In the U.S., home prices and mortgage rates are rising. And pollsshowmany Americans consider housing affordability an important issue in the lead-up to the 2026 midterm elections. Housing affordability in the United States is shaped by a complex mix of housing supply, local zoning and land-use decisions, barriers to homeownership, and federal, state, and local housing programs. SciLine’s next media briefing will examine what research tells us about the factors driving housing costs and access to housing, why younger and first-time buyers face particular challenges, and how public policies have sought to address issues of affordable housing and displacement and in the process have also exacerbated them. During this briefing, three experts will address:
How zoning and land-use policies affect supply, location, and cost of housing;
What research shows about housing supply, housing affordability, and climate and sustainability goals;
What a “first-generation homebuyer” is and how family wealth shapes access to homeownership;
How renting, buying, and delayed homeownership affect long term wealth building;
How fair housing laws have shaped racial segregation and access to housing; and
How states and local governments are addressing housing affordability challenges.
Three panelists will participate in a moderated discussion, then take questions from reporters, all on the record:
