As long as the ward system is in place as-is and housing provides access to bonuses (lvl 3 buffs, gardening, airships) the housing shortage will always be a problem. I love the social aspect of the wards, but they need instanced housing as well, possibly put something in where instanced housing can plug into a ward slot and if it goes past a certain number of days the house detaches from the ward but isn't obliterated. That still creates a limitation to the social ward areas, but allows everyone fully functional housing.