Bridging Blocks | The Housing Crisis: Houselessness, Rising Rent, and the Challenges of Buying a Home

Houselessness, rising rents, and the significant difficulty of buying a home are among the factors fueling Philadelphia's housing crisis. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, homelessness in the city increased by 9.8% from 2023 to 2024. Simultaneously, the problem worsened nationally, as homelessness increased by 18.1%. On any given night in 2024, about 800,000 people were homeless.

At the same time, housing has become increasingly difficult to afford. The median U.S. home value reached  $340,200 in 2023, the highest since 2008, according to the American Community Survey. That same year, the homeownership rate was 65.2%, and 46.3% of renters were considered cost-burdened, meaning they spent more than 30% of their income on housing. 

What systemic forces are driving the housing crisis, and what barriers prevent Philadelphia from solving this problem?

Join us in a discussion about this significant issue and what policies and community responses could help ensure city residents can live comfortably and safely.
 

Join WHYY News Community & Engagement team for Bridging Blocks, a civic dialogue series in partnership with The Free Library of Philadelphia.

Host - Tony Cuffie Senior Manager Community & Engagement, WHYY News

Moderator - Brisa Luzzi Castro Community Convener, WHYY News

Bridging Blocks, a partnership between The Free Library of Philadelphia and WHYY, is made possible by a generous grant from Fred and Barbara Sutherland