Access to **affordable housing** has become one of the greatest urban challenges in a context of growing inequality and rapid urbanization. Housing policies play a crucial role in ensuring that citizens, especially those with lower incomes, have access to safe and decent housing. However, public policy approaches in this area vary greatly between countries and cities, and the success of these policies depends on various economic, social, and political factors. Authors such as **Peter Marcuse** and **Raquel Rolnik** have analyzed these phenomena, offering a critical perspective on how political decisions can have both positive and negative effects on access to housing.
Peter Marcuse, in his work **“Searching for the Just City,”** argues that housing policies often reflect the structural inequalities of society. According to Marcuse, in many cities, housing policies are designed to meet the demands of the real estate market rather than the actual needs of the population. This has led to **gentrification and the displacement of vulnerable communities**, which can no longer afford to live in urban areas where housing prices are determined by market forces. For Marcuse, housing policies should prioritize social well-being and spatial justice rather than maximizing economic profits.
Raquel Rolnik, in **“Urban Warfare: Housing Under the Empire of Finance,”** analyzes how the **financialization of housing** has contributed to the global affordable housing crisis. Rolnik argues that housing has shifted from being a basic human right to becoming a financial asset, leading to rising prices and making it increasingly difficult for lower-income populations to access decent housing. According to Rolnik, financialization has not only created an exclusionary housing market but has also undermined public policies that traditionally supported access to housing, as governments have adopted more market-oriented approaches and reduced investment in social housing. A fundamental aspect of the discussion on affordable housing is the role of **urban planning**.
Marcuse argues that fair urban planning should include policies that encourage the construction of affordable housing throughout the city, rather than concentrating it only on the outskirts. However, current policies often allow developers to build luxury housing in central urban areas, while affordable housing is pushed toward more distant locations. This reinforces spatial segregation and makes access to economic and social opportunities more difficult for vulnerable communities. Rolnik also emphasizes the importance of protecting the rights of **tenants and people living in precarious conditions**, such as residents of informal settlements.
She argues that housing policies should focus not only on constructing new housing but also on regularizing informal settlements and protecting tenants from forced evictions. Without these protections, rapid urbanization and real estate speculation will continue to displace poorer communities. Both authors agree that housing policies must be accompanied by a **long-term vision** that considers the social impact of economic decisions. Marcuse proposes that cities adopt an approach based on the **right to the city**, where access to housing is not determined solely by the market but by the need to guarantee decent living conditions for all citizens.
Rolnik, meanwhile, advocates for stronger regulation of the real estate market and increased public investment in social housing to counteract the effects of financialization. In conclusion, access to affordable housing depends largely on the public policies that are implemented. **Peter Marcuse and Raquel Rolnik** emphasize the importance of focusing these policies on social justice and equity rather than allowing them to be dominated by market forces. To ensure that all citizens can access decent housing, it is necessary to adopt an approach that combines **inclusive urban planning, protection of tenants’ rights, and appropriate regulation of the real estate market**.
