AFPI Taps Benny Johnson, Dr. Ben Carson and Mike Burkentine to Help Make Housing Great Again

WASHINGTON / November 22, 2025 / BPALiveWire - The America First Policy Institute has launched a major initiative to tackle the nation’s housing affordability crisis and restore homeownership opportunities for younger Americans.

The new effort, called Restoring the American Dream: Make Housing Great Again, will be led by conservative media influencer Benny Johnson.  Johnson’s social media reach is in excess of 5 million followers.

Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Dr. Ben Carson and home builder Mike Burkentine have been tapped to help lead the initiative.

AFPI announced the partnership Thursday in Washington, D.C., framing the push as a cornerstone of America First economic policy. The institute said the trio will develop and promote regulatory reforms, financing innovations and supply-side solutions designed to lower construction costs and increase the stock of starter homes.

Organizers pointed to federal data showing the median age of first-time homebuyers has climbed above 36 and the typical new mortgage now requires an annual income exceeding $100,000. They argue zoning restrictions, lengthy permitting processes and high material costs have combined to price Millennials and Gen Z out of the market.

Johnson, host of “The Benny Show,” will serve as national spokesman and focus on mobilizing younger voters. Carson, who led HUD during the Trump administration, will advise on federal policy levers and urban revitalization strategies. Burkentine, a Florida-based builder who has constructed thousands of entry-level homes, will provide on-the-ground expertise about regulatory barriers and practical construction reforms.

The initiative plans town halls, policy papers and legislative proposals in the coming months. AFPI leaders described the collaboration as an urgent response to what they call a generational crisis threatening family formation and economic mobility.