The Make Room campaign found promising evidence that most Americans support the development in affordable housing, even in their own “backyards.” The campaign worked with Ipsos Public Affairs to conduct a nationwide public opinion poll and it found that more than three quarters of people (77%) support affordable housing development in their communities.
In the survey of 1,006 people conducted February 29 – March 4, 2016, 85 percent of respondents agreed that leaders should work to create and preserve affordable homes for all. Among those surveyed, 84 percent favored policies that promote affordable homes for workers with moderate incomes such as teachers, nurses and emergency service workers, and 82 percent were in favor of increasing access to affordable homes for families earning low wages.
It is clear the issue of affordable housing development is hitting close to home. Nearly one third of respondents worry that they will need to move within the next year due to high housing costs. Currently 11.4 million U.S. households, or more than one in four renter families, spend more than half of their pre-tax income on rent and utilities, according to Make Room analysis of 2014 U.S. Census data, the most recent year available.
The Make Room campaign aims to give a voice to struggling renters and elevate rental housing on the agendas of our nation’s leaders. The campaign advocates for better policies and tells the stories of families who struggle to make rent.
