The root cause of America's housing affordability crisis, as told by one housing policy analyst.

The article discusses the perspective of Alex Armlovich, a senior housing policy analyst, on the U.S. housing crisis, which he characterizes as a metropolitan issue rather than a national one. He argues that the crisis stems from a supply shortage of affordable housing near high-wage job markets, exacerbated by restrictive zoning laws that limit new construction. Armlovich highlights the shift in migration patterns since 1980, where individuals increasingly move to areas with lower housing costs rather than higher wages, contributing to income segregation and regional housing shortages. He emphasizes the need for state-level interventions to address local government restrictions on housing supply, as the crisis has expanded beyond major cities to affect a broader range of urban areas. [Extracted from the article]