Anyone following the news in Israel realizes that we are having a housing crisis.
This is due to a number of factors. One is that the country's population has grown in 63 years from less than 1 million to over 7 million, TG. The other is that a large percentage of apartments were bought by foreigners when the Israeli Shequel was low, for investment and as holiday apartments for them and their families. While we are thrilled that so many Jews feel that this is home and this is where they come to celebrate holidays and hang out during vacation times, it has created a situation where there is an huge amount of apartments that are empty most of the year. Together, the fact that most of the jobs, as well as three of the largest universities in the country, are in the center and an in proportionate number of apartments are not available to rent, has shot rental prices, even for the ones that are available to ridiculous levels. It has created a situation in which no student, young couple, large family or old couple for that matter can afford to rent or to buy.
The answer could be that salaries need to be more proportionate to the cost of living, which should include rental and mortgage prices. There is a huge par between what people earn and what they can afford. We are a family of 8 and our income have gone down over the last few years, while the family and expenses grew TG. If I could work in Jerusalem and live in Dimona, then I could afford something. As it is our work is centered around Jerusalem and so here we must stay.
There needs to be government subsidies to help families who don't own and would like to. Also, government housing should be built, in the areas of the university; hostels which are like dorms for use of the students and their families while they study.
Last but not least, there should be a government program to build new neighborhoods, like Homat Shmuel (Har Homa), and to encourage the building and growing of a strong Jewish presence in and around our eternal capital.
This is due to a number of factors. One is that the country's population has grown in 63 years from less than 1 million to over 7 million, TG. The other is that a large percentage of apartments were bought by foreigners when the Israeli Shequel was low, for investment and as holiday apartments for them and their families. While we are thrilled that so many Jews feel that this is home and this is where they come to celebrate holidays and hang out during vacation times, it has created a situation where there is an huge amount of apartments that are empty most of the year. Together, the fact that most of the jobs, as well as three of the largest universities in the country, are in the center and an in proportionate number of apartments are not available to rent, has shot rental prices, even for the ones that are available to ridiculous levels. It has created a situation in which no student, young couple, large family or old couple for that matter can afford to rent or to buy.
The answer could be that salaries need to be more proportionate to the cost of living, which should include rental and mortgage prices. There is a huge par between what people earn and what they can afford. We are a family of 8 and our income have gone down over the last few years, while the family and expenses grew TG. If I could work in Jerusalem and live in Dimona, then I could afford something. As it is our work is centered around Jerusalem and so here we must stay.
There needs to be government subsidies to help families who don't own and would like to. Also, government housing should be built, in the areas of the university; hostels which are like dorms for use of the students and their families while they study.
Last but not least, there should be a government program to build new neighborhoods, like Homat Shmuel (Har Homa), and to encourage the building and growing of a strong Jewish presence in and around our eternal capital.
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