We Must Understand Challenges to Address Affordable Housing Problem

In November, two proposals to boost Charleston County’s affordable housing efforts suffered a narrow defeat at the polls. This defeat may be linked to a fundamental misunderstanding of what affordable housing is. How, then, can we better equip ourselves and voters with the knowledge and data to make evidence-based public policy decisions?

This question led me to reflect on the housing policy class I taught last fall at the College of Charleston. Together, we explored the definition of affordable housing, our local context and needs, and the evidence for policy solutions.