative. I have other ideas that could work in the short term as well.