Hi Kirsten,

There are two issues being addressed here.  One being why rent is expensive, and the other as to why we don't have enough to pay for rent.  A couple quick thoughts.  

1.  (rental caps).   Historically this is a failed concept.  If a landlord can never raise the rent, then eventually the property becomes a slum.  So today we have affordable living,  but tomorrow we can no longer stand to live there, or the property goes under and a new unaffordable place pops up.  (We are already seeing that now). 

 2. (Section 8 is actually unfair).  The only thing unfair about any welfare is that the working class have to pay for those that either do not work, or are here illegally.  Welfare after all is just another tax on the middle class.  similar issues also cause property tax to rise as well, which landlords don't pay; we do.

In the end  we cannot  argue for a growing government, and then complain because we run out of money to pay for our own responsibilities such as rent.