Scapegoating Rent Control: Masking the Causes of Homelessness

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Abstract
While many analysts contend that a shortage of affordable housing is a principal cause of homelessness, one recent well-publicized study argues that housing shortages themselves—and hence homelessness—are ultimately the result of ill-conceived local rent controls. This study, conducted by William Tucker, has been widely cited by opponents of rent control as a justification for limiting the ability of localities to regulate rents. The research presented in this article is a re-analysis of Tucker's data that corrects for methodological shortcomings in the original analysis. The research shows that there is no evidence to support Tucker's conclusion that rent control causes homelessness.