In my life, I've lived in a handful of home-owning working class and upper middle class metropolitan areas. Every single one of them has had a "crisis" when developers want to build low income housing. I'm talking putting signs on lawns, knocking on doors, scheduling protests, going to town hall meetings and starting grassroots campaigns to protect their property values under the guise of public safety and "think of the children".
Their stated fear is that crime will increase, but press them with some sympathy towards their anxiety and they'll freely make it known that they view their property as an investment and don't want to be in the presence of people they feel are beneath them.
I also spent a majority of my childhood in the low income housing people are so against. We didn't live in fear of robbery, assault nor was there a rampant drug problem. We frequently left our door and windows unlocked and many neighbors had our key. I had a large and healthy social circle as a kid because of the close vicinity to others the property provided. The sense of community was higher there than any other place I've lived. I've brought this up only to be told that I just don't understand.
