Vice President Kamala Harris has launched a new advertising campaign to promote her proposal to construct 3 million new homes over the next four years. The initiative aims to address inflationary pressures and stands in stark contrast to former President Donald Trump's housing approach.
In a one-minute ad, Harris shares her personal background of growing up in rental housing while her mother saved for a decade to purchase a home. The ad is strategically targeted at voters in swing states like Arizona and Nevada. The campaign is further bolstered by 20 events this week focusing on housing issues.
Aside from advocating for increased home construction, Harris is suggesting that the government offer up to $25,000 in assistance to first-time homebuyers. This proposal comes at a critical time as housing costs have contributed to a 5.1% increase in shelter expenses over the past year, outpacing the overall inflation rate of 2.9%.
The Harris plan includes tax incentives for homebuilders catering to first-time buyers and the expansion of incentives for companies involved in rental housing construction. Recognizing that local zoning regulations often hinder housing supply, Harris plans to double funding to $40 billion to encourage local governments to ease construction restrictions.
During Trump's presidency, data revealed a shortage of available housing that persisted. The housing shortage exacerbated inflationary pressures as the nation emerged from the pandemic and faced increased food and energy costs following the conflict in Ukraine.
While Trump has proposed various measures to lower housing costs, including linking immigration policies to demand for housing, Harris has been criticized for the perceived lack of funding for her housing agenda. Trump has questioned how Harris intends to finance the $25,000 assistance for first-time homebuyers, including undocumented immigrants.
The Harris campaign plans to host events on housing affordability in several key cities, including Lancaster, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania; Phoenix and Tucson in Arizona; Las Vegas and Reno in Nevada; and Asheville, Charlotte, and Savannah in North Carolina and Georgia, respectively.
