The Opportunity Starts at Home (OSAH) campaign released the results of two statewide opinion polls in Ohio and South Carolina that it recently commissioned through Hart Research Associates. The polls reveal that a vast majority of South Carolina (87%) and Ohio (84%) voters believe that it is harder to find stable, affordable housing now compared to five years ago, with many worried about evictions. Voters in both states want to see their elected leaders take action on affordable housing. Additionally, four out of five voters in both states support government action to address the housing affordability crisis.
While nine out of 10 voters in both states say that stable affordable housing is one of the most important things or very important to people’s security and well-being, a majority (76% in Ohio and 84% in South Carolina) say that finding quality, affordable rental housing in their community is challenging. Significant majorities across the political spectrum in both states (75% in Ohio and 79% in South Carolina) believe that housing affordability is a serious problem in their community. Those experiencing housing insecurity are making sacrifices in order to pay their rent or mortgage; top sacrifices include cutting back on healthy foods, racking up credit card debt, borrowing money, and not saving for retirement.
Voters in South Carolina and Ohio identify the cost of living and inflation as the most pressing issues, ranking them above concerns like immigration, abortion, healthcare, education, taxes, and climate change. When asked further about the economic concerns associated with the cost of living, the cost of food and cost of housing were the top issues. Strong majorities in both states agree that the recent increases in the cost of living have demonstrated that the government needs to invest more in affordable housing over the long-term (87% in Ohio and 82% in South Carolina).
Strong bipartisan majorities favor a variety of policies included in the OSAH campaign National Policy Agenda that are designed to address housing affordability and stability. For example:
- 92% of voters in Ohio and 90% of voters in South Carolina support policies that protect renters from excessive rent increases, unfair evictions, harassment, and discrimination by landlords.
- 89% of voters in Ohio and 90% of voters in South Carolina support policies that provide emergency assistance to help cover rent if low-income households face an unexpected hardship, such as losing a job or a medical emergency.
- 84% of voters in both Ohio and South Carolina support policies that expand investments to build more rental homes that are affordable for the lowest-income people.
- 84% of voters in Ohio and 86% of voters in South Carolina support policies that expand rental assistance to help households with the lowest incomes afford housing.
- 88% of voters in both Ohio and South Carolina support policies that ensure families with young children who receive rental assistance can afford to live in neighborhoods that are safe, have good schools, and have job opportunities.
- 84% of voters in both Ohio and South Carolina support policies that expand rental assistance to help the 17 million households who currently qualify for assistance but are not receiving it.
With strong support for the OSAH policy agenda, Ohio and South Carolina voters favor elected officials with a detailed plan to make housing affordable that includes the policies surveyed. Over 70% of voters in both states say that the government is doing too little to ensure people can cover their housing costs. Majorities also oppose recent housing policies that are harmful to people experiencing homelessness. Most Ohioans across the political spectrum oppose arresting, ticketing, and fining people who are unhoused and sleep in public spaces, even when there is nowhere else for them to go (84% of Democrats, 83% of Independents, and 64% of Republicans). South Carolina voters share a similar opposition (83% of Democrats, 77% of Independents, and 62% of Republicans). Furthermore, large majorities in both states share a belief in the detrimental impact that these policies have on housing stability and employment. In Ohio, more than 80% of voters say that these policies would make it harder to find and keep housing and employment. In South Carolina, nearly 80% say that these policies would make it harder to find and keep housing and over 80% say that they would make it harder to find and keep employment.
The polls highlight that voters believe younger generations, renters, and low-income families face the most severe challenges in affording housing. These groups are especially vulnerable to rising housing costs. Additionally, the demand for affordable rental housing extends beyond renters; homeowners also acknowledge the growing need. Both renters and homeowners share the perception that finding affordable, quality rental housing is becoming increasingly difficult. This consensus underscores the urgent need for action on housing affordability across the electorate.
The OSAH campaign commissioned the poll to test specific policy solutions from its National Policy Agenda, including (1) expanding rental assistance through vouchers or tax credits, (2) investing in the Housing Trust Fund to increase the supply of affordable housing, and (3) creating an emergency fund to prevent evictions and homelessness during financial hardships. The poll shows strong bipartisan support for these solutions and increased investments.
View more in-depth fact sheets of the poll results here.
View the campaign’s Policy Agenda here.
Read Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio’s press release here.
Read South Carolina Association of Community Action Partnerships’ (SCACAP) press release here.