By Farrah Hassen
In the wealthiest country on the planet, too many people still lack access to housing.
The pandemic revealed the full extent of the U.S. housing crisis. Where were the roughly 580,000 people living unhoused in 2020 to go under “stay at home” orders? And what about those facing eviction?
At the same time, the pandemic proved that federal intervention could ease the crisis. Eviction moratoria and unemployment relief helped keep more people housed, fed, and secure. But these initiatives ended too quickly.
Lifting federal pandemic eviction protections in 2021 put as many as 17 million people at risk of becoming unhoused. And last year, the number of unsheltered individuals increased by 3.4 percent from 2020 — and many times that in some areas.
There’s a misconception that homelessness is primarily caused by addiction and mental illness. But a new study in California — where over 171,000 people experience homelessness every day — found that poverty and high housing costs are the driving forces.
The median monthly income for people who became homeless was just $960, the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) report found. Prior evictions, poor credit history, and systemic discrimination further prevent people from re-entering housing — and even shorten their life expectancy.
These are national problems. Nearly half of all tenants now spend 30 percent or more of their income on rent, which has risen 18 percent nationally over the past five years.
Housing is fundamental to every person’s life, health, and security. We need to recognize it as a human right and transform our country’s approach. While this may sound lofty, it’s not as far-fetched as it seems.
International law already treats housing as a human right.
The 1966 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights codified housing as essential to human dignity and an adequate standard of living. The covenant doesn’t guarantee that everyone will have access to housing immediately, but it does obligate countries to work progressively toward that goal.
The U.S. signed this binding treaty but never joined with 171 countries in ratifying it. Still, the “right to housing” movement is deeply rooted here. In 1944, President Franklin D. Roosevelt urged Congress to adopt a second Bill of Rights focused on economic rights, including housing.
The movement has regained momentum since the pandemic. The “Housing is a Human Right Act of 2023” introduced in Congress this past March would provide over $300 billion for housing infrastructure and combating homelessness. And California could become the first state to legally recognize a right to housing.
Critics often invoke the high cost of building affordable housing. But during a time of extreme wealth inequality, as Institute for Policy Studies expert Chuck Collins has argued, the problem isn’t supply — it’s who owns that supply.
Large corporations and private equity firms like Blackstone have been buying millions of units, including single-family homes, driving up both rents and home prices. Other investors have converted units into short-term rentals, which removes them from the market and drives rents higher for everyone else.
Reforms like rent control and eviction moratoria can help, but ultimately we need local homeownership and permanently affordable rental housing. Housing should belong to families, nonprofit groups, and community housing authorities — not Wall Street banks and real estate speculators. A right to housing could help rein in third-party profiteers and hold governments accountable for housing failures.
Housing is more than a roof over our heads. It determines our ability to stay healthy, get an education, build wealth, and live longer. It is not merely a luxury commodity limited to those who can afford it. It is a right — and our government should start recognizing and treating it as such.
Farrah Hassen, J.D., is a writer, policy analyst, and adjunct professor in the Department of Political Science at Cal Poly Pomona. This op-ed was distributed by OtherWords.org.
Land of no turn signals says says
So tired of the why me poor me attitude.Waaa,I had a $700 SUV payment I can’t afford rent.I need the government to pay for my school loan and my housing.Snow Flakes.
Concerned Citizen says
I have also seen our wealthy neighbors to the north move down to Florida in droves. Those who have lived in Florida or the south US have not had the same advantages in pay equality. Those from the north who have a much higher salaries and or income opportunities have purchased properties and houses driving up the cost of property and rentals for Floridians who are not afforded the same wages/income opportunities. Floridians are being chased out of their dwellings with no where to move that is affordable. This will eventually come around to affect all who live here. If wages do not increase in this area there will be no one to fill the lower wage jobs to keep this area running. Who will work in low paying restaurant jobs, conveince store clerks, retail jobs or tourist jobs? No one can afford to live here anymore. This is bad all around for everyone. Florida is going through growth that is not sustainable and will come crashing down.
Ms V says
I am from up north and have noticed not only is the “affordable housing” unaffordable for many, the state is one of the poorest paying states in the U.S. You think if you struggle to get a college degree with a boat load of student loans, you will be able to eventually get a decent paying job. But, if you look at the pay the state of Florida is paying for degreed positions, and you are hired, you will probably die with student loan debt.
Angela says
There are more than 520 legally registered vacation rentals in the Hammock alone. That information comes from the Flagler County 6/13/23 tax records. That number does not include Flagler Beach, Flagler County (the rest of the county), Palm Coast, and the smaller communities. I was able to do some research on the Hammock short term rentals using the county database, and found that from just 100 random selections, 1/5 of the database, that 90% of the owners of these commercial units reside outside of the county or outside of the state. They reside in Georgia, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Tennessee, Virginia, Colorado, California, Hawaii, Ohio, Kentucky, Utah, Texas and Israel. Only 10% of the owners of the units I researched reside within Flagler County. Private companies have bought multiple residences for the sole purpose of short term rentals.
The county has no cap on the number of units allowed, or number of days rented for these units, many located in single family residential zoned neighborhoods. I wrote here before how it could effect home buyers and full time renters, and as you can see, it has a much bigger effect on how it hurts affordable housing. These units are investments, and are available to only those who can afford them even in areas that are not resorts. With the continuing growth, many more will be allowed.
