 Fort Worth home values are increasing, and rental prices have been rising steadily too. For some of our neighbors in Fort Worth, that makes it hard to find a decent, affordable place to live. Entry-level teachers, service industry workers, college graduates working their first job, seniors, persons with disabilities, skilled workers supporting a family. These Fort Worth residents need affordable housing, so they have enough left over for food, clothing, transportation, and other necessities. So what is affordable housing? The United States government considers housing affordable if it costs no more than 30 percent of your income. In other words, someone making minimum wage would be able to pay about $377 a month for an affordable one-bedroom apartment. But in Fort Worth, the going rate for a one-bedroom apartment is $850 a month and rising. To help bridge the gap, the City of Fort Worth Neighborhood Services Department manages a variety of federal, grant-based programs that help residents afford good housing. There are a number of programs. Some of them help the elderly on fixed incomes, or those with disabilities. Others provide rent subsidies or vouchers to tenants. There are grants for homeowner emergency repairs, neighborhood renewal projects, loan guarantees, and homebuyer and financial education. Other programs give tax credits to builders for new construction or renovating older units. All of these programs help beautify and strengthen Fort Worth neighborhoods. And yes, this is what affordable housing looks like today. Clean and attractive with an emphasis on energy-efficient appliances and windows, and ideally close to major highways, bus stops, and retail centers. Many rental homes and complexes you drive past every day offer a number of units to neighbors who qualify for affordable housing, but there's still a shortage. That's why the City of Fort Worth is working to provide more safe, affordable housing in a broad range of neighborhoods. Homes that don't separate low-income residents from others, but welcome them into the neighborhood and expand opportunities to be close to good jobs, good schools, and be more self-sufficient. For more information about affordable housing programs in Fort Worth, visit fortworthtexas.gov slash neighborhoods.