IRL Joker origin story in the making
crimsoncobalt
For the basics of programming, just pick any language to learn the syntax. Once you know one language, it's pretty easy to work with anything else. I'd recommend JavaScript or Python for that, but really anything is fine.
For advanced programming, the best thing you can do is learn to learn. Really than means being able to turn your concepts into concrete ideas that you can communicate into something other people will understand. Try taking a concept and doing Google searches for instructions on how to do it. Take other people's code snippets and make them work together for what you want to do.
Specifically regarding your desire to self-host something, pick a service and Google "how to self-host x". Maybe set up a PiHole or an Immich server for photos. Docker is widely used for easy portability for servers, so it will help if you learn how to use that. When you come to something you don't understand, do more Google searches and read everything, even if it makes your head spin. Read every bit of documentation you can and keep doing Google searches. Eventually, with enough iteration, you'll get something to work. Good luck!
I think "are caused by" is too strong of a descriptor. It's more like zoning laws contribute to high housing prices. There are lots of factors that determine the cost of housing and zoning is just part of that.
The article doesn't mention anything like causality. From the article: