Housing affordability is a global concern plaguing key cities around the world in both developing and advanced economies. The key drivers include the rise in income growth and urbanization, driven by better job opportunities in cities. Affordable housing is defined ned1 as housing that is sufficient in quality and location and is not so costly that it prevents its occupants from satisfying other basic living needs. In other words, the location, quality and build-up of a house is equally as important as the financial affordability of a house. In 2014, the McKinsey Global Institute estimated that 330 million urban households globally live in substandard housing or are financially stretched by housing costs. Malaysia faces a similar issue in this regard. A number of reasons encompassing structural, cyclical, institutional and cultural factors, culminating in a mismatch between supply and demand, have contributed to houses becoming seriously unaffordable in Malaysia in 2016. Consequently, Malaysia faces a shortage of affordable homes for the masses. This box article focuses on drawing out for public discussion, several policy propositions as a way forward in addressing this challenge.