For millions of Americans, the pursuit of secure, affordable housing has become a bigger challenge than ever. Recent years have witnessed a steady uptick in rents and home prices, and it is not just people with low incomes who are shouldering the burden of these increasing costs. Middle-income families, specifically those earning the national median of $75,000 (March 2025), are now facing housing costs that take up most of their budgets, threatening stability, security, and potentially their future plans.
Why is this occurring? And what are policymakers, innovators, and communities doing to make “home” affordable again? The following article investigates the current U.S. housing crisis, using both research and specific case studies, and with a special focus on the creative and ambitious strategies surfacing from every level of government.
