Beyond Shelter: Investing in Quality Affordable Housing

Authors

Laura Choi, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

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December 1, 2008

The mortgage “meltdown” dominated much of the national discourse in 2008, working its way into presidential campaign speeches, Wall Street board meetings, and conversations along every Main Street in America. The far-reaching effects of this economic shock continue to make history, serving as reminder that housing is far more than the physical walls of shelter. As the demand for affordable housing (that which costs no more than 30 percent of household income) grows during these troubled economic times, investment and policy aimed at shoring up supply becomes increasingly important.