As housing prices soar and rental costs become unmanageable for many working families across Ohio, presidential candidate Kamala Harris has made housing affordability a central issue in her campaign, outlining detailed plans to address the problem. Her Republican opponent, Donald Trump, has yet to provide clear solutions to the ongoing housing crisis.
In Ohio, the housing crisis has become a key concern for middle- and working-class families. According to recent data, home prices in the state have risen significantly in recent years. The median sale price for a home in Ohio was around $205,000 in 2020. By mid-2024, that figure climbed to approximately $240,000—a rise of about 17%, according to Redfin.
Rent prices in Ohio are following a similar trend. The median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Ohio is now around $1,300, up from approximately $1,100 in 2020, according to Zillow. This increase in housing costs is squeezing Ohioans, many of whom have seen their wages stagnate as the cost of living continues to climb.
Harris’ Housing Plan Targets Affordability
Harris has put forth a robust housing plan that focuses on increasing the supply of affordable homes while providing support for lower-income families. She promises to increase the available housing supply by three million homes nationwide by 2028 and proposes direct support for first-time homebuyers in the form of up to $25,000 in down payment assistance.
In addition, Harris’ plan includes a $40 billion tax credit to incentivize the rapid construction of affordable housing. This initiative would encourage builders to construct more homes in areas facing severe housing shortages. The proposal also suggests repurposing federal land for housing development and streamlining the permitting process to cut through bureaucratic red tape that can delay construction.
Harris has also endorsed existing legislation aimed at curbing predatory investing practices in the housing market. One such bill, the Stop Predatory Investing Act, would remove tax benefits for large-scale investors purchasing single-family rental homes, making it harder for investors to drive up home prices by buying properties in bulk.
Evictions and Rising Rent in Ohio
Ohio has one of the highest eviction rates in the country, with major cities such as Cleveland and Columbus reporting significant spikes in eviction filings during 2023, according to AdvisorSmith. As wages stagnate and rents continue to rise, more Ohioans are being forced out of their homes. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that the median household income in Ohio is $67,520, while the state’s minimum wage is $10.10 for non-tipped employees, creating a widening gap between income and the cost of living.
Harris’ plan to address the rental crisis includes support for legislation like the Preventing the Algorithmic Facilitation of Rental Housing Cartels Act, which seeks to limit the use of rent-setting software that has been shown to drive up prices for tenants by enabling price-fixing among corporate landlords.
Trump’s Housing Policy Remains Ambiguous
While Harris has provided a comprehensive plan to address the housing crisis, Trump has offered few concrete details on how he would tackle the issue if re-elected. His primary focus has been on reducing immigration, which he claims would ease housing demand by removing undocumented immigrants from the country. However, experts argue that this approach is unlikely to solve the core issue of supply shortages.
One of Trump’s key actions during his presidency was the creation of Opportunity Zones as part of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. These zones were designed to encourage investment in low-income areas by offering tax breaks to investors. However, a 2022 analysis by the Center for American Progress found that Opportunity Zones have largely failed to benefit the communities they were intended to help. Instead, they have provided significant tax benefits to wealthy investors without meaningfully increasing affordable housing or improving living conditions in economically distressed areas.
Trump has also indicated support for reducing regulations on homebuilding and addressing supply chain shortages, though he has not yet provided specific details on how these goals would be achieved. Additionally, Trump has expressed interest in opening federal lands for housing development, but again, the details remain vague.
Looking Ahead
As the 2024 presidential election approaches, Ohioans face critical choices about the future of housing in their state. With rising rents and home prices putting pressure on working families, the contrast between the two candidates’ housing policies could play a major role in shaping voter preferences.
Kamala Harris’ detailed proposals offer a vision for addressing the housing shortage and supporting first-time homebuyers, while Donald Trump’s housing strategy remains less clear. For Ohio families struggling to make ends meet, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
