Approaching Affordable Housing From All Angles

Writing in Architectural Digest, Abigail Glasgow assesses the state of affordable housing in the United States. For Glasgow, “Like any systemic issue, the first step to deconstructing the housing crisis requires getting the terminology right.”

Yet ‘public housing’ has always had a negative reputation in the U.S. For this reason, “The neighborhoods that are visibly affluent and proclaim inclusion often are most vocally against housing policies that would offer equal housing opportunities.” One solution is mixed-income housing, which combines different levels of affordability in the same buildings, an approach that works well for people who don’t need other supportive services.

The article includes examples from places as diverse as Rhode Island and Texas, showing how different state laws impact unhoused residents in different ways. Ultimately, in speaking with housing advocates from around the country, Glasgow writes that “An omnipresent theme is the need for a combination of solutions.”