It stems from the rejection of capitalism, and its premise of mutual exchange of goods and services. They claim affordable housing is a right. What is affordable housing? Housing of a certain quality that they deem fit at a price earned by labor they deem fit. There is no measure that is ever consensual from those providing said goods, either directly from the service provider, if price controls are set or indirectly, if government subsidies are spent.

When you explain this to people, they will agree with your logic up to the point where it isn't "fair" for some people, because it's characterized as being "denied access" to these goods and services, when in reality, it's that the individual cannot generate enough value to/from society to barter with the goods/services provider.

I think it comes from empathy that was necessary for tribes to remain strong against other tribes, but that has been manipulated into an idea that charity is no longer charity, and a sense of shame from being dependent is now seen as the justice of reparations.

Unfortunately, this trend isn't going away, since you have midwits who want to be seen as moral paragons, hustlers who want financial exploitation, and the ignorant poor who are manipulated without regard for their own self-improvement.