The crisis worsened after the COVID-19 pandemic, which pushed up rental prices and was followed by an increase in interest rates to counter inflation.https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://time.com/7313848/trump-bessent-national-housing-emergency-declaration-affordability-crisis-explainer/&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGjQxMmVhNDBkZWIwZGMwYTM6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AOvVaw0lvFPy546TPWfso_ANIpfj