I recently bought a home and so I know what it's like out there for buyers looking to find something affordable. The lack of affordable housing has a long-term negative impact, as families end up having to rent longer than they planned to, and they have to make do with smaller spaces that aren't the best for their children's development. The 10th district is especially hard hit because it's so close to Washington, DC and there is so much competition for good homes. My campaign slogan is, "Let's Get Things Done," so I plan to focus on the root causes of the housing shortage.
New home construction plummeted after the 2008 recession and it hasn't recovered since. Imagine how far behind we've gotten by losing over a decade's worth of new homes. So we need to offer incentives to builders to ramp things up so there are enough houses to match the people trying to buy.
Another big reason for the lack of affordability is the current sky-high interest rates. I have said on my Economy page how I plan to address that, by restricting the Federal Reserve's ability to print money. And my Education page discusses my plan to introduce more vocational training in schools. If we do that, we can increase the pipeline of workers who can help fill construction jobs, which often are very well-paying.
It's hard to build homes when the best places are not available. We need to respect local communities and not change their fundamental character, but many residents are open to rezoning in appropriate places, to allow higher-density homes to be built. The federal government can help by making tax credits and matching grants available for qualifying projects.
There will always be some people who are in need of assistance with housing. I support a hand up, not a hand out. I believe there should be meaningful help to deserving people, so they and their families can be secure in a home.
There is currently a ban on new construction of public housing in the U.S. Given the huge shortage of affordable homes, that ban needs to be eliminated so more people can have access to more homes.
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