A winner of our 2022 Best Paper on Housing Prize proposes a framework to identify opportunities for residential carbon reductions in older homes, which are not addressed by new sustainable building codes.
A new study on the nonprofit housing organization 2Life Communities draws lessons from their efforts to prioritize the health and well-being of low-income older adults from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds during the pandemic.
While Brockton, MA has long offered some of the most affordable homeownership options in Greater Boston, recently prices have shot up dramatically under the strain of new demand and regional affordability challenges.
Joint Center for Housing Studies
of Harvard University
The Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies helps leaders in government, business, and the civic sectors make decisions that effectively address the needs of cities and communities.
Energy consumption in new construction is decreasing thanks to stricter building codes, but few codes limit emissions of existing buildings, particularly in existing homes. This study investigates the carbon- and cost-effectiveness of three decarbonization strategies in residential retrofits: electrifying buildings, upgrading envelopes, and adding renewable energy.
Within the first few months of the pandemic, news reports began to describe the serious impacts of the coronavirus on older adults, especially those living in congregate settings. As the reality of the pandemic sank in, a nonprofit housing organization operating in the Boston area, 2Life Communities, was in overdrive implementing steps to safeguard the health and safety of its low-income residents and staff. This exploration of 2Life Communities profiles an institutional effort, outside the health care system, to meet the COVID-19 challenge.
In testimony before the Congressional Ways & Means Committee, Dr. Herbert discussed today’s housing market conditions, how we got here, the consequences for the nation’s families and individuals, and what steps are needed to alleviate the country’s worsening housing affordability challenges.
