NASHUA – Rallying in a city where renters face regular and oftentimes significant rate increases, Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren vowed to address America’s affordable housing shortage.

“We’ve got a housing crisis in this country,” Warren said during a Wednesday get-out-the-vote event at Nashua Community College. “Safe, affordable housing should be a human right.”

While the cost to rent in the Granite State has increased for six consecutive years, Warren said the nation’s housing supply has declined at the same time the country’s population has grown. Warren said throughout America, many are paying more for less.

“It’s time to build about 3 million new housing units in America,” Warren said.

This will include housing for the middle class, working families, the poor, those experiencing homelessness, senior citizens, the disabled and those returning to society after their release from prison.

“We need housing for all of our people,” Warren said.

According to the 2019 New Hampshire Residential Rental Cost Survey – which can be found online at www.nhhfa.org/ – rental rates continue to increase.

“The survey also found that the statewide median gross rent of $1,347 (including utilities) for two-bedroom units has increased over 20% in the past five years,” the survey states.

The report states that Nashua had a median monthly gross rent for two-bedroom units in 2014 at $1,222. Five years later, that number increased to $1,506.

Warren said since the 1980s, incomes have been basically flat when adjusted for inflation. At the same time, however, corporate profits have increased, as has the gross domestic product (GDP) and the stock market.

Meanwhile, as wages and salaries remain stagnant, the costs for health care, housing, and child care have increased significantly, as has the cost of higher education.

While highlighting these matters, the senator and former teacher also spoke about the importance of education. Warren said she will hire a Department of Education secretary who believes in public education. Warren believes that public dollars should stay in public schools.

“The way we build a future is to invest in educating our children,” Warren said.

Aside from education, Warren said as president she would work to lower the cost of insulin, EpiPens, HIV/AIDS drugs, and a whole set of other drugs commonly used. To carry out this vision, the senator wants the top 1% of income earners in America to pay higher taxes.

Warren also wants to make companies, such as Amazon, that report billions in profits to pay taxes. She also said she would work to get money out of politics.

“If there is a decision to be made in Washington, it has been influenced by money,” Warren said of lobbyists.

Adam Urquhart may be contacted at 594-1206, or at aurquhart@nashuatelegraph.com.