How Democratic and Republican Mayors Are Teaming Up to Address the Housing Crisis
Ask students: Why do you think housing has become such a major issue that it's bringing people from different political parties together?
A bipartisan group of mayors and business leaders are teaming up to tackle housing and homelessness issues nationwide. They’re meeting as the Trump administration looks to slash assistance programs amid record-high homelessness. Amna Nawaz spoke with two mayors leading the effort: Mayor Rex Richardson, a Democrat from Long Beach, Calif., and Mayor Mark Shepherd, a Republican from Clearfield, Utah.
View the transcript of the story.
Discussion Questions
- What is the housing crisis, and how is it affecting cities across the U.S.?
- Who are some of the leaders working together to solve the housing crisis?
- Why might mayors from different political parties choose to collaborate on housing?
- How much would Trump's budget proposal cut from HUD (Dept. of Housing and Urban Development) rental assistance programs? What would be the effect of such cuts on small towns like Clearfield, Utah, according to Mayor Shepherd?
- Why should both Democrats and Republicans be able to agree on how to address the housing crisis, according to Mayor Richardson?
Focus Questions
- Why do you think housing has become such a major issue that it's bringing people from different political parties together?
- Do you believe local governments (like city mayors) have more power to fix the housing crisis than state or federal leaders? Why or why not?
- Why do you think some people don't want affordable housing built in their communities?
- Media literacy: What are some other issues in which Democrats and Republicans agree, which would allow them to work together?
Extension Activity
Watch the video below to learn about the recent rise in homelessness among families in the US.
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Republished with permission from PBS News Hour Classroom.
PBS News Hour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of News Hour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
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