NPR

As Home Prices Soar, Utah Lawmakers Want To Help Low-Income Residents Pay Their Rent

A housing affordability crisis is sweeping cities across the U.S. And it’s not just San Francisco and New York.
In Utah, lawmakers are considering a plan to help avoid reaching an affordable housing breaking point. (George Frey/Getty Images)

A housing affordability crisis is sweeping cities across the U.S.

It’s not just San Francisco and New York — other urban areas, such as midsize cities in Utah, Montana and New Mexico, are also taking a hit.

The most salient issue in the current housing market is the lack of supply, says Chris Herbert, managing director of the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University.

After the recession, household growth and housing construction slowed. But in the past five years, he says, the rate at which people are looking for housing has dramatically increased. In the

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR4 min read
A Car-free Town In The Amazon Serves Lessons For Pedaling To Net Zero Emissions
Afuá, a remote town in the Brazilian Amazon, banned motor vehicles over 20 years ago. Writer Mac Margolis and photographer Stefan Kolumban paid the town a visit to see what life is like.
NPR17 min readAmerican Government
What Did Trump Say? Explaining The Former President's Favorite Talking Points
Former President Donald Trump continues to ratchet up his rhetoric on the campaign trail, but if someone doesn't follow Trump all the time, decoding his meaning can get confusing. We're here to help.
NPR2 min read
Hiking The Azores Into Lush Mountains And Stormy North Atlantic Weather
NPR correspondent Brian Mann went trekking on Sao Miguel, one of the most remote islands in the North Atlantic. He found volcanic mountains, birdsong, solitude and lots of rain.

Related Books & Audiobooks