The Affordable Housing Summit held at Gloucester’s Daffodil Gardens on Feb. 1 revealed troubling trends as it relates to the Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck. Though we are a decade removed from the market crash of 2008, a lack of economic opportunities still affects this region.

The summit was co-sponsored by Bay Transit and Housing Virginia and sought to identify trends and generate dialogue related to access to affordable housing in Gloucester, Mathews and the Northern Neck.

Erica Sims, a representative from the statewide policy organization Housing Virginia, spoke first and provided much data generated during a study spanning the years 2000-2015.

Focusing specifically on this area and similarly rural parts of the commonwealth, Sims relayed the information in no uncertain terms.

Many residents face a dual threat, Sims described, as rent is increasing at a substantially faster rate than wages. In many cases, wages are actually stagnant or declining compared to previous de...