Affordable Housing

Safe, sustainable, and affordable housing is fundamental to Americans’ economic security, yet housing construction has failed to keep pace with demand, leaving nearly half of rental households cost-burdened and homeownership increasingly out of reach.

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The Trump Administration’s War on Disability Report
U.S. President Donald Trump signs an executive order.

The Trump Administration’s War on Disability

Executive actions, budget cuts, layoffs, and legislation—all enacted in the Trump administration’s first six months—have curtailed disability rights and services, including access to Medicaid and the right to free, appropriate public education.

State Estimates of Increases in Homeowner and Small-Business Borrowing Costs Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act Article
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State Estimates of Increases in Homeowner and Small-Business Borrowing Costs Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

The “big, beautiful bill” passed by House Republicans in reconciliation is expected to significantly increase U.S. government debt, driving up interest rates for borrowers—including families taking out a mortgage or people growing their own businesses.

Natalie Baker, Sara Estep

Will the U.S. Housing Crisis Be Exploited for a Massive Public Lands Sell-Off? Report
The San Jacinto Mountains are seen from afar at the Big Morongo Wildlife Preserve in Morongo Valley, California, April 11, 2007.

Will the U.S. Housing Crisis Be Exploited for a Massive Public Lands Sell-Off?

Some politicians are using the nation’s housing affordability problems as a pretense to sell off public lands—an extreme agenda that puts America’s treasured lands and waters at risk without substantively addressing housing needs. A new initiative from the Trump administration publicly promises restraint, while specific proposals from Capitol Hill tell a different story.

Drew McConville, Doug Turner

Managing the Climate Change-Fueled Property Insurance Crisis Report
A couple stands to the left of the remains of a home burned down in January 2025 during a massive wildfire in and around Los Angeles.

Managing the Climate Change-Fueled Property Insurance Crisis

As private insurers pull back services in the face of mounting losses, governments are looking to spread the costs of more frequent and severe natural disasters while confronting insurance availability and affordability challenges.

Lilith Fellowes-Granda, Marc Jarsulic, Alexandra Thornton

Removing Barriers to Abundant, Affordable Housing In the News

Removing Barriers to Abundant, Affordable Housing

InsideSources published an op-ed from Kevin DeGood about the role that state and local governments play in America’s housing affordability crisis.

InsideSources

Kevin DeGood

Lower Costs Through Better Competition Past Event

Lower Costs Through Better Competition

Please join the Center for American Progress for an event featuring FTC Chair Lina Khan and Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) about protecting consumers and preserving competition.

1333 H St NW

Building Opportunity: Expanding Housing in America by Reforming Local Land Use Report
A group of townhomes are seen under construction in Falls Church, Virginia, on March 9, 2023.

Building Opportunity: Expanding Housing in America by Reforming Local Land Use

Reducing regulatory barriers to housing production can unleash new supply and serve as an important complement to federal, state, and local programs that provide direct subsidies for low-income housing construction and maintenance.

Kevin DeGood

A New Vision for Social Housing in America Article
Roadwork is seen being done in front of a low-income housing project in the Bronx borough of New York City on October 30, 2022.

A New Vision for Social Housing in America

The most effective way to solve America’s severe housing affordability crisis is to undertake a bold federal program of social housing construction that will deliver millions of new affordable, self-sustaining housing units located in opportunity-rich areas.

Kevin DeGood, Christian E. Weller, David Ballard, 1 More Jessica Vela

Converting Vacant Office Space Into Housing Report
The corner of an empty apartment with windows that look onto office buildings in Lower Manhattan is seen.

Converting Vacant Office Space Into Housing

The adaptive reuse of underutilized office buildings, if paired with government support and comprehensive planning, might be a valuable tool in many local markets for addressing the vast need for more—and more affordable—housing.

Michela Zonta, Lily Roberts, Jessica Vela

Lowering Costs for American Families Past Event

Lowering Costs for American Families

Join CAP for a conversation with Neera Tanden, Domestic Policy Advisor to President Joe Biden.

