This document discusses a project to address the lack of affordable housing for young people in Jerusalem. It aims to assess public lands suitable for affordable housing construction, examine ways to lower real estate prices, and develop strategies to increase urban renewal and affordable housing. The project will produce a policy paper with recommendations around land allocation, planning, pricing, and implementation to increase affordable housing availability and incentives for young people to remain in the city after education.

1. Affordable Housing for Young People
The Challenge Many young people, whether they were born in Jerusalem or moved from elsewhere in Israel,
live in the city while acquiring a higher education – but then leave. Among the reasons for this
trend, which has been growing for some years, is the difficulty in finding affordable housing
due to the high price of real estate in the city generally and the lack of small apartments suited
to first-time buyers. The challenge is to boost the availability of such apartments, which would
serve as an incentive for young educated people to remain in the city.
The Project Plan JIIS will assess existing policy regarding the allocation of public lands; identify lands that are
suitable for the construction of affordable housing on a broad scale in the Jerusalem metropolis;
examine ways to lower the price of real estate; suggest a range of apartment sizes, based on
demand; develop strategies for advancing urban renewal projects; and make recommendations
regarding land allocation policy, planning and pricing of new apartments.
Anticipated Products A policy paper regarding affordable housing in the city will be drafted. The paper will address
the issue of suitable lands for this purpose and include planning and policy recommendations
pertaining to the character of “affordable housing” – who the target population is, how to lower
prices for that population, planning and construction issues, etc. it will also suggest ways the
municipality and the government can manage and implement the proposed policy.
Anticipated Impact A significant change in municipal and government policy regarding »» construction in
Jerusalem
»»A rise in the availability of affordable housing units
»»The provision of incentives for young people to build their lives in the city after attaining
an education there
Lead Researchers Israel Kimhi, Yair Assaf-Shapira, Dr. Dan Kaufmann
Cost Policy paper on affordable housing: $60,000
The Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies (founded in 1978) is an independent,
non-profit think tank, which has been engaged in the study of Jerusalem since its
inception. JIIS research covers a vast range of areas of life in Jerusalem: population,
economy, education, culture, tourism, environment, and more. Key to our success is
our closely guarded integrity, independence, and quality.