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The State of the Nation’s Housing 2025
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Events

On campus and online, we host dozens of events each year to examine important housing policy issues. In addition to seminars, lectures, and panel discussions here at Harvard, we convene conferences and symposia around the country, bringing together housing practitioners, researchers, and policymakers. Please sign up for our email list at the bottom of this page to hear about upcoming events, and visit YouTube to watch videos of past events.

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Nov 14
The Last House on the Block book cover

Last House on the Block: Black Homeowners, White Homesteaders, and Failed Gentrification in Detroit

In the minds of many, Detroit is undergoing a renaissance thanks to gentrifying urbanites drawn to the city by cheap housing and a thriving culture. But what happens when gentrification comes to one of the most depopulated neighborhoods in the country—a place where every other property is a vacant lot and every third house stands empty?
Fri, Nov 14, 2025
12:15 pm ET
Virtual
Nov 7
Los Angeles bus stop.

Transit-Oriented Incentives and Multifamily Housing: Evidence from Los Angeles

Spurred by rising housing costs, many US cities and states have adopted policies that make it easier to build new housing, often by allowing denser, multifamily units in areas previously limited to lower-density single-family and small multifamily homes.
Fri, Nov 7, 2025
12:15 pm ET
Virtual
Nov 5
Man unpacking clothing in bedroom.

Using Data to Address Homelessness: Insights from a National Study on Permanent Supportive Housing

Permanent Supportive Housing can be an effective way to reduce homelessness, but a national survey conducted by the Harvard Kennedy School Government Performance Lab found that providers often lack the data needed to track PSH vacancies and quickly move people into those units.
Wed, Nov 5, 2025
1:00 pm ET
Virtual
Oct 24
A neighborhood of triple decker homes in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Unlocking the Missing Middle: Legal Reforms and Other Solutions to Expand Housing Options in Massachusetts

Missing middle housing is increasingly viewed as one possible solution to the affordable housing crisis. However, zoning regulations, development review processes, complicated financing structures, and other obstacles have made it difficult, if not impossible, to build.
Fri, Oct 24, 2025
2:00 pm ET
Virtual
Oct 3
B&W photo of an interior staircase

Building for Safety: Assessing Fire Codes in Multifamily Housing

While building codes have reduced the risk of dangerous fires in multifamily homes over time, some common aspects of fire codes, such as requiring two staircases in buildings taller than three stories, may unnecessarily restrict the development of affordable, well-designed multifamily housing.
Fri, Oct 3, 2025
12:15 pm ET
Virtual
Sep 26
Aerial view of modern housing.

'HOME'CAST: Shaping the Built Environment through Data-Driven Innovation

In a rapidly changing world, the future of housing is increasingly entangled with the complexities of a transforming energy landscape. HOMECAST explores how AI, predictive analytics, and climate finance are converging to shape housing systems that are both resilient and responsive to change.
Fri, Sep 26, 2025
10:00 am - 5:00 pm ET
Sep 12
Students listening to presenter.

Open House for Harvard Students

Students from GSD, HKS, and other schools at Harvard are invited to learn about the Center and the support we provide students via teaching, fellowships, research grants, and other offerings.
Fri, Sep 12, 2025
3:00 pm

Please sign up for our mailing list at the bottom of the page to learn about new events as they are announced.

Our Mission

The Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies strives to improve equitable access to decent, affordable homes in thriving communities. We conduct rigorous research to advance policy and practice, and we bring together diverse stakeholders to spark new ideas for addressing housing challenges. Through teaching and fellowships, we mentor and inspire the next generation of housing leaders.

About Us
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