The chronic and broadening nature of the housing affordability crisis in the US has fostered a renewed interest across the country in looking for new models of affordable housing, generally referred to as social housing—a term that is widely used and poorly defined. The current trend echoes earlier movements to build a broader housing sector that is shielded from market forces, often inspired by European approaches. Such a movement at the start of the 20th century ultimately produced the public housing program that emerged in the 1930s and was the principal form of assisted rental housing through the 1960s. The calls for a new form of social housing in the US have flourished over the last five years, emerging from advocacy organizations and think tanks, new approaches by local housing authorities, as well as legislative proposals at the state and local levels. While these proposals differ in their defining elements, most proposals are grounded in a supply of housing that is permanently affordable, includes important elements of resident governance or control, and serves an economically diverse population.
Drawing from this growing movement, students in this course will learn about the rationale for a new or expanded social housing sector; investigate alternative formulations of social housing through the examination of social housing models from other countries and proposals and pilots in the US; assess the current landscape of public, nonprofit and private organizations in the US and their capacity for taking on new roles that could form the foundation of a new form of social housing; and examine in depth key elements of a potential new housing assistance program, including financial supports, resident empowerment, property management, incentives for design and neighborhood siting, oversight, and political support.
The class will often feature guests with experience in each of the domains identified above, including experts in international social housing models, defining and developing proposals and pilot programs for social housing in the US, current public and nonprofit housing providers, and policy makers and advocates who are leading efforts to introduce social legislation across the country.
Students will be required to contribute to an online discussion forum on course readings and complete two papers over the course of the semester critiquing either international or US precedents and then proposing how these precedents could be adopted or enhanced in a specific US market context.
This course may be of particular interest to students in the Urban Planning and Real Estate programs at the GSD and the Public Policy program at ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø. A background in affordable housing policy and/or affordable housing development through course work or professional experience is strongly recommended. Students without this background should consult with the instructor prior to enrolling.
Also offered by the Graduate School of Design as SES-5516. Please note, this is a jointly offered course hosted by another Harvard school and,