HEART OF STEELE

Seven years ago, I tallied the number of times I’ve moved in my lifetime and came up with 28–more or less.

I’m about to make move No. 32, and this time, the reason is different from all the rest.

My papa was a rolling stone in the 1960s and 1970s. He had a growing family and was always looking for ways to make our life better.

As an adult, I often moved for the same reason. Work took me from Mora to Lakeville to metro Detroit. I never once searched longer than a few weeks to find a suitable home in my price range.

This time, it took more than three months. I’d been keeping an eye open for a while but started searching in earnest around the first of the year. The middle of winter is a terrible time to look, so I kept my expectations low. But even in that first month, I realized I was in trouble.

Rent for one-bedroom–and even studio–apartments in Owatonna ran upwards of $850 a month. Of the few in my range, some had steep staircases–a barrier for my 65-year-old knees–while others were snapped up even before I called or emailed to ask about them.

I expanded my search outside of Owatonna and found much the same result. One landlord had a unit in my price range but wanted a $3,000 deposit. Most asked for an application “processing fee” that ranged from $30 to $75.

A few weeks ago, one unit kept popping up in my search results. Two-year-old building, practically new appliances, walk-in shower, plenty of closet space, secured building. Affordable rent that includes heat. No application fee. Reasonable deposit.

There’s just one hitch: I'll be moving 50 miles south.

While that sounds like a lot, I have a reliable vehicle and supportive family nearby. Most of my work is remote. I’ll be fine.

In a week or two, Steele County Times will launch a series of articles that feature the voices of people who have needed or are looking for affordable housing–and they have very different stories to tell. We’ll also share eye-opening information about “affordable housing,” which may not mean what you think it does.

Please take the time to read more on this critical issue and take the information to heart. Ensuring an adequate supply of affordable housing is a community-wide problem, and it needs community-wide solutions.