re: Can cities ever actually fix their housing shortage?

Yes, but no one wants to do it because they'd be afraid to be called racist.

Go start cracking skulls in ghettos and make those areas safer for everyone to live, and the housing shortage goes away on its own. We don't have a housing shortage. We have a shortage of liveable areas. Imagine if places like the south side of Chicago were a legitimate option for a young, white family just starting out on their own. There are plenty of starter homes there but people shouldn't have to worry about dodging gunfire walking to the mailbox.