AFPI Panel on Housing and Affordability Featuring Benny Johnson
Jan 8, 2026, 10:00AM
Restoring the American Dream: Housing Affordability & Ownership in Crisis
On January 8, 2026, the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) hosted a roundtable on the future of housing in America, gathering policy leaders, real estate experts, and national voices to address the declining accessibility of homeownership for young Americans.Moderated by AFPI Executive Vice President Ashley Hayek, with American Dream Initiative Co-Chair Benny Johnson and AFPI Housing Policy Lead Jill Homan, the discussion focused on restoring access to the American Dream through affordable, attainable housing.
A Generation Locked Out
Benny Johnson opened the roundtable by warning that institutional investors such as BlackRock are purchasing single-family homes, increasing prices and limiting access for working Americans. “You’re not a man if you don’t have land,” he stated, describing homeownership as essential for economic participation and family formation.He supported President Trump’s proposal to limit institutional investment in the housing market and described the issue as a cultural turning point that could realign Gen Z and Millennials with conservative values. “If we solve housing, we win this generation.”
The Data Behind the Crisis
Jill Homan presented data showing that housing costs have increased by 150% over the past 25 years, while wages have risen only 100%. The average age of first-time homebuyers is now 40. “This isn’t just a dream deferred — it’s a dream denied,” Homan said.As a policy leader and real estate developer, she explained that over $90,000 in fees and permitting delays increase the cost of each new home. She advocated for federal and state deregulation, faster local permitting, and targeted incentives to reduce housing costs.
Faith, Family, and the Fight for Land
Johnson described homeownership as not only a financial issue, but also a moral, spiritual, and cultural imperative: “Owning a home is how Americans buy into the system — it’s how we create families, build wealth, and steward God’s creation.”He warned that declining fertility, reduced family formation, and cultural pessimism are directly linked to the housing crisis. “You can’t build a family in a 900-square-foot apartment with strangers down the hall. We must seize this moment and deliver for young people.”
Policy Solutions: From 529 Housing Accounts to Opportunity Zones
AFPI’s team proposed several solutions:
- Unlock 529 education savings accounts for homeownership investment.
- Launch 5% mortgage products in deregulated localities as incentives for communities to cut fees and red tape.
- End taxpayer-backed mortgages for foreign nationals.
- Encourage rent-to-own pathways from institutional landlords.
- Expand Opportunity Zones to incentivize private investment in housing stock.
Homan cited the creation of over 300,000 housing units through Opportunity Zones as evidence of effectiveness. “We can scale what works — and we must.”
California’s Housing Collapse as a Warning
The panel discussed the situation in California’s Palisades, where families displaced by wildfires remain without homes due to unmet rebuilding and deregulation commitments. Johnson described the state’s housing policies as “a moral failure,” and noted increasing political backlash among Californians.“Americans understand what it means to be attacked in their home — and they won’t forget it,” Johnson said. “This is a winning issue, and we have a duty to lead.”
Rebuilding the Ladder of Opportunity
The roundtable concluded with a call to action, emphasizing that housing is more than policy. It concerns purpose, future generations, and restoring widespread homeownership in America.“We need to build again. Build families, build wealth, build communities,” said Hayek. “Housing is the foundation. Let’s make the American Dream achievable again — for every generation to come.”