The Foundation

In this foundational episode of Defining Affordable, Robin and Jaime step back to unpack how California’s housing crisis became the norm—and why it shouldn’t be. They explore rising rents, stagnant wages, and the growing gap between incomes and housing costs, grounding the conversation in real numbers and everyday experiences. From rent burden to housing scarcity, this episode separates symptoms from root causes and lays the groundwork for understanding how policy decisions shaped today’s affordability challenges.

Sources & Further Reading

• California Housing Shortage (SCPR)
• Why Housing Costs Are So High in California (CalMatters)
• Rent Increases Across U.S. Cities (CBS News)
• The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Homes (National Low Income Housing Coalition)
• Why The California housing market is so expensive in 2024 (CalMatters)