SUMMARY
Rents today are well above what they were before the pandemic. According to a recent Gallup poll, Americans’ second-highest personal finance concern this election year is the cost of housing, behind only inflation. John Yang speaks with Diane Yentel, CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, about what’s keeping rents high.
View the transcript of the story.
News alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.
WARM-UP QUESTIONS
- What does Diane Yentel recommend to solve rent shortage problems?
- Where is there historic levels of homelessness?
- How many renters pay more than a third of their income towards rent?
- Who are among the worst actors as landlords, according to this story?
- Why are housing prices such a critical concern for voters?
FOCUS QUESTIONS
Do you think the federal government should act or intervene in some way to address the cost of housing in the U.S.? If so, how should the government address the problem? If not, why do you think federal intervention is not a good idea?
Media literacy: Would you rather hear from economists or the people who are having trouble paying for housing?
Alternative: See, Think, Wonder: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What would you want to learn more about?
FOR MORE
What students can do: Learn more about the rent crisis and discuss — what do you think is the best way to address this housing crisis?
This post was produced by Benjamin Thernstrom, a senior at Washington-Liberty High School in Arlington, Virginia, and intern with PBS NewsHour Classroom, and edited by NewsHour's Luke Gerwe.
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