Center for American Progress

Transparency and Accountability in Insurance: Next Steps on Climate Risk Data Collection Article
Photo shows brown water flooding streets within a neighborhood against a partly cloudy sky, with homes and trucks partly submerged

Transparency and Accountability in Insurance: Next Steps on Climate Risk Data Collection

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners and Federal Insurance Office are collecting data to learn how climate change affects insurance markets, and they should consider these recommended next steps to maximize the effectiveness of this effort.

Lilith Fellowes-Granda

Testimony Before the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability In the News

Testimony Before the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability

Doug Turner testified before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability about addressing the housing crisis through the conversion of commercial buildings.

The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability

Doug Turner

What California Can Teach America About How To Increase Housing Production Article
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What California Can Teach America About How To Increase Housing Production

Recent legislation in California has reduced the legal barriers to producing new housing units—everything from accessory dwelling units to large, multifamily buildings—when local governments fail to zone their communities for adequate housing.

Kevin DeGood

Increasing Affordable Housing Stock Through Modular Building Report
A crane stacks modular home segments to make a new duplex.

Increasing Affordable Housing Stock Through Modular Building

Modular building, if brought to scale, has the potential to reduce construction costs and make building new homes more affordable, especially in areas experiencing severe affordable housing shortages.

Michela Zonta

2023 CAP IDEAS Conference Past Event
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2023 CAP IDEAS Conference

Join the Center for American Progress as we celebrate 20 years of innovative policy solutions and look boldly forward to a progressive future.

6 Ways Bidenomics Is Delivering for Young People Article
Photo shows a young woman scanning groceries from a full conveyor belt, as the customer helps bag the items.

6 Ways Bidenomics Is Delivering for Young People

The Biden administration’s actions to strengthen the economy are helping ensure young people have a brighter future.

Jessica Vela, Crystal Weise

The Disproportionate Burden of Eviction on Black Women Report
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The Disproportionate Burden of Eviction on Black Women

The United States continues to face an eviction crisis that has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and that disproportionately affects communities of color, particularly Black women.

Cleo Bluthenthal

Nonprofit Hospitals Can Improve Community Health Through Housing Investments Report
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Nonprofit Hospitals Can Improve Community Health Through Housing Investments

Nonprofit hospitals have an obligation to provide community benefit; as part of this, they should do more to support the housing needs of the communities they serve.

Marquisha Johns, Nicole Rapfogel

State and Local Leaders Summit Past Event
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, UNITED STATES - 2018/12/21: Pattern on an old metallic bridge seen on a rural road in the State of Georgia, United States. The built structure is painted in green. (Photo by Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket via Getty Images)

State and Local Leaders Summit

Governors and mayors will have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform their economies in the months and years ahead.

Localized Anti-Displacement Policies Report
Photo shows a construction worker standing on the roof of a house.

Localized Anti-Displacement Policies

As more investments enter disadvantaged communities, it is crucial that local policies stabilize current residents, ensure they benefit from expanded opportunity, and protect them from displacement.

Justin Dorazio

The United States Must Deliver on Equitable Housing Outcomes for All Article
A man bicycles past a row of houses in Philadelphia.

The United States Must Deliver on Equitable Housing Outcomes for All

Federal investments kept millions of Americans in their homes during the pandemic; in the long term, commitment to bold federal housing policy can eliminate housing insecurity for millions while uplifting historically disadvantaged communities.

Ashfaq Khan

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Tackling Climate Change and Environmental Injustice
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Tackling Climate Change and Environmental Injustice

We pursue climate action that meets the crisis’s urgency, creates good-quality jobs, benefits disadvantaged communities, and restores U.S. credibility on the global stage.

Strengthening Health
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Strengthening Health

We work to strengthen public health systems and improve health care coverage, access, and affordability.

Building an Economy for All
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Building an Economy for All

Economic growth must be built on the foundation of a strong and secure middle class so that all Americans benefit from growth.

Advancing Racial Equity and Justice
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Advancing Racial Equity and Justice

We apply a racial equity lens in developing and advancing policies that aim to root out entrenched systemic racism to ensure everyone has an opportunity to thrive.

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