Affordable Housing in America

Fueled by high home prices and rents, a limited supply of affordable homes, and persistent regulatory and financing hurdles, families across the nation are finding it harder than ever to secure safe, decent, and affordable housing. Millions of American families spend more than half their income on housing, while entry-level homeownership remains out of reach for many—a reality that threatens economic stability and upward mobility.

As local, state, and federal policymakers scramble to respond, the question of what works has become urgent. The challenge is amplified by the need for solutions that not only increase housing production but also preserve existing affordable homes and help families with insufficient incomes cover high housing costs.

Join us at the Dole Institute as our two visiting fellows break down what’s at stake and why housing policy will remain a defining issue for years to come at every level of government.

This program is presented in partnership with the Bipartisan Policy Center.

Michael Kelley is a senior director at BPC Action. Before joining in 2021, he held several senior roles at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, advising top officials on congressional and intergovernmental affairs. He previously served as deputy chief of staff and legislative director to Rep. Marlin Stutzman and as a legislative assistant to Rep. Steve Buyer. Kelley also brings experience from the Natural Products Association, Mayer Brown, and the Moffett Group. A Virginia native, he holds a B.A. in History from the University of Virginia.

Andy Winkler is managing director of housing and infrastructure at BPC, where he leads the Housing Council and Task Force on Disaster Response Reform. Since joining BPC in 2015, he has worked on infrastructure, senior housing, and housing finance reform. Previously, he was director of housing finance policy at the American Action Forum. Winkler holds a B.A. from the University of Missouri.

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Inspired by the leadership legacies of Senators Bob and Elizabeth Dole, and the enduring civic contributions of the Greatest Generation, the Dole Institute of Politics strives to promote a new era of leadership that uses politics to bring people together through opportunities that emphasize bipartisan cooperation, public service, and civic education and engagement.