To address growing rental costs and a lack of affordable housing in metropolitan areas across the United States, city governments are partnering with affordable housing developers to create income-based housing for low-income families and individuals; however, proposed developments often meet a mix of community opposition and support. While current research focuses on how Not in my Backyard (NIMBY) arguments affect the location and development of affordable housing complexes, little research centers the experiences of potential affordable housing recipients – individuals often associated with racist and classist stereotypes through NIMBY rhetoric. This study utilizes experimental survey data to demonstrate the implications of NIMBY and Yes in my Backyard (YIMBY) community rhetoric on the mental health of potential affordable housing recipients. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three vignettes that mirrored a neutral factsheet, NIMBY arguments, or YIMBY sentiments. I discover that the self esteem of individuals in the control and YIMBY group increased while the change in self-esteem among NIMBY group participants was insignificant. Findings indicate that neutral and supportive rhetoric surrounding affordable housing development can have a positive effect on potential recipients’ self-esteem. This study contributes to the present literature on both the effect of positive rhetoric on mental health and affordable housing.