HOUSING: Smaller is better

I read with interest the story about affordable housing. Surely the 350 and up houses are being built for newcomers, not us old-time residents.

As a retired person I want what all my friends want and can’t find: a one level, small house, 800-1,200 square feet, with either no yard or minimal yard. We are also interested in condominiums of one story, but they are nearly impossible to find. Even the condos that are one level have steps down or up to get into them.

Working people also could use small houses, or condos which are affordable. These types of houses and condos would appeal to workers and retirees. Retirees bring money into the community because they don’t take up jobs. If the builders aren’t interested in building these small houses, then Idaho will begin to price out the people who do the work, such as hotel employees, restaurant workers, farm workers and many other types of workers. Already, Boise is facing a crisis in that workers can’t afford to live there any longer. The same thing happened in Sun Valley and the restaurants had to close as there were no workers.

Spokane does a little better and is attracting retirees away from Idaho and into Washington.

DONNA HARVEY

Hayden