Upon returning home after picking up her grandson from school, Christine Dyken found herself in a stressful situation. Living in a quiet area of North Las Vegas with her daughter, Doreen, and her 7-year-old grandson, Christopher, Dyken faced the daunting task of finding a new home despite her daughter’s divorce.
The urgency was to secure a residence quickly without straining their finances. At 74, Dyken had moved in with her daughter to assist with Christopher’s care and due to her inability to afford rising rents on her own.
Dyken’s income from disability payments, Social Security, her late husband’s pension, and her work in tax preparation barely stretched far enough in a region where housing costs have surged, mirroring conditions seen in California. Dyken described their situation as living paycheck to paycheck, a sentiment echoed by many facing similar regional challenges.
Donald Trump (Credits: ABC News)
Home sale prices in Clark County have surged by 50% since 2016, averaging around $414,000, while rents for single-family residences have spiked nearly 70% over the same period, reaching approximately $1,750 per month.
As President Biden and Donald Trump gear up for the upcoming election, the dream of homeownership has dwindled for many middle-class voters in battleground states like Nevada and Arizona, largely due to low supply, high-interest rates, and population growth driven in part by migration from California.
Dyken Affirmed Her Plan to Vote for Biden Despite Having Reservations About Trump’s Conduct
According to political observers, Biden’s recent emphasis on housing affordability during a campaign swing underscores the severity of the crisis for voters. Dyken expressed her intention to vote for Biden despite reservations about Trump’s actions during the Capitol assault. However, her daughter, Doreen, felt disillusioned with the political process and was unsure if she would vote.
In Nevada, where home prices and rents have soared, Trump’s policies during his presidency, such as low-interest rates, appealed to some voters like Shannon Faught, a loan officer in Fallon. Faught, who owns several rental properties, leaned towards voting for Trump, citing a preference for Republican economic approaches.
Meanwhile, in Arizona, home prices and rents have also surged, driven partly by an influx of Californian migrants. Issues of affordability and economic direction are expected to feature prominently in the electoral discourse. Proposed reforms to zoning laws have sparked debate in Arizona, with affordability concerns shaping voter sentiments.
Ex President Donald Trump (Credits: www.history.com)
A recent survey highlighted housing affordability as a huge factor influencing voter decisions in the upcoming election. Biden’s proposals to address the crisis include tax credits for first-time homebuyers and funding for housing development. However, such initiatives would require congressional approval, which seems unlikely in an election year.
Despite differing approaches, the consensus among economists is that building new homes is essential to tackling the housing crisis. While Biden’s proposals have been viewed positively, some, like Trump, have offered few specifics on addressing rising home prices.
Rep. Steven Horsford of Nevada underscored the urgency of addressing housing concerns, highlighting the impact on constituents’ lives.
In conversations with constituents, housing affordability emerged as a pressing issue, influencing their electoral choices. Many, like Ameeluz Cauton, a hotel worker in Las Vegas, felt the strain of unstable housing situations. The elections will likely reflect voters’ desires for candidates who prioritize their economic stability and address housing affordability concerns.
