It is absolutely self-inflicted. Most major US cities made the choice to massively limit dense housing construction through zoning and permitting in the 70s-80s

It is absolutely self-inflicted. Most major US cities made the choice to massively limit dense housing construction through zoning and permitting in the 70s-80s, and then shifted into complete amnesia mode and/or active denialism about why population numbers were suddenly growing much faster than housing construction rates.