Ohio Senate GOP Candidate Claims Immigrants Are Flooding the Housing Market
Vance’s Claims Draw Criticism and Scrutiny
JD Vance, the Republican frontrunner in Ohio’s Senate race, has linked housing affordability to immigration, claiming that the influx of immigrants is driving up home prices and making it harder for Ohioans to buy a home.
The left wants to flood our country with illegal immigrants, and one of the many costs of that is skyrocketing housing costs, Vance said at a campaign event in June. Immigrants are overwhelming our schools, our hospitals, and our housing market.
Vance’s claims have been met with criticism from immigration advocates and housing experts, who say his rhetoric is scapegoating immigrants and ignoring the real causes of rising housing costs.
Immigrants are not the reason why housing is unaffordable in Ohio, said David Harris, an economist at the Ohio State University. The real problem is a lack of supply. We’re not building enough homes to keep up with demand, and that’s what’s driving up prices.
According to a study by the National Association of Realtors, the median home price in Ohio has increased by more than 10% in the past year. The study also found that the supply of homes for sale is at a record low due to a combination of factors, including rising construction costs and a shortage of labor.
Immigration advocates argue that Vance’s rhetoric is harmful and divisive. They say that blaming immigrants for societal problems is a dangerous strategy that has been used to justify discrimination and violence throughout history.
It’s easy to scapegoat immigrants when things are tough, said Maria Rodriguez, the executive director of the Ohio Immigrant Alliance. But the truth is, immigrants are not the problem. They’re part of the solution.
Rodriguez said that immigrants are more likely than native-born Americans to start businesses and create jobs. They also pay taxes and contribute to the local economy.
Immigrants are our neighbors, our friends, and our family members, Rodriguez said. They’re part of what makes Ohio great. We should be welcoming them, not scapegoating them.
Kind regards J. Ross.
