How 3D-Printing Can Make Housing More Affordable

Habitat for Humanity is enlisting the help of 3D-printing companies to fight the growing housing crisis and build more homes faster and more affordably. As Claretta Bellamy reports, high costs and material shortages have led developers, including Habitat for Humanity, to look for innovative solutions for producing low-cost housing to meet growing demand.

According to the article, a 3D-printed home built from concrete can save up to 15 percent on construction costs while still providing a "safe, affordable place to live" and the opportunity to own a home for low-income families.

"Using 3D printing to build homes provides numerous benefits, including a decrease in construction time due to the machine’s efficiency," Bellamy writes. According to Kirk Andersen of 3D-printing company SQ4D, the minimal need for on-site supervision also prevents injuries and saves builders money. And while traditional homebuilding takes six to 12 months, a 3D-printed home takes under six months to erect. 

Housing advocates like Jeff Olivet, co-founder of Racial Equity Partners, say that in addition to programs like Habitat for Humanity, fighting decades of exclusionary housing policies and fixing the deeply entrenched affordability crisis will require "a national collective effort that also involves fixing housing policies and expanding services."