These commercial units are effecting your neighborhoods, and having a HOA will not stop them. There is a big push by the short term rental industry to get rid of home rule, which when lost, will be governed by the state and will allow 10 or more unrelated “guests” per unit, also known as party houses. Once home rule is gone, the HOAs will have no say. See https://www.homerulefl.com/
These commercial units belong in areas zoned for resorts, not in single family neighborhoods. These investments are pushing out locals, as it is not affordable housing. Let it be known.
dave says
Yep, the fleecing of Florida housing continues.
Atwp says
Is this the richest country in the world? When I was younger I thought we were, now not so much. Homelessness, hunger, lack of medical attention. Don’t sound too rich to me. How can this country send billions to other countries and neglect our own citizens? The politicians don’t care about the little working people. That goes for both parties. The crazy country we live in.
Ms V says
I totally agree. Struggling financially is not just for the poor and that is why this country is driving its people to relocate to other countries where they can live a more affordable lifestyle. Its too stressful living here.
Celia Pugliese says
How can a rental home of 2 beds 2 baths can be an “affordable housing” for rent when the expenses are as following: Ad Valorem Taxes non homesteaded $3.400/year, insurance $5,000/year maintenance lawn and general maintenance $300/month minimum. These landlords can’t afford to make them affordable for less than $1,800 a month return on their investment of $350,000 minimum house cost. Just to live in these, 2 bed, 2 bath house the utility water will be $140 a month, FPL 90/month and internet only, $90/month minimum without cable TV.
At this point an era we are living in, our government could get involved on buying land and building those mini houses for temporary hosting of families or individuals in need until they find jobs to sustain them in a larger costlier house. This is the only solution I see. These new called “affordable housig being built” Are not such as after receiving all the perks for the designation their rent rates make them unaffordable to most. Did anyone notice?.
Ray W. says
I am aware of a small California company pitching modular homes (not mobile homes) built specifically to be energy efficient and energy independent. No 10′ ceilings that waste energy, three bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms, utility room, excellent insulation, solar panels and battery storage built into the structure from the beginning. No electric bills. The owners assert they can construct a subdivision of very small lots for approximately $130k per home in the Orlando area. Might be overly optimistic on the price. I haven’t looked at the minutiae of the project, just an overview. I am only commenting on the possibilities.
Greg says
Agreed there is a problem here. It lets look at some of the real issues here. A choice to do drugs is a real issue. No one made you to start doing drugs. In 99% of cases, it was a choice. Lack of education in another major choice you make. No one can make you get a good education. If you don’t have at least a high school education, you most likely will be in the lowest paying jobs within America forever. If you have prison time with you, it’s another strike against you. When you have children not supported by the father is another issue. Some have several children by unknown fathers. That’s your choice. Birth control pills are cheap. The ability to raise them is almost impossible with out help. The issues go deeper than that, but most homeless issues are self brought. No one wants to talk about that.
Concerned Citizen says
Sorry to burst your bubble but I know of collegues with masters degrees yet earning 30 to 40 thousand a year. If you need to rent an appartment for 2 thousand per month, alot of rentals now require you to earn 3 times that in order to rent to you. You need to earn 1,500 dollars per week to meet that requirement or they will not consider you. How many people in Flagler county make that much? Yes the problem is deep but insuffiecient income is another. Yes with my masters I can move out of the state and make substantially more. When they raised the minimum wage for the lower income earners, costs skyrocketed. Those who earned more than minimum wage did not get a cost of living increase raise at that time. This is why those who have that higher education are not much better off. This housing bubble has to break.
Yes, insurance has skyrocketed as well as our taxes. Something has to give or we will have widespread poverty here in Flager county. Ever check out that line to the food bank line on US1. I have noticed it driving by on the Saturdays they hold them. You would be shocked how many people need to use that. It’s ridiculous. Our citizens should be able to afford the bare minimum such as housing, electric, water, transportation to and from work, food and clothing without having to resort to food banks except in the case of a rare emergency.
Those who have never experienced poverty have no clue.
Concerned Floridian says
I’m sure you have spectacular thoughts on abortion, in that case, right? And the student loan industry, right? I’m sure.
Nancy N. says
My late mother had a master’s degree and had retired here after a long career as a teacher in a Michigan school system. Before she passed away last year, she was paying well below market rate for her rent and still was perilously close to financial crisis due to the rising cost of housing exceeding the limits of her social security, pension, and retirement savings. Although, I shouldn’t have to justify anyone being “worthy” of having housing to you. People are entitled to human rights regardless of whether you approve of their “choices” or not (and many of the supposed choices you listed aren’t actually choices in a lot of cases, especially now in a post-Roe world).
Ms V says
When large and small businesses start laying off people this causes a domino affect. The layed off individuals boosts up the unemployment rate. Some of these jobs were held by middle class individuals with degrees. So when the economy starts to suffer so does many others in the community. Just because you have an education, a good paying job, a married 2 parent family household don’t guarentee nothing. You can still lose everything and become homeless.
End two party system says
Profits over people nothing new here.
The Sour Kraut says
There is a problem, but the eviction moratorium had to end. Rental properties are how some make a living. Buying rental properties was their retirement plan. How long can you go without any retirement income? Many renters just stopped paying rent even when they still had jobs. Taking advantage of the moratorium.
Ban the GOP says
Theres a good story about florida’s last democratic govenor and afforable housing. He made a plan that raised billions to build afforadable housing but the republicans came in and moved that money to their donors. So here we, residents here are so dumb they voted for a total fascist to take away human rights and promote discrimination. Oh and De-fund schools. Housing is like healthcare and politics; profits over people. Its a good reflection of everyday americans we value corporate profits over human needs everytime. Empathy is woke.