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May 27, 2025
Title: Bemoaning Upzoning
Topic: Housing Crisis
Discussed by John Bonura
with Texas Public Policy Foundation (www.TexasPolicy.com)
A
2024 report by the Texas
Comptroller’s Office indicates the significance of the housing shortage
across Texas.
In addition, a recent survey from the
University of Houston and Texas Southern University reports that 9 out of 10 Texans say that the cost of housing in their area makes owning a home unattainable.
Today, John Bonura explains why this issue is becoming problematic and suggests what can be done to fix it. John Bonura is a Policy Analyst with the
Texas Public Policy Foundation.
Click here to read John Bonura’s latest op-ed on this topic.
Questions/Issues Discussed:
What does Economics 101 teach us about supply and demand?
Is the dream of a “starter home” a thing of the past? John Bonura reveals that the average age of first-time home buyers in Texas is now 54 years old! That is unacceptable!
Most people seek homes near their places of employment. However, do local governments hinder this through their permitting and zoning laws?
Is it too late this Legislative Session to see positive solutions from the Texas legislature? Click
here for more information about
HB24,
here for
SB844, and
here for
SB15.
Click here to help support the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
More from this Guest More on this Topic More from this Organization
February 24, 2025
Title: Stop Funding Failure!
Topic: Homelessness
Discussed by John Bonura
with Texas Public Policy Foundation (www.TexasPolicy.com)
Too many Americans are homeless – even right here in Texas. In fact, the homeless population increased 18% in 2024 compared to 2023, which was an increase of 12% over 2022.
Today, John Bonura discusses the proposals from the Austin City Council to curb homelessness in the city and the need for a full DOGE-style audit of the money spent on the programs. John is Policy Analyst with the
Texas Public Policy Foundation.
Click here to read John Bonura’s op-ed on this important topic.
Questions/Issues Discussed:
What is the current focus of the Austin City Council regarding the homeless population?
Why do many in the homeless population reject help through housing program? Why don’t most of the programs for the homeless work?
Are tax-payers paying for programs that simply don’t work?
What are the next steps? Do we need to start from scratch and think outside the box?
Click here to help support the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
More from this Guest More on this Topic More from this Organization
February 14, 2025
Title: Stop Funding Failure!
Topic: Homelessness
Discussed by John Bonura
with Texas Public Policy Foundation (www.TexasPolicy.com)
Too many Americans are homeless – even right here in Texas. In fact, the homeless population increased 18% in 2024 compared to 2023, which was an increase of 12% over 2022.
Today, John Bonura discusses the proposals from the Austin City Council to curb homelessness in the city and the need for a full DOGE-style audit of the money spent on the programs. John is Policy Analyst with the
Texas Public Policy Foundation.
Click here to read John Bonura’s op-ed on this important topic.
Questions/Issues Discussed:
What is the current focus of the Austin City Council regarding the homeless population?
Why do many in the homeless population reject help through housing program? Why don’t most of the programs for the homeless work?
Are tax-payers paying for programs that simply don’t work?
What are the next steps? Do we need to start from scratch and think outside the box?
Click here to help support the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
More from this Guest More on this Topic More from this Organization
October 17, 2024
Title: More Housing. Less Crisis.
Topic: Housing Crisis
Discussed by John Bonura
with Texas Public Policy Foundation (www.TexasPolicy.com)
Part 1 of 2
In Texas, the demand for homes is not only exceeding the supply, but the cost of homes is still rising. What can be done to make the American dream of home ownership become a reality for millions of families?
Today, John Bonura offers some insight and solutions. John Bonura is a Policy Analyst with the
Texas Public Policy Foundation.
Click here to read John’s op-ed on this important topic.
Questions/Issues Discussed:
In this segment, John Bonura discusses the housing crisis in more detail, explaining that there is space available but local government keeps getting in the way. He also discusses the problem with the ever-increasing mortgage rates, especially for first-time home buyers, outlining one of his proposals.
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Title: Part 2 of 2 - More Housing. Less Crisis.
Topic: Housing Crisis
Discussed by John Bonura
with Texas Public Policy Foundation (www.TexasPolicy.com)
Questions/Issues Discussed:
Should government at all levels just get out of the way?
Click here to help support the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
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September 13, 2023
Title: Reevaluating Austin’s Homelessness Strategy
Topic: Homelessness
Discussed by John Bonura
with Texas Public Policy Foundation (www.TexasPolicy.com)
The Austin City Council recently reviewed photos taken inside
housing units, which revealed “housing units strewn with drugs and drug
paraphernalia throughout trashed rooms, a gun, and employees asleep on the job.”
New guest, John Bonura, is a Policy Scholar with the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Today, John discusses the out-of-control homeless problem in Austin.
Click
here to read John Bonura’s op-ed in
The Cannon, an online publication of the
Texas Public Policy Foundation.
Click here to read more from John Bonura on this and other issues.
Questions/Issues Discussed:
How much have the taxpayers spent on the homelessness problem Austin?
What are some of the major causes of homelessness in major cities across the nation, including Austin?
Where does all the money allocated for “solving homelessness” go? Why is the federal government so focused on housing only, ignoring the mental health and addiction problems?
The California legislature is considering overriding local codes and zoning ordinances to allow churches and other non-profits to erect low-income housing units on their parking lots and other parts of their vacant land. Is this simply an extension to the failed national government’s policy of Housing First?
What are some reasonable solutions – both locally and nationally?
Click here to help support the
Texas Public Policy Foundation.
More from this Guest More on this Topic More from this Organization