Unaffordable housing

Housing cost-burden refers to the amount of household income spent on housing costs – rent or mortgage, plus utilities. A household is considered to be cost-burdened if housing costs exceed 30% of the income; severe cost-burden refers to households that pay over 50% of their income on housing costs. While… Continue reading…

Right to Counsel in Eviction Cases.

We’ll Need it After the Moratorium Runs Out. Two Charlotte city council members the other day floated the idea of adopting a right to counsel program for tenants facing eviction. That’s a milestone, and an indicator both of how serious the eviction crisis is about to get, and of how… Continue reading…

Zoning Reform Very Lite.

Accessory Dwelling Units Won’t Dent the Affordable Housing Crisis. ADUs are buzzy, they’re attractive, they’re problem solvers, they represent a zoning reform that might be achievable and might actually add some affordable housing units, and all without really having to challenge the prevailing order. But how much good it will… Continue reading…

Skin in the Game.

Biden Proposes a New First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit. It’s almost a fundamental American faith that people should own houses and that policymakers should encourage them to do so. Whether that is wise policy is a question to which we will return often in this housing policy series. Commentators have suggested… Continue reading…