The other big problem with 'affordable housing' is that it's corrupt. You'll find that for many of them, there's a long list of things you get preference for...

The other big problem with 'affordable housing' is that it's corrupt. You'll find that for many of them, there's a long list of things you get preference for... like being a residence of that little suburb. So offspring of folks who live in some swanky suburb will get the affordable housing even though they are the ones who could probably do without. And often, you'll find that the "lottery" system is not a lottery... it's moms and dads who are working in these affordable housing committees and they cheat so that their sons and daughters get the housing opportunities. When you consider especially that in the large scheme of things it's just a handful of these opportunities available, you quickly find out what a scam this thing is. How do I know this? Because I've seen this all happen. Of the 10 or so households who got affordable housing in MA, I know that more than 8 got it because they didn't really qualify but knew how to play the tricks. One of our family friends is actually trying to divorce his wife (just in the papers) so that the wife gets higher preference rating for a certain house they're going for.