Survey: Baby Boomers Blamed for Affordable Housing Crisis Survey Reveals Generational Divide Over Housing Scarcity and Future Solutions New York, NY, October 23, 2023— A new proprietary survey from The NHP Foundation (NHPF) finds that Americans across generations largely agree on one controversial point: Baby Boomers are a significant factor in the ongoing lack of affordable housing. The study, which examined attitudes from Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z, found near-universal agreement on this perspective, with Gen Z expressing the strongest belief in Boomers’ role in exacerbating the crisis. Survey respondents cited several reasons for this belief, including Boomers’ tendency to remain in homes and jobs longer—effectively limiting upward mobility for younger generations—and their frequent opposition to new, more affordable housing developments (commonly referred to as NIMBYism). Additionally, Gen Zers were particularly vocal in their assertion that Baby Boomers have fostered an unsustainable way of life that limits opportunities for future generations. A Generational Shift in Power and Perspective The survey also examined the coming demographic shifts in political and economic influence. By 2045, the youngest Millennials and oldest Gen Zers— totaling approximately 72 million individuals aged 40-60—will become the dominant force in policymaking and economic decision-making. According to a previous 2022 NHPF study, this group exhibits a deep commitment to activism and social causes, with 33% of respondents specifically supporting affordable housing initiatives as a means to reduce poverty and crime while increasing economic opportunity.
Boomers
Gen X
Millennial
Gen Z Younger
2023
2043
Non-White U.S. residents 25%
50
75
100
Philip Bump, author of The Aftermath: The Last Days of the Baby Boom and The Future of Power in America , has examined the potential for Gen Z’s ideals to translate into real-world policy change. While some speculate that as Gen Zers
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THE NHP FOUNDATION
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