Author(s)

SEAN GARRETSON

Abstract

The United States and Spain have a varied history in their efforts to provide and preserve affordable housing. While one of Spain’s main housing issues is its dearth of rental housing, the United States is troubled by a significantly higher percentage of housing cost-burdened residents. In Spain, an estimated 10% of the total population was housing cost-burdened in 2013 (defined as paying over 40% of income on housing). In contrast, an alarming 37% of US households were housing cost-burdened in 2017 (defined in as paying over 30% of income on housing). While the histories of housing policies and initiatives have differed greatly in both countries, historical and current trends demonstrate that there is still much to be done. This article examines housing policies in Spain and the United States, highlights progressive housing policies emerging from Austin, Texas and provides a case study of a workforce housing development in Austin, Texas. The reader will gain an understanding of how these policies, tools and developments could serve as an example for addressing Spain’s housing crisis.

Keywords

workforce housing, affordable housing, housing policy, housing programs, housing cost-burden