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The idea has gained momentum, but its effect on housing is hard to game out With candidates ranging from centrists to socialists, the Democratic primary for president has surfaced policy prescriptions from across the ideological spectrum. And while a number of candidates have released formal plans for solving America?s affordable housing crisis, there?s one idea that could indirectly have a big impact on your ability to make rent?the universal basic income (UBI).
If implemented, a UBI would provide monthly stipend to every American, courtesy of the federal government, regardless of employment status or income level. A minimum wage retail worker would receive the money, and a billionaire like Jeff Bezos would get the same amount of money. Entrepreneur and Democratic candidate for president Andrew Yang has made a UBI the centerpiece of his policy platform, so much so that there?s an entire section about UBI on his website.
Under his proposal, the UBI is called a ?Freedom Dividend? that would provide $1,000 per month to everyone in the United States. Yang believes this is a necessary entitlement in the age of automation and artificial intelligence, which have the potential to replace millions of American current jobs.
While people could spend the money on anything they want, it?s not hard to envision a UBI being a godsend to an individual struggling to make make rent. But could a UBI be a solution to the affordable housing crisis on a broad scale"
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