Two indicators for lowering the rent
Summary
Planet Money investigates whether corporate landlords drive up housing costs, finding they comprise less than 1% of the market and often improve supply through renovations and new construction. The episode argues that restricting these investors could worsen affordability by halting build-to-rent projects. It then explores the decline of single-room occupancy housing, which was largely eliminated by urban renewal policies, contributing significantly to modern homelessness. Experts suggest restoring these ultra-affordable units could help address the housing crisis.
Topics discussed
Intro: Corporate landlords and housing affordability
Ad breaks: LinkedIn, Avalara, Capella, Mint Mobile
History of institutional investors post-2008 recession
Renovations, build-to-rent, and policy impacts
Crime stats, social benefits, and tenant experiences
Ad breaks: LinkedIn, Avalara, Capella, Mint Mobile
Vera Hill's life in a Single-Room Occupancy (SRO)
History of SROs and urban renewal destruction
International Hotel evictions and homelessness link
Modern SRO efforts, challenges, and resident views
Outro, credits, and final sponsor messages
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