'Priced Out' of housing in Savannah, community partnership highlights residents' struggle
Share this @internewscast.com

SAVANNAH, Ga. () – A local organization debuted an exhibit Friday to shed light on what they are calling a housing affordability crisis in Savannah.

The exhibition titled “Priced Out” is a collaborative effort between Housing Savannah and SCAD Serves, the community outreach initiative of the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD).

The project highlighted the experiences of local people facing housing insecurity in Savannah.

“I applied for disability. We were forced out of our apartment as Shaun’s income wasn’t sufficient,” shared Shaun and K-lee, who are part of the installation. “We learned of a job opportunity in Savannah, but it didn’t pan out once we arrived. So, we’ve been residing in a motel.”

Those featured in the exhibit said they are not able to secure safe, comfortable housing in Savannah for a variety of reasons.

For some, it’s an unexpected illness that drops their household down to one income.

“Our food assistance was recently terminated,” Shaun and K-Lee explained. “As a server at the Waffle House, I’m only earning three dollars an hour. This has led me to pick up extra shifts, taking on both cooking and serving duties, in an effort to balance our finances somewhat.”

For others, generational struggles make it hard for them to afford stable housing.

“I went to college twice,” Ashley, who was also featured in Priced Out exhibit, said. “I still can’t get my foot in the door. I still can’t get a leg up. Anytime, I go somewhere, I think Savannah might not be it, but this is my home. Why don’t I have the right to live here?”

However, according to Executive Director of Housing Savannah Laura Lane McKinnon, the struggle for affordable housing is not unique to just the participants in the exhibit.

“Far too often we think of that as an individual issue, something that perhaps we’ve done something wrong, we’re struggling. But it really is a systemic issue,” she said.

SCAD Serves and Housing Savannah put together a documentary to highlight the everyday realities of the participants’ lives. In the exhibit, their testimonies were woven together like a quilt.

“The rent for low-and mid-income people is based on the average income for the entire town,” Paula, a participant featured in the documentary said. “That doesn’t make sense to me. It doesn’t compute.”

Only a snippet of the documentary was shown at Friday’s exhibit, but the whole piece will be unveiled to the public soon.

You can view the “Priced Out” exhibit from 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. on Saturday.

K-lee and Shaun shared their GoFundMe with . If you would like to donate you can click or tap here.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Pope Leo XIV Urges Support for Gaza in Inaugural Address

Pope Leo XIV urged for humanitarian aid to reach the Gaza Strip…

Results and Highlights: May 20th High School Sports Recap

CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) – The postseason for various high school spring sports…

How the ‘Golden Dome’ Could Revolutionize Missile Defense

() The $175 billion “Golden Dome for America” missile defense system will…

Elon Musk Steps Back from Politics After Major Investment Misfires

MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin could go down as billionaire Elon Musk’s last…

Biden’s Office Confirms His Most Recent Prostate Cancer Screening Was in 2014

Former President Biden’s last known prostate cancer screening was in 2014, a…

Texas Governor Set to Review ‘Botox Party’ Legislation

AUSTIN (KXAN) Proposed legislation to enhance patient safety and tighten Texas laws over…

Twelve Lawyers Argue New Fentanyl Homicide Law Won’t Work

In Beaufort County, S.C., a newly enacted law aims to tackle the…

Hilton Head Residents Press Council for Solutions to Workforce Housing

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. () — The atmosphere on Hilton Head Island…

Ongoing Efforts to Locate Missing 64-Year-Old Man in Colorado

DENVER (KDVR) The Colorado Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement have…

Nilson Appointed as Head Coach for Illinois Women’s Gymnastics Team

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) – Illinois women’s gymnastics has its next head coach,…

Florida Man Condemned for Cracker Barrel Killings Passes Away in Prison

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — A Florida man on death row for…

What Impact Would Trump’s Budget Bill Have on the Child Tax Credit?

(NEXSTAR) – President Trump’s significant tax reform bill brings about changes impacting…