‘America First’ Must Address The Housing Affordability Crisis

The American Dream of homeownership and stable, well paying employment, has seemingly become the American distant memory. Estimates from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce suggest that the nation has a housing shortage of 4.7 million units. In 2025, while housing prices are increasing, wages are falling and unemployment is rising, especially for young Americans and the working class. In addition, the American Society of Civil Engineers has given our infrastructure “D” grades in almost all categories. Our airports are old, our bridges are failing, our homes are expensive, and our transit is dated and unsafe. The remedy is to establish a smart growth model for our future. Smart growth is a strategy that calls for the creation of walkable neighborhoods, efficient mass transit, updated infrastructure and preserving space and farmland. Smart growth is a model in which conservatives, liberals, and progressives all see their priorities addressed.