20 Nov POM: Balancing Affordability and Sustainability:Assessing the 2025 State and Local Housing

Asimina Melissi

International Policy Review – Policy of the Month

Across the globe, housing affordability and persistent inequalities have made stable housing
increasingly unattainable. The United States housing market, in particular, is severely strained due to an
imbalance between supply and demand. The crisis, sparked by the Great Recession of 2008 and the
subprime mortgage, can be described as a surge in housing expenses relative to stagnant wages, with
implications for the broader economy, environmental sustainability and urban resilience as rising
temperatures and natural disasters persist. Reduced consumer spending, increased employee turnover,
urban inequality, and deteriorating water access are among the practical outcomes affecting the well-being of
urban dwellers. Thus, the National Housing Crisis Task Force, launched in 2024, introduced the State and
Local Housing Action Plan in 2025 —a public-private sector partnership aimed at boosting housing supply
and affordability in many communities. This paper aims to examine the potential efficacy in addressing the
pervasive housing crisis across the United States while fostering sustainable urban developement.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE