100 signatures reached
To: Congress
Housing Is a Human Right
Housing prices in the U.S. have reached an all-time high, mortgage rates aren’t getting any lower, and the dream of owning a home has quickly become unattainable for the average American. Meanwhile, rent prices have increased an average of 36% since 2020. All across the country, people are being priced out of accessible, affordable housing.
This isn’t just a problem for young people or first-time homebuyers. People of all ages, in every part of the United States, are feeling the strain of the housing crisis. Between continuously skyrocketing costs and the stagnation of wages, we are spending a larger share of our income on housing than ever before.
Housing is a basic human right. In one of the richest countries in the world, we shouldn’t be reaching record-high rates of homelessness. People shouldn’t have to decide between paying rent on time and buying groceries. Owning a home shouldn’t be a luxury reserved for the 1%.
It’s past time for our elected officials to act. Our country’s leaders have an obligation to put an end to the housing crisis and ensure every American has access to safe and affordable housing.
Why is this important?
This didn’t happen overnight. For decades, the cost of housing has dramatically outpaced income growth. Median home prices have surged more than 415% since 1985, while median household incomes have risen only about 250% in that same time.
We’re also facing a serious housing supply shortage, while investors are buying up single-family homes at an alarming rate and driving up rent prices for everyone else. Everyday Americans are being squeezed out of the market by hedge funds and investors who see our homes as profit opportunities.
This impacts all of us. From renters to aspiring homeowners, young people to retirees, rural communities to urban neighborhoods, we are all feeling the burden of this housing crisis.
Our leaders have a responsibility to act. Specifically, we’re calling on Congress to:
- Provide assistance to first-time homeowners for down payments, closing costs, and mortgage interest rate buydowns
- Expand public housing and rental assistance programs
- Prevent corporate investors from buying single-family homes
- Build and preserve affordable housing to increase supply
Everyone, regardless of income level, should have access to affordable housing. Home ownership shouldn’t be reserved for the wealthy and elite. Sign the petition to demand that our elected officials end the housing crisis.