Ending the Affordable Housing Supply Debate

Joe Cortright at City Observatory argues that recent studies should change the debate over affordable housing, saying that increasing housing supply at all price points helps. Even building more market rate housing reduces displacement. 

The Sightline Institute reasons that the only way to solve the affordable housing crisis and related displacement is to build our way out of it. While building more market rate housing frees up affordable units ("trickle-down"), a Shelterforce article argues that the most impactful thing to do is to build more low- and moderate income housing.

"The same policies that facilitate market rate housing–more density, fewer parking requirements, clear and certain approval processes–would also make it less expensive to build affordable housing."

So, while building more affordable housing has the most impact, it is also the most expensive option. There are many ways to address the affordable housing crisis, and adding units at any price point helps.