The Failure of Both Republicans and Democrats in Addressing America’s Housing Crisis
In late July, Governor Gavin Newsom of California, freed from the shackles of a disastrous Ninth Circuit decision by the Supreme Court, issued an order to clear out the state’s growing homeless camps. However, this approach is unlikely to be successful.
On the opposite coast, Governor Hochul of New York has attempted to suspend the state’s “right to shelter” while allocating millions of dollars towards housing the homeless, with little result. Similarly, Atlantic City recently announced a ban on sleeping in public areas after failing to persuade the homeless to seek help. These measures are unlikely to be effective in addressing the issue.
During the frigid winter days of January, individuals across the country traverse cities and towns to count the homeless population. This annual count reflects the casualties of failed government policies, with a record 653,104 homeless individuals counted in 2024. This crisis paints a bleak picture of America, resembling Third World conditions in cities like New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
The current housing crisis in America is the result of over a century of poor policy decisions that have eroded property rights and hindered the construction of homes in desirable areas. Zoning laws, adopted as early as 1910, restricted the construction of multi-family housing, leading to shortages in affordable housing options.
From misguided environmental laws to ineffective rent control policies, government interventions have exacerbated the crisis by limiting the supply of housing and driving up prices. Reversing these detrimental policies will be a challenging task, but acknowledging their role in creating the current situation is the first step towards finding solutions.
James Burling, author of Nowhere to Live: The Hidden Story of America’s Housing Crisis, and Vice President of Legal Affairs at the Pacific Legal Foundation, delves into the complex factors contributing to the housing crisis in his book.
