We must begin to solve the affordable housing crisis now

To Understand Rising Inequality, Consider the Janitors at Two Top Companies, Then and Now

My grandfather was a great believer in lists, applying them to every situation. He made lists of ways to lead a happy life. He made lists of steps to maximize one’s health. He was never short of how-to lists. And for me, he made a list of how to make a change in the world. The following is his list:

1. Define the problem we wish to resolve.
2. Simplify the problem.
3. Propose solutions to the problem.
4. Start taking steps to change the problem.
5. Change the world for the better.

In the United States today, housing prices are rising exponentially faster than the incomes of many individuals and families. The amount of affordable housing that is needed drastically exceeds the available supply. If current trends persist, the number of individuals who will live in substandard housing throughout the world, or have to forego necessities such as health care due to the extreme financial burden of housing, could escalate to 440 million people by 2025, a sizable increase from the 330 million recorded in 2014.

We are going to need a way to care for our citizens, as they increasingly begin to lose their houses due to the automation bomb and therefore the decline in jobs. The proposed solution of universal basic income simply isn’t going to cut it. Everyone is talking about it, but universal basic income is blatantly impossible. Therefore, an alternative to universal basic income is imperative. Universal Basic Housing for all is our answer.