> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://housing-base.journalismarena.eu/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://housing-base.journalismarena.eu/access-to-housing/academic-reports-and-papers/scapegoating-rent-control-masking-the-causes-of-homelessness-november-2007.md).

# Scapegoating Rent Control: Masking the Causes of Homelessness (Nov 2007)

* **Scapegoating rent control: masking the cause of homelessness**
* By Richard P. Appelbaum, Michael Dolny, Peter Dreier and John I. Gilderbloom. Published online in the Journal of the American Planning Association on 12 April 2007
* <https://doi.org/10.1080/01944369108975484>
* **Abstract**:
  * While many analysts contend that a shortage of affordable housing is a principal cause of homelessness, **one recent well-publicized study argues that housing shortages themselves —and hence homelessness— are ultimately the result of ill-conceived local rent controls**.
  * **This study, conducted by William Tucker, has been widely cited by opponents of rent control** as a justification for limiting the ability of localities to regulate rents.
  * **The research presented in this article is a re-analysis of Tucker's data that corrects for methodological shortcomings in the original analysis**.
  * The research shows that there is no evidence to support Tucker's conclusion that rent control causes homelessness.
* **Keywords**: rent control, homelessness, US

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Rent regulation has a long history and it has been research and documented. This provides opportunities for solid and evidence-based journalistic accounts of recent and current rent regulation initiatives.
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