Less than half of voters included in the survey “say they hear politicians talking about the cost of rent and housing ‘a lot’ or ‘some’ while 52% say they hear politicians talking about the cost of rent and housing ‘not much’ or ‘not at all.'”

For many politicians, the topic of housing “gets folded in with all of the other broad brush economy issues,” said David Dulio, a professor of political science and director of the Center for Civic Engagement at Oakland University in Rochester.

“I think part of the reason you see this be less of a salient issue is … there are more in-your-face economic concerns that are top of mind,” Dulio said, pointing to the cost of groceries and gasoline as more frequent reminders of high costs for typical Americans. 

Still, it’s clear that many voters want to hear the candidates speak more forcefully about housing affordability and rent as its own economic issue, particularly renters. The Hit Strategies poll found that 51% of renters surveyed said they are not hearing politicians talking about this issue much or at all, but 82% believe, if addressed, it would make their personal situation better.

The poll also found that 77% of renters were more likely to vote for candidates who support affordable housing initiatives, compared to 63% of homeowners.

While neither Biden nor Trump are spending much time talking about housing as a large-scale policy matter, both candidates have track records on the issue during their separate times occupying the White House. Their campaigns also stand by their own records on housing — and blame the other for the long-standing issue.

Biden, for instance, in his most recent State of the Union speech called on Congress to pass legislation to lower housing costs by providing a $10,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers and people who sell their starter homes, as well as for the building or renovating of more than 2 million homes. 

Meanwhile, Trump — who became famous as a real estate developer prior to winning the presidency in 2016 — sought budget cuts to federal housing programs, administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development each of his four years in office, according to the American Bar Association.

The Biden administration, in its most recent budget request earlier this year, sought a 2.7% increase in the HUD budget over the previous year, according to an analysis by the National Council of State Housing Agencies. 

Vice President Kamala Harris, in May remarks in Detroit, touted the Biden administration’s efforts to “provide folks who are first in their family to buy a home with $25,000 toward a down payment — to give families up to $400 a month to help with a mortgage, and to build 2 million units of affordable housing to lower costs for homebuyers and renters.”

An email from a campaign spokesperson also touted the Biden administration’s HUD funding for various housing programs, such as block grants and a federal housing trust fund.

For their part, Trump campaign officials lay the nation’s housing crisis squarely at the feet of Biden, citing inflation that’s occurred over his last four years in office, although the broader housing shortage predates the Biden administration. 

“Thankfully, President Trump has a plan to defeat inflation, bring down mortgage rates, and make purchasing a home dramatically more affordable,” Karoline Leavitt, national press secretary for the Trump campaign, wrote in a statement to Crain’s. 

Should the former president regain the office, Trump would reduce federal spending, cut taxes and regulations, “and free up appropriate portions of federal land for housing,” according to Leavitt’s statement. 

Dulio, the Oakland University political science professor, said he could see messaging opportunities around housing for both candidates, but ultimately expects the issue to remain more in the background, perhaps as a secondary issue when the candidates speak on the broader economy. 

“I think if they mentioned housing, people would say ‘yeah, that sucks, too,'” Dulio said. “But it’s those daily or weekly reminders that are going to get the main focus.”