**Housing Crisis Takes Center Stage in Presidential Race**

Housing affordability, though not a primary topic in this year's presidential race, remains a critical concern for many Americans. Recent surveys by Redfin reveal that over 80% of voters consider housing affordability a key issue as they cast their votes. The crisis is hitting low-wage workers the hardest, as they are unable to find affordable rental housing anywhere in the country, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

Both Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican candidate former President Donald Trump have presented contrasting proposals to tackle the housing crisis. Harris, shortly after assuming the lead on the Democratic ticket, proposed a $25,000 down-payment assistance program for first-time homebuyers and a $40 billion local innovation fund aimed at increasing the housing supply through state and local government collaborations.

In stark contrast, Trump has set his sights on opening vast areas of federal land for extensive housing projects, emphasizing ultra-low taxes and minimal regulations as a strategy to spur small business job creation. Trump has frequently attributed the housing demand issue to immigration, arguing that immigrants inflate housing costs. He has proposed measures such as requiring proof of citizenship for subsidized housing tenants and barring mortgages for undocumented immigrants.

The candidates' different perspectives were also evident during the vice-presidential debate. Republican nominee Sen. JD Vance suggested that immigrants have driven up housing costs, a claim contradicted by experts who argue that stricter immigration enforcement reduces the construction workforce and subsequently raises housing prices.

Analyzing their records, Vice President Harris has a history of addressing housing concerns, including drafting the California Homeowner Bill of Rights and negotiating an $18 billion settlement for wrongful foreclosures. However, she faced criticism for not prosecuting a bank involved in extensive foreclosures when she was California's attorney general.

Trump's first term saw attempts to cut federal affordable housing programs significantly, such as a proposed $9.6 billion reduction in HUD's budget for fiscal year 2020 and eliminating the Housing Trust Fund. Although Congress blocked these cuts, many of these proposals are echoed in plans for a potential second Trump term.

Experts like Sarah Saadian from the National Low Income Housing Coalition assert that Harris’s proposals, while promising, predominantly benefit middle- and high-income renters. Saadian calls for broader policies, such as universal rent assistance and more affordable housing options for low-income households.

Ultimately, the differing strategies from Harris and Trump present voters with distinct visions for addressing the housing crisis, each potentially impacting the nation's housing landscape for generations to come.