Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris has made housing development a central focus of her campaign, aiming to address the rising costs that have burdened many American households and made homeownership increasingly inaccessible.
While Harris has generally avoided detailed policy proposals in her campaign, she has outlined specific plans to boost housing construction and lower costs for renters and homebuyers, primarily through tax incentives.
“We will end America’s housing shortage,” Harris declared as she accepted the Democratic presidential nomination last week.
In contrast, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has also pledged to reduce housing costs through tax breaks and deregulation but has defended local housing restrictions that inhibit the construction of affordable housing.
According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll from May, voters rank housing costs as their second-highest economic concern, after inflation and stagnant wages. The U.S. has been struggling with a housing shortage since the 2007-2009 financial crisis, which left the country short by 2.9 million units, according to Moody’s Analytics. Rising home prices and rents, exacerbated by pandemic-driven material shortages and higher mortgage rates, have further strained affordability.
Harris’ housing plan includes a goal to build 3 million additional housing units over four years, beyond the 1 million units built annually by the private sector. Her proposal features a new tax credit for developers who construct homes for first-time buyers and a $25,000 tax credit for those buyers. Additionally, she plans a $40 billion fund to support local governments in increasing affordable housing, streamlining regulations, and expanding rental assistance.
The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates these policies would cost at least $200 billion over the next decade. Harris may face challenges passing these measures, given that similar proposals under President Joe Biden have stalled in Congress.
Trump’s stance on housing is less defined. The Republican platform advocates for homeownership through tax incentives and regulatory rollbacks but lacks specific details. Trump has opposed easing local zoning restrictions that limit the construction of affordable housing in certain neighborhoods. His running mate, Senator JD Vance, has attributed the housing shortage to immigration, a comment criticized as a racially charged distraction by housing expert Jenny Schuetz.
During Trump’s presidency, Housing Secretary Ben Carson proposed relaxing zoning rules but took no action. Recently, Trump has opposed efforts to weaken single-family zoning regulations, as detailed in Project 2025, a conservative policy plan.
Harris has not specified whether she would push for local governments to ease zoning regulations but has participated in broader efforts under the Biden administration to promote housing development. In June, she announced $85 million in grants to 21 local governments for removing barriers to affordable housing and reforming land-use policies, with plans for an additional $100 million in grants later this year.
