A cura di @G.Bon.

Seattle e dintorni sono diventati un simbolo negli Stati Uniti del problema legato ai prezzi degli alloggi in zone dove ci sono le sedi di grandi gruppi tecnologici.

Now Microsoft, arguing that the industry has an interest and responsibility to help people left behind in communities transformed by the boom, is putting up $500 million to help address the problem.

Ne parla questo articolo del New York Times in cui ci sono più dettagli sul piano finanziario dell’operazione. Nell’area di Seattle il prezzo delle case è infatti raddoppiato negli ultimi 8 anni e la costruzione di nuove abitazioni ha segnato il passo.

“the region has counterintuitively done less to build middle-income housing than low-income housing, especially in the suburbs.” That squeeze hits a range of workers. “Of course, we have lots of software engineers, but the reality is that a lot of people work for Microsoft. Cafeteria workers, shuttle drivers,[..]. It is a supply problem, a market failure.”

Microsoft plans to lend $225 million at subsidized rates to preserve and build middle-income housing in six cities near its Redmond headquarters. It will put an additional $250 million into low-income housing across the region.

Immagine da WIkimedia.