To help recruit and retain staff, more districts are stepping in to give them a break on rent — and even a leg up on home ownership.
As some teachers struggle to afford housing in their school communities, a growing number of districts are taking the matter into their own hands by offering affordable housing for their staff.
An analysis published last year by the National Council on Teacher Quality found that nationwide housing costs rose on average 47% to 51% between 2019 and 2025, while average beginning teacher salaries grew at a much slower rate — 24%.
The need for affordable solutions for educators has become more acute given skyrocketing housing costs, said Meredith Coffey, senior policy and operations associate at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, an education reform think tank.
multifamilydive.com
by Anna Merod
March 3, 2026