CONVERGENCE: Housing Affordability

Environmental Scan, Affordable Rental Housing Challenges & Opportunities

This scan encompasses a comprehensive outlook on affordable multifamily challenges and identifies areas where MBA can play a strategic role in this space. The scan summarizes input from the Affordable Rental Housing Advisory Council, consumer advocates, housing experts, and MBA staff on possible solutions for affordable multifamily housing issues such as the limited affordable rental housing supply and the effects of COVID-19. Download the scan

Environmental Scan, Affordable Homeownership Challenges & Opportunities

This scan identifies the fundamental elements of the affordable homeownership problem and potential solutions. MBA staff consulted with experts in housing and housing finance, consumer groups, and civil rights organizations. The paper summarizes key findings and opportunities where MBA and its members can have the greatest positive impact on affordable homeownership. Download the scan.

Affordable Housing Policy Agenda

MBA's Affordable Housing Policy Agenda identifies policies that can be implemented by regulatory and legislative action at the federal, state, and local levels to help promote housing affordability across a wide range of incomes and across both rental housing and homeownership. Recognizing that the issues underlying our nation's housing affordability challenges are constantly evolving, this Policy Agenda will be modified as circumstances and priorities change.

Download our Current Agenda
(updated in December 2022) 

Access our previous agenda from 2020.

This agenda was created pre-pandemic when policy efforts were largely focused on how to improve the status quo - a situation where the affordable housing market was overpriced and undersupplied. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, however, affordable housing policy has largely focused on reducing the adverse impacts of the pandemic. In effect, the focus with respect to affordable housing has pivoted, for now, from aspiration to mitigation.  This Policy Addendum outlines these current and on-going efforts, recognizing the evolving affordable housing challenges posed by COVID-19. Download the addendum.

Measuring Housing Affordability

This extensive presentation includes historical and current statistics, at the state and national levels, on financial access, housing cost burdens, borrower income, housing availability and other obstacles for lower-income borrowers. Download the research presentation deck here.