This State Is Proving Housing Is a Right With Compassionate New Policies

In Delaware, the dream of a stable home feels out of reach for too many. Skyrocketing rents and a brutal shortage of affordable housing have left families scrambling, forced to choose between groceries and rent. Governor Matt Meyer refuses to let this crisis fester. His administration’s aggressive push to fast-track affordable housing permits and confront homelessness head-on is a beacon of hope in a nation grappling with the same scourge. This isn’t just policy; it’s a moral stand for dignity.

Across the country, 7 million low-income renters face a housing gap so severe that only 35 affordable units exist for every 100 households in need. Three-quarters of these renters spend over 30 percent of their income on rent, teetering on the edge of eviction. Delaware’s response, rooted in urgency and compassion, shows what’s possible when leaders prioritize people over bureaucracy.

Meyer’s 2025 executive order launched the Delaware Interagency Collaborative to End Homelessness, a bold commitment to halve homelessness and eliminate it entirely for youth within five years. This isn’t empty rhetoric. The state is streamlining permitting processes to build affordable homes faster, while consolidating public housing waitlists revealed a staggering 50,000 applicants, exposing the depth of unmet need. These steps aren’t just practical; they’re a lifeline for those society has too often ignored.

The Affordable Housing Production Task Force, finalized in April 2025, lays out nine strategic goals, from zoning reform to strengthening tenant rights. By tackling restrictive land-use policies that choke supply, Delaware is paving the way for more homes at every income level. Minneapolis proved this works: after eliminating single-family zoning, multifamily production tripled, and rents stabilized. Delaware’s reforms echo this evidence, rejecting outdated rules that fuel inequality.

Meanwhile, the state’s focus on supportive housing integrates social services to stabilize lives. Permanent supportive housing, backed by decades of research, cuts chronic homelessness by over 50 percent, as seen in veteran programs. Delaware’s data-driven approach ensures resources hit their mark, aligning agencies and nonprofits to maximize impact. This isn’t charity; it’s a smarter, fairer way to build communities.

Not everyone sees housing as a right. Some policymakers, particularly those tied to the Trump administration’s Project 2025, argue for slashing federal housing aid by 12 percent, capping rental assistance, and dismantling coordinated homelessness efforts. They push a treatment-first model, demanding sobriety or mental health compliance before offering a home. This approach ignores evidence: Housing First programs succeed because stability enables recovery, not the other way around.

These critics favor punitive measures like encampment sweeps and fines, as if criminalizing poverty solves it. Their reliance on local faith-based groups, while well-intentioned, sidesteps the scale of a crisis that demands federal muscle. Block grants sound flexible, but they often dilute accountability, leaving vulnerable people in the lurch. Delaware’s unified, federally supported strategy proves there’s a better way, one that doesn’t abandon those already struggling.

Delaware’s fight reflects a broader truth: housing instability fuels homelessness, and every $100 rent hike spikes homelessness by 9 percent. Nationally, 771,480 people were homeless on a single night in 2024, an 18 percent jump from the prior year. Stagnant wages and a 4-7 million unit shortage choke families, while federal programs like Housing Choice Vouchers remain underfunded. Delaware’s push for renter protections and zoning reform tackles these root causes with precision.

History shows what’s at stake. The 1937 Housing Act birthed public housing, and the 1960s Section 8 program eased renter burdens. But Reagan-era cuts and the 2008 crisis gutted progress, leaving millions exposed. Delaware’s refusal to repeat these mistakes is a model for states and the nation. By investing in prevention, coordination, and supply, Meyer’s team is rewriting the script for what leadership looks like.

Delaware’s work is a challenge to every state: treat housing as a foundation for health, opportunity, and equity. The evidence is clear—stable homes slash healthcare and justice costs, lift families, and break cycles of poverty. Meyer’s vision, grounded in data and humanity, demands we reject austerity and division. Instead, we build systems that uplift everyone, no exceptions.

This fight isn’t over. Scaling up vouchers, reforming zoning nationwide, and fully funding homelessness programs are urgent next steps. Delaware’s courage shows what’s possible when we act with resolve. Let’s demand leaders everywhere follow suit, ensuring no one is left without a place to call home.