Week 8

In this week’s senior project, I have continued to hone my skills in PowerPoint and have now read many research papers relating to RAD and how the early stages of testing have already proven effective in solving affordable housing in small communities. In one particular research paper, a small developer in Dallas, Texas, was approved for the HUD program and saw massive increases in funding, thereby leading to more room, modern renovations, and upkeep, as well as increased residential happiness and satisfaction.

While this next study doesn’t exactly deal with RAD itself, it does deal with resident happiness and health, which are important factors in considering the design of affordable housing. Studies have shown that residents who live in mixed-income communities generally experience better brain and mental health, which in turn benefits cardiovascular health. This effect is increased by the presence of some kind of outdoor/green space in apartment buildings.