Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent environmental lawyer, has been pushing a conspiracy theory about how the federal government is deliberately not providing enough affordable housing for low income people. This theory has been discredited by economists and housing experts, including the National Low Income Housing Coalition, who point out that there are a number of factors – like regional housing prices, local zoning regulations, and the labor market – that have an effect on how much affordable housing is available. Additionally, Kennedy’s argument that race is a factor in federal housing policy has been disproven by research, which shows that race is not a significant factor in accessing affordable housing. It is also notable that the number of affordable housing units constructed between 1988 and 2017 rose from 1.35 million to 1.76 million, despite a decrease in federal funding for low-income housing. Finally, Kennedy’s claim that the current administration is doing more than any other previous administration to reduce the availability of affordable housing has also been debunked, as research shows that the current administration has cut funding for affordable housing more than any other administration.
