St. Louis Park, like many other cities in Minnesota, is currently experiencing a rise in its middle-class population and tries to find space to house them by taking over the housing currently available to the lower classes.

Between 2000 and 2010, the number of neighborhoods considered gentrified because of this need for space rose extensively, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Gentrified means homes considered affordable for lower-class families become displaced to make room for more expensive homes for the growing middle-class population.

A growing trend exists near Lake Calhoun and Linden Hills area — buying cheap homes, tearing them down and building bigger ones. While it’s understandable that this may increase a neighborhood’s desirability, the lack of affordable living for the lower classes in these areas forces those people to move or consider much less desirable neighborhoods. This unfairly displaces these families from neighborhoods they used to be able to afford.

The term “affordable” recently began to lose its credibility with the increase in these new homes and apartment buildings. Small apartments in sought-after in the twin cities neighborhoods rent for upward of $1,000 a month, according to Zillow. For any family or individual who earns less than a middle-class salary, they would never be able to afford one of these apartments. This once again removes them from quality neighborhoods and unfairly forces them into much less desirable ones.

These homes are only available to the middle class, yet building and marketing companies use the blanket term “affordable” instead. They don’t have to specify who really can afford them. Often, these same companies classify something as affordable just because it seems as though they benefit the masses. This lies to the consumer and neglects families looking for truly affordable housing.

The way housing develops and where it grows requires major modification. Building companies need to introduce a plan to build homes with the intention of creating affordable neighborhoods for the lower class. Lower class families also require additional aid when trying to pay for a new home or continue to afford to live where they currently live.