This approach recognizes the connection between housing affordability and economic vitality. When workers cannot find affordable housing near their jobs, businesses suffer from higher turnover, longer commutes, and difficulty attracting talent. By requiring employers to contribute to housing solutions, France acknowledges that businesses benefit from a stable, well-housed workforce.

A similar program in the United States could create a dedicated funding stream for affordable housing initiatives, reducing reliance on general tax revenues that face competing priorities. Some American communities have experimented with commercial linkage fees that require developers of office or retail space to contribute to affordable housing funds, but a broader employer contribution system could provide more substantial and consistent resources.

Solutions Taking Root in America

Community Land Trusts

Community Land Trusts (CLTs) have primarily focused on affordable homeownership, but many are expanding into rental housing as well. These nonprofit organizations maintain permanent ownership of land while selling or renting the buildings on that land at below-market rates.

By removing the cost of land from the housing equation and operating on a nonprofit basis, CLTs can offer rental housing at significantly lower prices than the private market. When CLTs develop rental properties, they typically maintain long-term affordability rather than allowing units to convert to market rates after a set period, as happens with many subsidized housing programs.

The Champlain Housing Trust in Burlington, Vermont offers one successful example. It manages over 2,000 rental units that remain permanently affordable, with rents tied to tenant income levels. The organization also provides support services to help residents build financial stability and eventually move into homeownership if they desire.

Expanded Rental Assistance

The Housing Choice Voucher program (commonly known as Section 8) currently helps about 2.2 million low-income households afford private market rentals. However, funding limitations mean that only about one in four eligible households actually receives assistance, with years-long waiting lists in many communities.

Expanding this program to reach all eligible households would dramatically reduce housing insecurity and homelessness. Some communities have also developed local rent subsidy programs to supplement federal assistance, often targeting specific populations like seniors, families with children, or people with disabilities.

Massachusetts has pioneered a rental assistance program called Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) that complements federal vouchers and reaches households with slightly higher incomes. This tiered approach helps prevent the “cliff effect” where families lose all housing assistance if their income rises slightly above eligibility thresholds.

Accessory Dwelling Units

Many single-family properties have space for additional small housing units—known as accessory dwelling units (ADUs) or “granny flats”—in backyards, over garages, or in converted basements. These units can provide affordable rental options in established neighborhoods while giving homeowners extra income that helps them afford their own housing costs.

Cities like Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington, have reformed zoning codes to make it easier for homeowners to build ADUs. They’ve streamlined permitting processes, reduced fees, and even provided pre-approved design plans that simplify construction. Some communities offer low-interest loans or grants to help homeowners finance ADU construction in exchange for commitments to keep rents affordable.