housing & urban policy
Housing and urban policy in the U.S. seeks to expand access to affordable housing, improve living conditions, and address discrimination. However, challenges like segregation, displacement, and rising costs remain persistent.
major acts & programs
National Housing Act (1934): created the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to insure mortgages and encourage homeownership during the Great Depression
Housing Act of 1949: aimed to provide a decent home and suitable living environment for every American family
led to large-scale public housing projects and urban renewal programs, often criticized for displacing
poor communities
Fair Housing Act (1968): banned discrimination in housing based on race, religion, national origin, later sex, disability, family status
enforced by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) (1974): provides federal money to cities and towns to improve housing, infrastructure, economic opportunity
Section 8 Housing (1970s): federal housing vouchers that help low income families pay for rent in privately owned homes
Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Rule (2015): Obama-era rule requiring cities to take active steps to fight housing segregation and promote inclusion
rolled back under President Donald Trump, partially revived under President Joe Biden
Democratic president who served from 2021 to 2025
Republican president who served from 2017 to 2021, 2025 to 2029
Supreme Court
Texas Department of Housing v. Inclusive Communities Project (2015): upheld idea that “disparate impact” can be challenged under the Fair Housing Act
practices that aren’t overtly racist but still harm minorities
affordable housing initiatives
San Diego
housing crisis is largely driven by shortage of housing units
4912 homeless in City of San Diego alone, 8576 in San Diego region
Section 8 programs help low income citizens find housing by paying difference between market price of a home and 30% of renter’s income
created finance plan that created 810 more units of affordable rental housing in 2009
Atmosphere apartment building in downtown San Diego drew attention when it announced it would offer 205 apartments to low-income residents, paying through Section 8 vouchers
San Francisco
housing bubble keeps rent prices consistently high
has worked to introduce reforms to policies like single-family zoning to improve affordability
extreme rise in housing prices driven by tech industry growth, limited housing supply, and high investor demand. has not burst
allows only one home per lot, limiting housing density and affordability
New York City
shortage of affordable housing resulting in overcrowding and homelessness
income has remained relatively stagnant since 1970 while rent has nearly doubled
party views
democrats, in general....
support more federal funding for affordable housing, public housing, homelessness prevention
push to expand housing vouchers, tenant protections
favour combatting housing discrimination and segregation
view housing as a human right and part of reducing poverty and racial inequality
republicans, in general....
prefer market based solutions over government run
support homeownership and deregulation
focus more on economic growth and job creation to make housing more affordable, rather than expanding subsidies